The New London Buddhist Centre and words of support from Lama Jigme Rinpoche

We are inspired each year by Diamond Way Buddhist centres in cities worldwide – where the full benefits of Buddhism have been brought to communities and old factories or derelict buildings rebuilt, transformed and rejuvenated. Now, we now have the opportunity to do the same for London. A new Buddhist centre for London will benefit the lives of many people into the future. We plan for it to be a meeting point for people from all over the world and – like London itself – a vibrant place for ideas to be exchanged, and for people to learn and develop. The old Beaufoy Institute in Lambeth has now presented an opportunity for us to bring these dreams to life. Currently, in March 2012, we are in the the planning process and engaging the local community with our plans. More details can be found on our website www.buddhism-london.org.

The Beaufoy Institute, constructed in 1907, is a grade II listed building. It has a rich history and is has played an important role in Lambeth. However, it for many years it has been unused and is now on English Heritage’s “Buildings at Risk Register”. Presently we are consulting on the plans, before the submission of our planning application. The proposed conservation works will restore the building to its former glory within current regulations, sustainability policies and use requirements.

The design proposal ensures that the listed building is respected and plays a principal role in the scheme. Minimal changes would be made to to the building. To the rear of the property an extension is proposed to address the light in inner spaces, with an extended rear garden in addition. In the annex, the proposal is to create residential accommodation for the Buddhist community members, who would share communally the ground floor dining/kitchen/social space with visitors to the centre.

We were delighted to receive this letter of support from Lama Jigme Rinpoche, the General Secretary of the Karma Kagyu School

Letter from Lama Jigme Rinpoche, March 2012

Regarding Diamond Way Buddhism and the Beaufoy Institute, London

Since the time H.H. 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, appointed me as his representative in Europe in 1975, I have watched how interest has grown in genuine Buddhist spiritual methods, and how they can be applied to our modern societies.

It has been my experience in working with communities that Buddhism can have significant benefit. Indeed we have had programmes to support teachers, business people and young people and many have found the application of Buddhist methods such as developing mindfulness, compassion and clarity of thought useful in their daily lives.

In the United Kingdom, Diamond Way Buddhism, a lay Buddhist organisation, started in 1994 at the University of Cambridge with the visits of H.H. 16th Karmapa’s closest Western students, Lama Ole Nydahl and his wife Hannah. Since that time, through the teaching and practice of the traditional methods of the Kagyu School, and the endeavours of many British people, the organisation has grown and benefitted many people.

It is with great joy, now as General Secretary of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism, that I support the redevelopment of the Beaufoy Institute as a place for the practise of Buddhism. It is my wish that it will benefit the local and wider community and become a place where many can learn, enjoy, and use the Buddha’s teachings to develop the great qualities of compassion and wisdom.

Lama Jigme Rinpoche

Tags: Lama Jigme Rinpoche, London Buddhist Centre

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 10th, 2012 at 5:33 pm and is filed under Diamond Way Buddhism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.