|
LBC News Update Weblog
Welcome to the LBC Weblog, the place to read about day to day news. Please visit www.lbc.org.uk for information about classes, courses and retreats.
Maitreyabandhu is Manchester Cathedral Poet of the Year 2007! - Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Maitreyabandhu has won first prize in the Manchester Cathedral Poetry Competition. "The writer manages with piercing imagination to use the idea
of grey to suggest so very much, and yet leave the reader open to
fill that grey - neither a bonding of all colours, nor an absence
of any - with a profound sense of the infinite." - Judges report.
Read the Poem - Visitation
'Lifting the Spirit'- Maitreyabandhu, article in the Nursing Standard - Thursday, August 09, 2007
 Maitreyabandhu shares his story and promotes Breathing Space, in the Nursing Standard.
Q&A with, Bhante Sagharakshita - Monday, August 06, 2007
 Seventeen years since his last Q&A session at the LBC, Bhante Sagharakshita, founder of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, returned to a packed shrine room, responding fully and frankly to questions drawn from around a hundred Order Members across the Mandala. Questions ranged widely, from 'form-less' meditation practices to the efficacy (or otherwise) of parenthood; the dangers of formalism in some Asian Buddhist cultures and by contrast the tendency towards individualistic attitudes and materialism here. Bhante responded freely and crisply, keen to engage all questions including the controversial such as racism and the Order and the importance of hearing criticism robustly. For me, there was a sense of history and preciousness to the evening, some sixty years since Sangharakshita's Going Forth. "Looking at the quality of the Preceptors' Meetings, I have no serious concerns about the survival of the Movement" Bhante said. Dh Padmadhara
24hr Draw Fundraiser - Monday, July 23, 2007
 Aaron Matheson recently completed a 24 hr drawing session as a fundraiser for Breathing Space. Here's what he has to say: "We have raised over £700, which is incredible. Thanks to those who sponsored me.
The drawing itself was a lot more fun than I expected it to be! It felt all absorbing, a huge task. And I loved the sense of completing one cycle of the earth- (that natural rhythm which defines our lives.) which I didn't think about before. It felt exhilarating much of the time. Who says you've got to suffer to raise money? The photos give you a taste of what it looks like. But it could be on show at Dharma Day next Sunday, so come and see it!"
Aloka commissioned to paint large-scale shrine painting for new space. - Monday, July 23, 2007
 Part of the vision for Breathing Space is a large triptych that can be closed for 'secular' activities and opened for Buddhist classes. The LBC council have commissioned Aloka - a senior order member and dedicated artist - to paint a very large picture of the Buddha and his disciples. Aloka has been painting Buddhist devotional images for the last thirty years. His work combines the concerns of Late Moderism with Buddhist imagery and Byzantine iconographaphic influences. -Painting: Akshobhya, by Aloka 2004
LBC Yearly Review 2007 - Friday, June 29, 2007
 Please click here to read the LBC Yearly Review; communicating some of the important developments, as well as some of the structures, working relationships, finances and principles within the mandala community of the London Buddhist Centre. This is an on-going yearly report linked to the AGM and Mandala Community Forum.
New Members of the Western Buddhist Order 2007 - Wednesday, June 20, 2007
 Many Congratulations to those men and women who have now begun there journey as members of the Western Buddhist Order: Andrew Trotman from the Isle of Wight becomes Palaka (Paalaka) - 'He who cherishes, protects and nurtures' (Private Preceptor: Maitreyabandhu, Public Preceptor: Saddhaloka)
Alban Leigh from East London becomes Vidyadaka (Vidyaadaaka) - ' Daka of appreciative, discriminating Wisdom' (Private Preceptor: Maitreyabandhu, Public Preceptor: Saddhaloka)
Victor Vincent from East London becomes Appamadin (Appamaadin) - 'One who is mindful, guarded, vigilant, watchful' (Private Preceptor: Saddhaloka, Public Preceptor: Manjuvajra). Pippa Andrewes becomes NAGARAKSHITA (long first and last 'a'); 'she who is guarded, protected by the Nagas' (sanskrit); private preceptor Muditasri. Carol Bois becomes MAITRIPUSHPA (long second 'i' and last 'a'); 'she whohas the flower of benevolence' (sanskrit); private preceptor Ratnadharini.
Ethel Findlay becomes AMBARANTA (long third 'a'); literally 'sky-limit'; horizon;'she who is unbounded like the sky' (sanskrit); privatepreceptor Dhammadassin.
Emma Styles becomes AMBARAVAJRI (long 'i'); 'sky vajra', 'she who is a vajra like the sky' (sanskrit); private preceptor Dhammadassin.
Margaret Wilson becomes Stavarha (long middle 'a'), 'She who is worthy of praise' (sanskrit); private preceptor Muditasri.
LBC’s work hits the US press! - Tuesday, June 19, 2007
 LBC’s work hits the US press! An article about the LBC and meditation – quoting Maitreyabandhu, the LBC’s Breathing Space Programme Director – has appeared on the CNN website, which has a worldwide audience of hundreds of millions. Its author, Brigid Delaney, took part in our Urban Retreat in May. The experience clearly left strong impressions on her. Follow this link to read the article: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/06/11/pl.meditation.main/index.html
|
