Over the past 2,500 years, the Buddha’s teachings have taken root in various countries and civilisations while adapting their outer form. The Diamond Way Buddhist Centre on 39 Black Prince Road surely embodies this characteristic, bringing to life and re-enriching the iconic Beaufoy Institute in Lambeth. The institute has opened to the public once more, in continuity of the spirit of wisdom and human growth which animated its original foundations.
Today marks the celebration of Buddha’s birth, Enlightenment and death, sometimes referred to as Vesakh (or in the Tibetan tradition “Saga Dawa”, and Nepali tradition “Buddha Jayanthi”). In the spirit of promoting religious harmony and good relations between people of different faiths, we at Diamond Way Buddhism UK are happy to pass on the kind message we recently received from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue marking the occasion.
Erica Beaufoy, Jigme Rinpoche, Lama Ole Nydahl and Councillor Paul McGlone, cutting the ribbon to open the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre at the Beaufoy, 5 April 2014
Saturday 5 April 2014 marked an important day in the history of Buddhism in London and the UK. After over a year of renovation works to prepare the Beaufoy Institute to host a regular programme of meditation and events, the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre officially opened its doors to the public.
Rev. Alan Gadd and the Faiths Together in Lambeth interfaith walk outside the Diamond Way Buddhist Centre at the Beaufoy Institute, 7 September 2013
On 7 September 2013, the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre welcomed the Interfaith Walk organised by Faiths Together in Lambeth. This borough-wide independent interfaith organisation was established to foster constructive relationships among religious communities and promote interfaith involvement in civic life in Lambeth. It has over 50 member organisations, is managed by a committee comprising representatives of various faiths, and is chaired by Rev. Alan Gadd, a retired Anglican priest. Rev. Alan Gadd has taken an active interest in the London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre’s move to Lambeth since the 2012 planning consultation for the Beaufoy Institute. Upon meeting Diamond Way Buddhism’s interfaith representative for London at the AGM of Faiths Together in Lambeth in June 2013, Rev. Alan Gadd suggested the Beaufoy Institute as a venue for Faiths Together in Lambeth’s upcoming annual interfaith walk. The London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre agreed with his excellent idea, and was delighted to be able to participate as a host.
H.H 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje with Sadhu Paramtattvadas at the Swaminarayan Hindu temple in Neasden, London
As mentioned here last month, On Saturday afternoon, 7 July, H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje and his entourage from the East and West, including representatives of of Diamond Way Buddhism UK and Dechen, participated in an important interfaith event. They were received in BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Europe’s first traditional Hindu temple, located in Neasden, north London. It is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, whose fifth spiritual successor, H.H. Pramukh Swami Maharaj, is also the Mandir’s creator.
Karmapa London 2005 interfaith Event (photo copyright Thule G. Jug)
In eager anticipation of the fourth visit to the UK of H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, we reflect on his first momentous visit in 2005. Here we reproduce a report from the press at the time, it can also be found here.
UNESCO VII Congress Programme
In 19 February 2011 Dr. Peter Malinowski, lay Diamond Way Buddhist teacher, co-founder of the Liverpool Diamond Way Buddhist Centre and trustee of Diamond Way Buddhism UK, and Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University participated, on behalf of Diamond Way Buddhism UK and John Moores University, in the UNESCO Association for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue annual congress in Malaga, Spain, as one of the key speakers.
We would like to share some inspiring impressions of H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje‘s first two visits to the UK, which happened before this blog was established. Gyalwa Karmapa’s first historic visit was in August 2005, when he stayed for four days in London at the invitation of Diamond Way Buddhism UK. He was joined by Lama Jigme Rinpoche, Lama Ole and Hannah Nydahl and other distinguished lamas who were part of the travelling entourage of the 16th Karmapa in the UK during the 1970s.
Reports of other visits of the 17th Karmapa to London can be found here (2007) and here (2009).
Flyer 1 for 2005 course (front)
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