TBSUK meeting at the London Buddhist Vihara.

On May 2nd I chaired a meeting of the Theravada Buddhist Sangha in the UK (TBSUK) which was kindly hosted by my friend Venerable Seelawimala, the Acting Head of London Buddhist Vihara. This meeting was attended by representatives of 14 Theravada Temples and brought together monks from Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and Great Britain. The intention so far is for TBSUK to be a contact point and network linking the Theravada Sangha in the UK. I rather hope too that on occasions it will be a voice through which the opinion and expertise of the Theravada Sangha here can be heard. But it’s early days and clearly time and patience are both needed for it to grow and succeed.
I am grateful to Venerable Seelawimala for so warmly welcoming us and providing the venue and the tea.

At the Thai Twig in Leamington Spa.

A week ago we were asked if on Monday we would take our meal at the Thai Twig Thai restaurant in Leamington Spa and give it our blessing. Naturally we agreed and so yesterday morning shortly before ten a car came to collect and convey us to a corner of central Leamington that I don’t recollect having seen before. This is an English owned but Thai staffed restaurant and it was the staff who were anxious that the traditional ceremony of merit making and blessing should take place. It was they then who greeted us and made us welcome before receiving the Refuges and Precepts and listening respectfully while we chanted the Parittas. Then they served us with excellent food. Afterwards I told them the true recipe for a successful restaurant: honesty; courteous and friendly service; and delicious food. And we concluded with the sprinkling of holy water.

There are some more pictures in this album.