18th MAY:   VESAK celebration at Santacittarama

10:30 am - 3:30 p.m. Celebrating the Birth, Awakening and Parinibbana of the Buddha. All are warmly welcome, possibly bringing some food to share for the 11 am lunch. In order to ease parking congestion, please, if possible, park your car in the large area just behind the market or 'campo boario' and from there walk to the monastery.

25th MAY:   National celebration of VESAK at VERONA

Organised by the Italian Buddhist Union, with the participation of various Buddhist traditions. For further information please consult the website www.buddhismo.it.

31st MAY:   Beginner's meditation class

Santacittarama, 3:30-5:00 p.m. In English with translation into Italian. Please arrive on time!

15th JUNE:   Day of practice dedicated to AJAHN CHAH

Santacittarama, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. We will celebrate together Ajahn Chah's birthday, 15 years after his death, with periods of sitting and walking meditation, readings and Dhamma talks in Italian and Thai. The main talk will be given by Ajahn Munindo at 3:30 p.m. in English and translated into Italian. One is welcome to bring a contribution for a shared meal at 11 a.m.

22nd JUNE:   Beginner's meditation class

Santacittarama, 3:30-5:00 p.m. In Italian. Please arrive on time!

27th JUNE – 2nd JULY:   Residential retreat at Casaprota (Rieti)

With Ajahn Sucitto, in English with translation into Italian. Organised by the "AMeCo", to be held in the "Don Orione Institute" at Casaprota, very close to Santacittarama. Bookings will be accepted from April 28th until May 8th, by calling the secretary at tel: 06.686.5148 on Monday 3:30-6:00 pm, Tuesday from 4:00-6:00 pm, Wednesday from 10:00-12:00 am or Thursday from 3:00-6:00 pm.

5th JULY:   Study and practice day

Santacittarama, 9:30am - 5pm, for anyone who is not a complete beginner. In Italian. Periods of sitting and walking meditation, readings and discussion on a selected theme. One is welcome to bring a contribution for a shared meal at 11 a.m.

13th JULY:   Beginner's meditation class

Santacittarama, 3:30-5:00 p.m. In Italian. Please arrive on time!

20th JULY:   ASALHA celebration at Santacittarama

10:30 am - 3:30 p.m. Celebrating the First Discourse of the Buddha. All are warmly welcome, possibly bringing some food to share for the 11 am lunch. In order to ease parking congestion, please, if possible, park your car in the large area just behind the market or 'campo boario' and from there walk to the monastery.

02:45 PM Friday May 09th, 2008

 

ATHENS BUDDHIST CULTURAL CENTRE

Sri Lankans living in Greece have been able to establish a Vihara in this country which has been a long felt necessity. This Vihara which consists of an arch type Buddha hall with a pinnacle, lecture hall and a living rooms for monks is situated at 41, Syntagmatos Street, Guydi, was ceremoniously inaugurated on 28th November 2007.

The resident monks daily needs are regularly supplied by the Sri Lankan community. Religious activities are daily observed. Every full moon day different precepts are observed & meditation is practiced.

A Sunday school is also held for the benefit of the children.

Aims and Aspirations

01. Teaching Sinhala language to the Sri Lankan children born in Greece

02. Inculcate our cultural values in the Sri Lankan children born in Greece

03. Cultivating Sri Lankan cultural values and organizing cultural pageantries

04. Doing social services

05. Making peace and harmony among the Sri Lankans living in Greece

irrespective of race, religion etc.

Address

ATHENNS BUDDHIST VIHARAYA

No 41, Syntagmatos street, Guydi, Athens, Greece

Tel & Fax 210 7757597

E mali- vendhammika@gmail.com

 

12:50 PM Saturday April 19th, 2008

 Display of solidarity by Himalayan Buddhist community

By Tenzin Chodon, Phayul, March 19, 2008

Dharamsala, India -- Deeply concerned with the violent crackdown by the Chinese authorities on the Tibetan protestors in Tibet, almost 700 members of the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association from Ladakh (J&K), Lahaul and Spiti (Himachal Pradesh), Uttarkashi, Sikkim, Monpa (Arunachal Pradesh) and Nepal led a peaceful demonstration this morning in the Indian town of Dharamsala.

Showing solidarity and support with the Tibetan people, the association condemned the military action of the Chinese Government for crushing the peaceful protest by Tibetans in Tibet.

They strongly urged to immediately stop the ongoing brutal acts of suppression inside Tibet and demanded the release of all Tibetans imprisoned during the recent demonstrations.

Accusing the Chinese Government of broadcasting altered and fabricated news through their own set-up media and not allowing international news channels to cover the real situation inside Tibet, the association requested people from all parts of the world to look into the real picture and not be misled.

09:16 AM Monday April 07th, 2008

 

Supreme Court deems Buddhism bill unconstitutional

Colombo -Sri lanka, The Supreme Court said in its determination that the Bill tabled by Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) seeking to amend the Constitution prohibiting conversion of Buddhists and binding practising Buddhists to bring up their off spring in the same religion should be passed in parliament with two-third majority and also endorsed by the people in the country in a referendum, as some clauses in the Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution, legal sources said.

12:16 AM Monday February 25th, 2008

 NAVAM FULL MOON DAY
 
On
 
Saturday, February 16, 2008 (BE2551)
 
 
Navam Full Moon Day Celebrations will be held at the London Buddhist Vihara on Saturday, 16th  February 2008, commencing at 9.00 a.m. This Full Moon Day falls in February. It is important because it was on this day that the Buddha appointed the Arahantas Maha Sariputta and Maha Moggallana as his chief disciples.  Also on this day, twenty years after His Enlightenment, the Buddha decided to introduce the Vinaya Code for the Bhikkhu Sangha for their own well-being. It was on this day that the Buddha predetermined that he would pass away after three months, and he told Mara of his decision.
 
P R O G R A M M E
 
 9.00 - 9.15 A.M.            Administering the Eight Precepts and Admonition (Anusasana)
                                    by Venerable B. Seelawimala Maha Thera, Head of the Vihara
 9.15 - 9.45 A.M.            Buddha Vandana (Homage to the Buddha)
 9.45 - 10.15 A.M.          Meditation – by Venerable Susara
10.15 – 10.30 A.M.        Tea will be served
10.30 - 11.15 A.M.         Dhamma Talk - by Venerable T. Bandula 
11.15 A.M.                    Buddhapuja – by Venerable B. Pannasena
11.30 A.M.                    Dana to Venerable Monks, Upasakas and Upasikas observing Eight Precepts and lay devotees.
 
 1.15 – 2.00 P.M.           Dhamma Discussion 
 2.00 – 3.00 P.M.           Sermon in Sinhala - by Venerable Pandith W. Wimalajothi
 
 3.00 P.M.                     Tea will be served
 3.30 - 4.15P.M.             “Niyamas (the Natural order in Buddhism)” Sermon by Ven. B. Seelawimala
 
4.15 - 5.00 P.M.             Sermon in Sinhala by Venerable Napatawala Dhammananda
5.10 - 6.00 P.M.             Pirith Chanting and Punyanumodana (sharing of merit)
 
ALL   ARE   WELCOME!

11:04 PM Saturday February 23rd, 2008

 

Three Buddhist Viharayas constructed in India

_{Pradeep Kumara Dharmaratne with Anuradha Edirisinghe}

^{The three Buddhist Viharayas named, Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha constructed at Thiruthanni, Trichy and Chennai in India will be opened on March 1, 2008. Arrangements have also been made to plant two Bodhi saplings from the Jayasiri Mahabodhiya, Sri Lanka, at the Buddha and Dhamma Viharayas. The work of the three Viharayas were commenced in 2006 under the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bharata Dharma Yatra programme. Modelled on the ancient Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya in Sri Lanka, a new Devalaya will be constructed at Perur, Tamil Nadu. The construction work will be inaugurated at the auspicious hour 10.30 a.m. on March 3. The project will be jointly funded by a team of devotees and Tamil businessmen in Sri Lanka.}  

 

^{Former Indian Government Minister N. Vallusamy who had provided a land of one acre for the proposed Viharaya has also agreed to make available ‘Ranpath Iru’ worth about 108 gold sovereigns to be deposited.}

^{A group of Bhikkhus representing the three Nikayas along with their devotees will leave for South India shortly to participate at the ceremonies.}

^{Several South Indian entrepreneurs too have extended their patronage to the event, the organiser Mahinda Galappatti said.}

01:46 PM Tuesday February 19th, 2008

HUNUPITIYA NAWAM MAHA PEREHERA

The colorful traditional Nawam perahera organized by Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo parades the city streets (19 -20 february) for two nights 

The Navam Perehara, which started in 1979, attracts more than a million spectators every year to the gangaramaya temple, at Hunupitiya on the banks of the Beira Lake. The event has 4000 performers in this year

11:59 PM Monday February 18th, 2008