Induction of the new Abbot at Throssel Hole

The Induction Ceremonies for the new Abbot of Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey, Rev. Master Berwyn will be taking place on Saturday the 25th of March. Rev. Aiden will be travelling up to Northumberland for the ceremonies, and so the temple will be closed from Friday the 24th of March to Monday the 27th of March inclusive.

The last Induction Ceremony for a new abbot at Throssel was in March 2019, when Rev. Master Leandra became the abbot, and the one before that was in 1982, when Rev. Master Daishin became the abbot. The installation of a new abbot is a major event in the life of the monastic community, and will also have an impact on the OBC Lay Sangha throughout the country. Below are a couple of photos from the inductions of Rev. Master Leandra and Rev. Master Daishin, plus a photo of Rev. Master Berwyn.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year

Thank you to everyone who has shared their practice,
and supported the temple in so many different ways,
during the past year.

Wishing you all a healthy and peaceful 2023.
Let us offer the merit of our practice to all beings;
may all beings be able to realise the truth.

Forthcoming Events:
Festival of the Buddha’s Enlightenment
The understanding that the Buddha came to during his enlightenment is the basis for the whole of Buddhist practice, and on Saturday the 10th of December we will be celebrating the Festival of the Buddha’s Enlightenment to mark this important event in the life of the Buddha.

In the story of the enlightenment, the Buddha had spent many years following ascetic practices in his search for the truth. Close to death as a result of these hardships, he realised that this was not the way, and after eating a meal decided to sit in meditation as he had done naturally as a child. As he sat in meditation, many thoughts, feelings and memories arose which could have distracted him from his purpose, but the Buddha continued to sit. As the morning star arose he gained a deep insight into the nature of existence.

Forthcoming Events: The Festival of Great Master Bodhidharma
On Saturday the 1st of October we will be celebrating the Festival of Great Master Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma is an important figure within Zen, as he is credited with bringing the meditation school of Buddhism from India to China. His emphasis on “pure meditation”, and the need to spend time “just sitting” facing a wall, are still central to our tradition. This festival is an opportunity to celebrate the life of Bodhidharma and to focus on some of his important teachings.

Regional Sangha Day in Leeds
It was lovely to see so many Sangha members in Leeds for the Regional Sangha Day on the 16th of July. The event was held at the Jamyang Buddhist Centre, a Tibetan Buddhist centre in the Holbeck area of South Leeds.

Three monks travelled down from Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey for the day; Rev. Mugo, Rev. Sanshin and Rev. Kanshin, and there were also three monks from the Midlands there, Rev. Saido from Telford Buddhist Priory, Rev. Alicia from Sitting Buddha Hermitage in Cromford, and Rev. Aiden. Altogether there were nearly 30 people there for the day.

The day started at 10am with a meditation period, followed by Morning Service and a Dedication of Merit Ceremony. We then stopped for a cup of tea, and this gave us all a chance to catch up with old friends, as many of us haven’t met since late 2019. After the break Rev. Saido gave a Dharma Talk on Ceremonial, which took place in the main hall at the Jamyang Centre, as had the meditation period and ceremony earlier in the day.