The closing ceremony of Vesak 2007

The closing ceremony of Vesak 2007
All the devotees gathered round the specially erected shrine to display the Bodhi Tree which was presented to the Hidden Garden at last years Vesak by Venerable Rewatha, the head monk of Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara. This cutting was taken from the Bodhi Tree at Anuradhapura ,Sri Lanka. The Jayasri Maha Bodhi tree was grown from the original tree in Bodhgaya under which the Buddha gained his enlightenment on a Vesak Full moon day.
At the end of the ceremony all chanted "May all beings be well and happy" in different languages.

Vesak Dansela(Free Food Stall) at the Vesak Festival

According to Buddhist tradition, on Vesak Day, people offer free food and drinks to everyone. Sri Lankan and Scottish Buddhist devotees along with friends of SBV involved in this traditional event as an act of generosity. This Dansela (Free Food Stall) offered fried rice with dhal curry, white potato curry and delicious chutney. In the afternoon children enjoyed free ice cream at Dansela. Over four hundred people attended Dansela and appreciated the food prepared by Head Chef, Mr Sunil Devapura and devotees of the Vihara.

Celebration of Vesak (Buddha Day) in Scotland

Celebration of Vesak (Buddha Day) in Scotland

This year’s Vesak celebration was a great success. This is the fourth year we celebrated Vesak at Hidden Gardens. Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner was the guest of honour for this event and this was his first visit to Scotland. The ceremony started by establishing a shrine around the Bodhi Tree and devotees making offerings of flowers, candles and incense to both the Bodhi Tree and the Buddha. The devotees and friends of SBV walked to the shrine in a beautiful procession led by a Sri Lankan traditional drummers (Mr Jinadasa and newly trained Scottish drummer, Sean Keogh and Janaka). The Deputy High Commissioner Mr Sudantha Ganegamaarachchi and Mr Deeptha Kulathilake (minister for Commerce) attended the opening ceremony.


This international Buddhist festival was jointly organised by Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara,Glasgow Buddhist Centre,Rokpa Glasgow and Zen Buddhist Group.

Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner meets devotees and friends of the Vihara

Scottish welcome for Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner

Scottish welcome for Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner

The Scottish weather improved as a warm welcome to the first ever visit of a Sri Lankan diplomat the Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) who was the guest of honour for the celebration of Vesak at Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara.

Buddhist devotees and friends of SBV were delighted as Mr.Ganegama Arachchi,the DHC and,Mr.Kulathilake ( minister for commerce) joined the epicurean reception after the welcome reception, Buddha puja, speeches and procession of drummers led by Jinadasa and his troup including newly trained Scottish drummer Sean Keogh representing Sri Lanka and Scotland.

The guest speaker, the new chief Sangha Nayake Thera of the U.K and Europe, Venerable Dr.Sumanasiri Head of Buddhist Realist Vihara (London) enlightened the audience with a sermon.

International Buddhist Festival(Vesak) will be held at Hidden Gardens on 19th of May 2007

International Buddhist Festival (Vesak) will be held at Hidden Gardens on 19th of May 2007

WELCOME TO VESAK!

Vesak is the most important date in the Buddhist calendar. This is the day when Buddhists all over the world celebrate the enlightenment of the Buddha and his teachings. For southern Asian Buddhist traditions, this day also marks his birth and passing away. It is 2551 years since he attained Enlightenment or ‘woke up’ to the truth. This is the fourth year that Buddhist groups from Glasgow have come together to put on this event.

Over the centuries, millions of people in many countries have followed the Buddha’s path of wisdom and compassion. There are now many different Buddhist schools each with their own emphases and practices. At this event today you may meet people from traditions such as Sri Lankan, Tibetan, Japanese and Western. Although there is much diversity, Buddhists recognize a fundamental unity with one another. This is based on faith in the path to Enlightenment which the Buddha opened up.

Some of the ways we are celebrating Buddha day are traditional, some are contemporary. The traditional elements are
• dancing – with drummers and a highly skilled Sri Lankan dancer, Jinadasa Niwithigala
• puja - a short and accessible opening ceremony which will start the day
• the giving away of food to all comers (In the Boilerhouse12.30 – 1.30)

We give away food because generosity is crucial to the Buddhist path. We also have an animal mask-making workshop for the kids. This is to remind us all that Vesak is a time to look after the well-being of all living beings. There will be drumming for kids of all ages while others can find out a bit more about Buddhism and how to practice it today. The theme for this symposium of speakers from different traditions is “Ethical Livelihood: Buddhism at work” (Stable 4 at 2pm.) In amongst it all you can make and hang your own prayer flag incorporating a wish or prayer for yourself, your family or for the world on the back. Tie it on at the shrine in the middle of the lawn or wait until the procession and closing ritual (3.45 pm).

May all beings be well! May all beings be happy! May all beings be free from suffering!



Running Order
(Listen out for updates and announcements throughout the day)

11.00 Opening procession with traditional Sri Lankan drumming and dancers. Starts at back door of Tramway.

Followed by Puja, chanting and welcomes (Stable 6)
The opening ceremony and Puja will be attended by Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Sudantha Ganegama Arachchi.

12.00 Meditation (The rill/stable 6)
Storytelling for kids (on the lawn/stable 4)

12.30 Dana - donation of lunch (The Boiler house)
Donations will be gratefully accepted and will go towards the Scotland Buddhist Vihara Trust which is supporting projects in Sri Lanka

1.00 Dancing from Jinadasa Niwithigala (on the patio/stable 6)

1.30 Meditation (The rill/stable 6)
Drumming workshop for children of all ages. (On lawn /stable 4).

2.00 Symposium: Buddhism at Work (Stable 4)
Ethical Liveliehood, the theme of this years celebration, concerns how and what Buddhists do by way of occupation. Occupation in this context includes not just employment, but volunteering and parenting. Contributors from various traditions will be sharing their points of view. Chaired by Prof Perry Schmidt-Leukel (Glasgow Universtiy). Contributors are Karl Kaliski (Cloud Water Zen group), Dh Amitasubha (Friends of the Western Buddhist Order) and Ven Sumana Sirii (Theravadin).

3.45 Animal and flag procession bring your animal masks and flags that you made area and join our procession through the Gardens (will commence on the patio area)

4.00 Closing ritual (on the lawn around gingko tree)
Wishing all beings well! We want to hear it in as many languages as possible! We will close with ancient Buddhist chant 'SABBE SATTA SUKHI HONTU' (may all beings be well and happy)

All Day Animal mask and flag making workshops (Gardens/café area)
Stalls (café area)


Location guide: Locations for each activity are shown in brackets. Alternative bad weather locations are listed second.
Stables 4 and 6: Upstairs, inside Tramway
The Rill: Circle of water at the rear of the Hidden Garden
The Boilerhouse: Aluminium building to the left in the Hidden Gardens

Scientefic Insights Into Meditation

A Public Talk by
Venerable.Dr. Sumana Siri

A Buddhist monk with a vision and mission to enlighten humanity and a passionate seeker of the Truth that is Buddha that transcends all differences of race and creed and aptly epitomized in our time by the late Albert Einstein as a Philosophy that has stood the test of time and the scrutiny of Science and Reason, bringing in its message both the wisdom of the ages contained in the popular religions of the world and a practice in consonance with the modern world,

ON SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS
INTO MEDITATION

Friday 18th May at 6.30 p.m. at the
Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara
1 Caldercuilt Road,Maryhill Park,Glasgow G20 0AD

For More Info; Call: 0141 5867493
All Are Welcome!

Rev. Dr. Sumana Siri, 41 years a Buddhist monk and a modern Buddhist thinker of international renown, was born to Singaporean parents in Malaysia. The first to be ordained in Singapore’s history, he read Buddhist Philosophy & Western Philosophy in Sri Lanka, Law in London and Christian Theology at Oxford University. A Homeopathic and Naturopathic doctor who holds degrees from both the U.K. and the USA, he has read illuminating research papers on a variety of doctrinal and secular topics in many global parleys. At a young 53, he has preached in 53 countries girdling the globe! His deep knowledge of Asian History, Sociology, Psychology and world religions together with his unique ability to communicate in 11 languages has stood him in good stead in his mission to spread Buddha’s message, bringing the richest gift of all gifts, the gift of Dhamma to an ‘impoverished’, struggling world!

A Veteran Sri Lankan performing artist is back in Glasgow.

A Veteran Sri Lankan performing artist is back in Glasgow.

Mr Jinadasa Nivithigala is a traditional dancer who hails from the Southern Sri Lanka.

He is a stage actor as well as a drummer and a competent teacher in drumming.

Mr Nivitigala is a visiting lecturer at several Arts and Dancing Schools and Universities in Sri Lanka and teaches Kandyan and up country dancing. Mr Nivitigala came to the United Kingdom on an invitation extended to him by the Thames Buddhist Vihara ,Selsdon Surrey, to teach traditional Sri Lankan dancing and drumming to Sri Lankan children. Last year he came to Glasgow and trained local Scottish children to perform a Sri Lankan dance at last year's Wesak celebrations held at Hidden Gardens.

He is the only Sri Lankan artist to receive an award from Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

Venerable Upatissa Visits the Vihara

Venerable D.Upatissa the only Theravada Buddhist monk in Montneal,Canada came to visit the Vihara.He is the head monk of Quebec Meditation Centre,Montneal,Canada.

MINDFULNESS WEEK END RETREAT IN CARDIFF

Vesak Poya Day Evening Anusasana and Puja

Vesak Poya Day Sila Programme at the Vihara

Vesak Poya Day 2551 which marked the birth, enlightenment and the parinibbana (passing away) of the Buddha, the Enlightened One was a day of sanctity for Buddhists through out the world.

This day on May 1st, the full moon Poya Day was observed at the Scotland's Buddhist Vihara, in keeping with the tradition of the temple as being the focal point of the local buddhist community, to reflect on Buddhist history and review Buddha's teachings.

The programme which included the observation of eight precepts (Ata sil), meditation,preaching of Dhamma,reading of Buddhist scriptures and Buddha pooja (offerings to the Buddha) was conducted by Ven. K. Rewatha, the chief incumbent of the SBV. It was an opportune time to rekindle the hearts of the devotees to Buddha's immortal words that espoused peace and compassion to all.

The day turned out to be a sunny refreshing day that enabled the devotees to participate in meditation activities conducted by Ven. Rewatha on the lawn behind the temple. He guided the participants to inner peace by such techniques as walking and silent meditation.

The devotees who could not participate in the day programme offered 'dana' with compassion and loving kindness. Later in the evening, a pooja and a sermon was held for the rest of the devotees.

In the Dhammapada, the Buddha profoundly explains thus;

"Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; They are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts, suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox."

May All Beings Be Happy!

May the joy of Vesak fill your heart with happiness and peace