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Home » August 2023 Newsletter

August 2023 Newsletter

Turning Wheel Buddhist Temple, Leicester Posted on by July 30, 2023

It was lovely to be able to welcome Rev. Master Daishin to the temple for a visit in mid-July. Rev. Master is the former abbot of Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in Northumberland, and Rev. Aiden is one of his monastic disciples. This was Rev. Master’s first visit to the temple since we moved to the new property, and we had an event on Saturday the 15th of July so that members of the local lay Sangha could come and meet him. Rev. Master gave a Dharma talk and answered questions, and then joined us for the bring-and share lunch.

Rev. Alicia from Sitting Buddha Hermitage in Derbyshire visited us for the day, and altogether there were 22 of us in the temple’s Meditation Hall for the Dharma Talk. In addition to this there were about 20 people who joined via zoom, so this was certainly the largest event we have had at the temple.

Rev. Master Daishin giving the Dharma Talk
Rev. Master Daishin giving the Dharma Talk
Group photo with Rev. Master Daishin in the Meditation Hall
Group photo with Rev. Master Daishin in the Meditation Hall

Thank you to Aidan who took the two photos above. The group photo was taken after the meditation period which followed the talk, and includes everyone who was there other than one person who left straight after the talk, and also Aidan who was taking the photograph!

Rev. Master’s talk is now available on the temple website, where you can listed to it or download it.

Turning Wheel Buddhist Temple Logo

On Saturday the 5th of August we will be celebrating the Festival of Great Master Dōgen. Great Master Dōgen was a thirteenth century Japanese monk. He has a very important place in our tradition, as he brought the Sōtō Zen school of Buddhism from China to Japan. This festival is an opportunity to celebrate his life and teaching.

Great Master Dōgen
Great Master Dōgen

In addition to welcoming visitors to the temple for the festival (please book in advance), we will also be holding the festival over zoom so that Lay Sangha members can join in from where they are. Full details of the festival day will be sent out by email to Lay Sangha members prior to the festival.

The festival day will run from 10am to 4pm, with the Festival and Dharma Talk both in the morning so that people can come just for those if they would prefer. There will then be the option to stay on for a bring-and-share lunch and an afternoon of meditation, followed by tea and biscuits and an opportunity to ask questions.

On Saturday the 1st of July the Leeds meditation group hosted a Regional Sangha Day at the Jamyang Buddhist Centre in Leeds. It was very nice to practise with monks and lay trainees from many different areas, and altogether there were just over 30 of us there.

Rev. Master Haryo, the Head of the Order, travelled down from Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey, together with Rev. Sanshin who is the group monk for the Leeds group. Rev. Master Haryo arrived in the UK earlier in the year and has been staying at Throssel since then. Rev. Mugō travelled up from Telford where she is now the monk in residence at the priory there. Rev. Alicia from Sitting Buddha Hermitage in Derbyshire also travelled up for the day, as did Rev. Aiden.

Following a welcome at 10am, the day started with a meditation period, after which there was a Ceremony of Offering and Gratitude in which all of the lay trainees present took part in making offerings of food or other items, which were later passed on to the monks. This was a very nice gesture, and all of the monks present were very grateful for the offerings that they received.

Practising meditation together
Practising meditation together

After a tea break, Rev. Mugō gave a very nice talk on ‘remembering Rev. Saidō’. Rev. Saidō died in March this year, and it was only last year that he gave the Dharma Talk at the previous Regional Sangha Day in Leeds. Rev. Mugō brought along a number of items that had belonged to Rev. Saidō and encouraged those who were there to take some of them and give them a good home.

Following this, Rev. Master Haryo very kindly offered a Dharma Talk, which was much appreciated by everyone who was present.

Rev. Master Haryo giving the Dharma Talk
Rev. Master Haryo giving the Dharma Talk

After the morning’s activities we stopped for lunch in the ‘Yak Cafe’, following which there was an opportunity to either go for a walk locally or join in a discussion on ‘how the teaching is passed on’.

Relaxing together in the cafe
Relaxing together in the cafe

We all came together again at 2.30pm for meditation, and the day ended with a Question and Answer session, with tea, which picked up on several of the themes from earlier in the day.

Thank you to all those who made the day such a success, either by organising things in advance, offering lifts, or helping out with things on the day. Thank you also to Chris who took the photos which are included above, as well as many others.

Donations of Food
Offering food is a traditional way to support a monk, and all donations of vegetarian food are most welcome. In particular:

  • porridge oats
  • peanuts or other nuts
  • peanut butter
  • fresh fruit and vegetables (except garlic or peppers)
  • dried herbs
  • cheese, eggs and yoghurt

Any other suitable items would also be appreciated.

The temple is dependent on donations for its continued existence, and any financial support you are able to offer is greatly appreciated. Details of how to offer support can be found on the Donations page of the website.

All donations are received with gratitude

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