Forthcoming Events:
The Festival of Founders Day

On Saturday the 9th of November we will be celebrating the Festival of Founders Day. This festival is an opportunity to offer our gratitude for the life and practice of all those who have practised Buddhism, from the far distant past to the present day. In particular we celebrate those in our own lineage who have passed on the teaching from generation to generation for over 2,500 years, and are the founders of this temple. These include Rev. Master Jiyu (the founder of our order), her master Kōhō Zenji, Great Master Dōgen(1200-1253) and Great Master Keizan (1268-1325).

Forthcoming Events:
The Festival of Avalokiteshwara Bodhisattva

On Saturday the 14th of September we will be celebrating the Festival of Avalokiteshwara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The name Avalokiteshwara is Sanskrit (Japanese: Kanzeon, Chinese: Kwan Yin, Tibetan: Chenrezig), and means “The one who hears the cries of the world”. To live with compassion is to hear the cries of suffering within ourselves and within all beings, and to be willing to respond, and the festival will focus on this centrally important aspect of Buddhist practice.

Leeds Regional Sangha Day

On Saturday the 29th of June 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 under 30 of us there.

Rev. Sanshin and Rev. Kōjō, travelled down from Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey for the day. Rev. Sanshin is the group monk for the Leeds group, and Rev. Kōjō is the group monk for the Huddersfield group. Rev. Mugō from Telford also travelled to Leeds for the day, as did Rev. Aiden.

Following a welcome at 10am, the day started with a meditation period. After this there was a Dedication of Merit Ceremony, during which we recited the Adoration of the Buddha’s Reclics, the Dedication of Merit invocation and the Invocation for the Removal of Disasters.

The Festival of the Buddha’s Birth

The highlight of our calendar in May is always Wesak, the Festival of the Buddha’s Birth, and this year we will be celebrating Wesak on Saturday the 18th of May.

Wesak will be a full day event, from 10am to 4pm. The festival and Dharma talk will both be in the morning, so you can come just for those if you would prefer. There will then be the option to stay on for a bring-and-share lunch and a social afternoon, which will include a meditation period at some point, followed by tea and biscuits. Rev. Alicia from Sitting Buddha Hermitage in Derbyshire is planning to join us for the day.

This Sunday, the 3rd of March, is the first anniversary of Rev. Master Saidō’s death.

Rev. Saido was a much loved and respected member of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, and Prior of Telford Buddhist Priory in Shropshire. He died on Friday 3rd March 2023, not long after having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Rev. Saidō was a great friend to the temple, and his steady presence and wise council are greatly missed.

This coming Tuesday we will be holding a memorial for Rev. Saidō at our evening meeting, marking the 1st anniversary of his death.