WHAT'S NEW 

We cordially would like to invite you and your friends to join the Buddha Day Celebration on 18^th May 2008

Programme

Sunday 18^th May 2008

10.30           Chanting in the Pagoda

11.00          Sanghadana

11.30am           Communal Meal

1.00pm           Service in the Pagoda

This includes:

·       Taking the five precepts led by Dr.Ottaranyana

·       Paritta Chanting by the monks

·       Homage to the 28 Buddha, introduced by Keith Munnings and chanted by the Samatha Group

·       Chanting by the Birmingham Seren Reflection Group

·       Dhamma Talk by Dr.Ottaranya

               ----------------------------------------------------------

You are also invited to join the 4^th Annual Buddha Day Celebrations in the Buddha gallery of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery on Saturday 10 May 2008

12.45pm           Groups congregate in the Round Room

12.55pm           Procession to the Buddha Gallery

1.00pm            Welcome message and introduction by Dr Sunil   Kariyakarawana, Buddhist Chaplain to HM Forces

1.05pm           Request for the Precepts and Refuges

1.10pm           Chanting by different Buddhist Groups

2.10pm           Blessing given by Ven.Ottaranyana

2.15pm          Tea provided courtesy of the West Midlands      Buddhist Council

3.00pm           Singing and Blessing

3.30           Closing words of thanks

Sponsored by West Midlands Buddhist Council

In collaboration with

BM and AG

SUTTA STUDIES COURSE 2007-8

ENROL 27 SEPTEMBER
ALL ARE WELCOME

BUDDHIST STUDIES COURSE 2007-8

ENROL 17 and 24 SEPTEMBER
ALL ARE WELCOME

PREVIOUS BUDDHIST STUDIES AND PALI COURSES

 

Buddha Day 2550 in Birmingham

 

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Saturday 13 May, 2006. 1.30 - 4.00 p.m.

 

A joint Buddha-day celebration has been organised by West Midlands Buddhist Council starting with puja in various national styles before the Museum’s famous black basalt Buddha. This will be followed by “In the Buddha’s Footsteps”, a musical based on the life of Siddhartha Gautama up to his enlightenment. Written and directed by Hi Ching, it will be performed by various professionals supported by the choir and dance-team of London’s Fo Guang Shan temple. This will be followed by a performance of Bryan Lester’s “Angulimala Suite” by the renowned West Midlands guitar group, Trio Gitano. Both performances will take place in the Art Gallery’s Round Hall, near the first floor entrance.

 

 

How to get there:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=406672&y=286966&z=0&sv=B3+3DH&st=2&pc=B3+3DH&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

 

 

Buddha Day

13^th & 14^th May 2006 

 

For those who may not be familiar with the significance of this day it celebrates four major events in the life of the Buddha. Firstly, in an earlier life, as the hermit Sumeda, he was told, by Dipankara Buddha, that he would become Lord Gotama Buddha. Secondly, it was on the full moon day of May that he was born as Prince Siddhartha to Queen Mahฑ Mฑyฑ. Thirdly, it was on this day that he became enlightened after 6 years of austerity as a recluse. Finally, it was on the full moon day of May that he passed away and entered parinibbana.

 

As in recent years, our celebrations started with monks from our vihara being invited, by the West Midlands Buddhist Council, to participate in the Buddha Day celebrations at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in Chamberlain Square.

 

The first part of the programme started at 1.30pm in the Buddha gallery and involved chanting by various Buddhist groups before the Sultanganj Buddha. This statue is from India’s Gupta Age (4^th to 7^th Century AD). The right hand is raised in abhayamudra (a gesture of reassurance or protection) and the left hand pointing downward and palm outward indicates the granting of favour.

 

Those taking part were Fo Guang Shan’s nuns and devotees; Theravada monks; Tibetan style chanting by lay devotees from Samye Ling; Vietnamese monks and devotees from the Midlands Buddhist Association and, finally, lay ministers and devotees from the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives (Soto Zen).

 

The Theravada chanting was done successively by monks from Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand in their own styles. The chanting performed was Buddhabhiseka & Udana in Burmese, the Eight Victories of the Buddha in Sri Lankan and Metta Paritta in Thai.

 

At the end of the chanting the day’s activities continued in the round room where people were first entertained by an excellent Chinese musical performance entitled “In the Footsteps of the Buddha” (further images available at the temple’s website at http://ibps.org.uk/eibpsuk/ehome.htm). After this the day was brought to a close by Brian Lester’s guitar group, the Trio Gitano, performing his “Angulimala Suite”.

 

This year Buddha Day at the pagoda started a little earlier than usual, at 9.30am, with the blessing of the foundation stones for the new Dhamma Hall.

The event started with a procession of monks and laypeople each carrying a symbolic gold, silver or ruby block. The procession left the vihara and the participants entered the roped off area decorated with flags. After the blessings were made the blocks were cemented in to the ground in the centre of the enclosure.

The day continued with Veneration of Buddha, Buddha Puja and Bodhi Puja before Sanghadana (offering of alms food to the Sangha). The blessing of the Bodhi tree is not a usual event in the pagoda on this day but did have relevance to the occasion. On this day veneration of the Bodhi tree occurs throughout Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka; the festival being known as the “Pouring of Water on the Bodhi Tree”. The earliest record of planting of the Bodhi tree in Myanmar relates to the late 12^th century. Whereas the earliest record of the actual event of pouring water on the Bodhi tree is to be found in a Bagan inscription dated 1201AD.

 

After lunch John Beard gave a report on the activities associated with the construction of the new Dhamma Hall, which unashamedly included a plea for donations to help in its construction. After this the Rev. Richard Tetlow was invited to deliver a message from Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald in his role as President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

 

Requesting of the five Precepts followed by chanting was led by Santisukha Sayadaw from London, which were then followed by two Dhamma talks. The first talk was delivered in Burmese by Sayadaw U Kusalananda from the Buddhavihara, London. The second Dhamma talk, in English, was given by Dr. Ottaranyana.

 

Before the final closing events of the day the devotees were invited to make formal donations towards the Dhamma Hall. This involved donations being received by U Maung Maung Than before Dr. Ottaranyana and the other assembled monks, with donations for the day amounting to ฃ12,000.

 

The day moved smoothly on with the transfer of merit being led by Dr. Ottaranyana.

After a short interlude, whilst Ann Lovelock delivered a brief trust report, the day’s celebrations in the pagoda were brought to a close by Dr. Ottaranyana reciting three times the words “Buddha sasanam ciram titthatu” (Lord Buddha’s teaching will remain in the world forever).

 

After such a full day everyone was finally invited to enjoy refreshments in the marquee.

 
 

 

 

 

DIRECTION TO THE PAGODA AND VIHARA

From South via M6:
At Junction 6 to A 38 (M), Birmingham Central sign, take the 2nd exit to the Inner Ring Road, A 4540 (West which takes to West Wolverhampton). Follow the Ring Road until Juction six.  At the foruth roundabout (J 6) take the 3rd exit (ladywood Leisure Centre) into Icknield Port Road. Osler Street is then the 4th on the left.

From South via M40 and M42:
Follow the signs for M6 and A38 (M), Birmingham Central Sign (City Centre). Then follow the directions above along the Inner Ring Road, A4540 until juction six

From North via M6 and M5:
At Junction 1, follow the A41 West Bromwich sign and then continue towards Birmingha along Holyhead Road, Soho Road and Soho Hill. Just before the Hockley flyover, filter left to pass under it, following the signs to Edgbaston/Ladywood and Ring Road (A4540). At the 3rd roundabout, take the 3rd exit into Icknield Port Road. Olser Street is the 4th on the left.

From South-West via M5:
At Junction 3, follow A456 Birmingham Sign and continue into Hagley Road. At the 4th traffic lights, turn left into Monument Road at Ivy Bush pub, then take the 4th left into Reservoir Road. Osler Street is the 3rd to the right.

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