Wesak 2010 Opening Ceremony

Pictures By Malitha Yatiwella

This year’s Wesak theme was “Bodhi” . Even though it was a holiday weekend, there were over 300 people visiting throughout the day. The day started with Buddhist chanting and the offering of flowers to the Bodhi Tree . The opening ceremony was held at the Tramway Stable 3, which was beautifully decorated with Buddhist flags and Wesak lanterns prepared by the Sunday School children of Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara.

There were three meditation sessions led by Venerable K Rewatha Thero and Silaketu. Every one enjoyed the metta meditation and in particular, the walking meditation by the beautiful water feature of the Hidden Garden. Meanwhile, the children were enjoying their drumming and story telling inside the yurt. Our thanks to the story teller and the drummer Eric, who comes every year with his drums.

The Dansela ( free food stall)was well attended and every one enjoyed the free food traditionally offered by the devotees of the Vihara as generosity in practice on the day of Wesak. This year’s delicious food was prepared by Mrs Sandya Ranasinghe and her family, with support from Janaka, Alex and the Gandhi family. All the devotees of the Vihara supported them by offering 52 items of dry food and Ice Cream.

This year, instead of having a symposium we invited Smutirathne, who is an Anigarika living in the forest, to be our key speaker. His topic was ‘Bodhi’ which was a well constructed sermon about the Enlightenment of Buddha.

The closing ceremony was held at the Bodhi tree by chanting the Metta Sutta in English, offering incense and wishing and radiating metta to all living being.

This year as in previous years, Wesak was celebrated with the Glasgow Buddhist Centre, Rokpa Glasgow and Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara. We are very grateful to the Hidden Garden and the Tramway for their support in making space available for the celebration of the festival. Wesak has become one of the main events in the Hidden Garden’s annual calendar of events.

Pictures By Malitha Yativella

Wesak 2010 Dansela

Wesak 2010 Closing Ceremony

For more pictures takan by Malitha Yativelle please see this link.

Wesak Celebrations in Scotland 2010 - Invitation

We would like to invite you to the sixth annual celebration of Wesak in Scotland at the Hidden Gardens when we recall the life of the Buddha.

Following is the programme for the day.

Venue: Hidden Gardens, 25a Albert Drive, Glasgow G41 2PE

Date: Saturday May 29th 2010


11:00 - Opening procession

12:00 - Meditation / Storytelling in tent

12:30 - Dansela (Boiler house)

13:45 - Meditation / Walking meditation (The Rill)

14:00 - Drumming workshop for children of all ages (on lawn - in tent if wet)

14:30 - Keynote Address by Smritiratna on the theme of "Bodhi: A Celebration of Enlightenment"

16:00 - Closing ritual (on lawn - Tramway 4 if wet)

Please visit the website http://www.glasgow-wesak.com/ for further information.


Last Year's Wesak Celebrations can be watched at the below weblinks:

www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/letscelebrate/watch/wesak1

www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/letscelebrate/watch/wesak2


As we have been practising so far, devotees are invited to contribute towards the Dansela to offer Dana for the participants by extending our customs.


Attached the list of items required for Dansela and grateful to you if you can contribute towards this noble cause.

If you would like to take part and donate towards the needful, kindly contact the Vihara on or before 22nd May 2010.

Wesak Dansela 2010 – Dana List

To be supplied to Vihara on 27th May 2010 (for Freshness)

1. Tilda Basmati Rice - 20 kg - (received)
2. Red Lentils (Split) - 10 kg - (received)
3. Potatoes - 15 kg -(received)
4. Brinjals (Aubergine) - 15 kg -(received)
5. Carrot - 06 kg -(received)
6. Leeks (not trimmed) - 06 kg (received)
7. White Cabbage - 06 kg (received)
8. Green Beans - 06 kg (received)
9. Cashew - 03 kg- (received)
10. Tomatoes - 03 kg (received)
11. White Cooking Onions - 10 kg -(received)
12. Red Cooking Onions - 05 kg - -(received)
13. Red Small Onions - 01 kg (received)
14. Large Cucumber - 15 (received)
15. Salad Leaves - 05 Bunches (received)
16. Green Chilli - 250 g (received)
17. Curry Leaves - 04 Packets - (02 received)
18. Pandon Leaves (Rampe) - 03 Bunches(received)
19. Full Cream Milk 6 Pint - 03 Bottles (received)
20. Celery - 05 Bunches (received)

To be supplied to Vihara by 25th May 2010

21. Mayonnaise - 02 Bottles - (received)
22. Cinnamon Sticks - 300 g -(received)
23. Ginger - 500g (received)
24. Garlic - 02 kg - (received)
25. Fenugreek - 50 g -(received)
26. Chilli Flakes - 250 g (received)
27. Chilli Powder (Mild) - 250 g (received)
28. Cummins Powder - 250 g (received)
29. Turmeric Powder - 150 g -(received)
30. Mustard Seeds - 250 g --(received)
31. Cardamom - 250 g --(received)
32. Cloves - 50 g --(received)
33. Black Pepper Seeds - 250 g --(received)
34. Coconut Milk Powder - 06 kg -(received)
35. Lurpack Butter (250 g) - 06 (received)
36. Sunflower Oil (3 Litre) - 05 Bottles - (received)
37. Ghee - 02 kg -(received)
38. Fried Onion - 05 kg (received)
39. Red Wine Vinegar - 02 Bottles (received)
40. Raisins (Sultana) - 03 kg (received)
41. Sea Salt - 02 Bottles (received)
42. Pappadam - 10 Packs -(received)

To be supplied to Vihara on 28th May 2010

43. Water (2 Litre) - 24 Bottles (received)
44. Apple Juice - 12 Cartons (received)
45. Ice Cream & Cones (received)
46. Disposable Plates - 400 (received)
47. Disposable Cups - 400 (received)
48. Paper Towels/Tissues - 600 (received)
49. Disposable Forks/Spoons - 300 (received)
50. Disposable Table Clothes - 10 (received)
51. Disposable Food Gloves - 01 Box(received)

New Year 2010

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course

MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS REDUCTION (MBSR) COURSE

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction is a non-religious 8 week training course which teaches people to use mindfulness meditation skills and techniques to deal with stress, chronic pain and any form of psychological or physical dis-ease.

The Course consists of 8 two and a half hour sessions plus an all day session.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

Mindfulness is an approach to living rather than a technique. It is about living in the present moment, about being more awake and alive to our lives rather than operating from a sort of ‘automatic pilot’ in which we can be cut off from aspects of our experience.

Mindfulness promotes a way of being that helps us approach our present predicament with kindness and compassion, and is applicable over a range of conditions including stress, anxiety, depression and pain.

Course Starting: Wednesdays, 14th April 2010
(With All Day Mindfulness Session on 23rd May 2010)

Timing: 7.00pm to 9.30pm

Venue: Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara, 1 Caldercuilt Road, Glasgow, G20 0AD

Sri Lankan New Year 2010

We are organising the Sinhala & Hindu New Year Celebrations in Scotland as usual in Glasgow.

Following are the details;

Date: 17 April 2010 (Saturday)
Place: Scotland Buddhist Vihara, Glasgow
Time: 10:00 am onwards

We will have a visiting monk attending from Sri Lanka in this event. On this celebration we are expecting to include every possible traditional customs of the new year.

We are still to receive the auspicious times for traditional customs suitable for the Great Britain. As soon as we receive them we will forward them to you with more details of the event.

Please reserve this day to attend in this event with your family & friends.

Kindly inform your friends & families living in here and invite them to participate.

All are warmly welcome !

For any further information, please feel free to contact any of us on the given numbers.


Dhammika Siripala - 0780 709 5991
Dilan Perera - 0791 254 7486
Nimesh Janaka - 0798 885 1949