LBC News Update Weblog

Maitreyabandhu is Manchester Cathedral Poet of the Year 2007!

2007-08-28T11:41:00.000+01:00

Maitreyabandhu has won first prize in the Manchester
Cathedral Poetry Competition.
"The writer manages with piercing imagination to use the idea
of grey to suggest so very much, and yet leave the reader open to
fill that grey - neither a bonding of all colours, nor an absence
of any - with a profound sense of the infinite." - Judges report.
Read the Poem - Visitation

'Lifting the Spirit'- Maitreyabandhu, article in the Nursing Standard

2007-08-09T10:03:00.000+01:00

Maitreyabandhu shares his story and promotes Breathing Space, in the Nursing Standard.

Please view the article

Q&A with, Bhante Sagharakshita

2007-08-06T16:02:00.000+01:00

Seventeen years since his last Q&A session at the LBC, Bhante Sagharakshita, founder of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, returned to a packed shrine room, responding fully and frankly to questions drawn from around a hundred Order Members across the Mandala. Questions ranged widely, from 'form-less' meditation practices to the efficacy (or otherwise) of parenthood; the dangers of formalism in some Asian Buddhist cultures and by contrast the tendency towards individualistic attitudes and materialism here. Bhante responded freely and crisply, keen to engage all questions including the controversial such as racism and the Order and the importance of hearing criticism robustly. For me, there was a sense of history and preciousness to the evening, some sixty years since Sangharakshita's Going Forth. "Looking at the quality of the Preceptors' Meetings, I have no serious concerns about the survival of the Movement" Bhante said.

Dh Padmadhara

24hr Draw Fundraiser

2007-07-23T11:44:00.000+01:00

Aaron Matheson recently completed a 24 hr drawing session as a fundraiser for Breathing Space. Here's what he has to say:

"We have raised over £700, which is incredible. Thanks to those who sponsored me.
The drawing itself was a lot more fun than I expected it to be! It felt all absorbing, a huge task. And I loved the sense of completing one cycle of the earth- (that natural rhythm which defines our lives.) which I didn't think about before. It felt exhilarating much of the time. Who says you've got to suffer to raise money? The photos give you a taste of what it looks like. But it could be on show at Dharma Day next Sunday, so come and see it!"

Aloka commissioned to paint large-scale shrine painting for new space.

2007-07-23T11:01:00.000+01:00

Part of the vision for Breathing Space is a large triptych that can be closed for 'secular' activities and opened for Buddhist classes. The LBC council have commissioned Aloka - a senior order member and dedicated artist - to paint a very large picture of the Buddha and his disciples. Aloka has been painting Buddhist devotional images for the last thirty years. His work combines the concerns of Late Moderism with Buddhist imagery and Byzantine iconographaphic influences.

-Painting: Akshobhya, by Aloka 2004

LBC Yearly Review 2007

2007-06-29T11:41:00.000+01:00

Please click here to read the LBC Yearly Review; communicating some of the important developments, as well as some of the structures, working relationships, finances and principles within the mandala community of the London Buddhist Centre. This is an on-going yearly report linked to the AGM and Mandala Community Forum.

New Members of the Western Buddhist Order 2007

2007-06-20T12:18:00.000+01:00

Many Congratulations to those men and women who have now begun there journey as members of the Western Buddhist Order:

Andrew Trotman from the Isle of Wight becomes Palaka (Paalaka) - 'He who cherishes, protects and nurtures' (Private Preceptor: Maitreyabandhu, Public Preceptor: Saddhaloka)

Alban Leigh from East London becomes Vidyadaka (Vidyaadaaka) - ' Daka of appreciative, discriminating Wisdom' (Private Preceptor: Maitreyabandhu, Public Preceptor: Saddhaloka)

Victor Vincent from East London becomes Appamadin (Appamaadin) - 'One who is mindful, guarded, vigilant, watchful' (Private Preceptor: Saddhaloka, Public Preceptor: Manjuvajra).

Pippa Andrewes becomes NAGARAKSHITA (long first and last 'a'); 'she who is guarded, protected by the Nagas' (sanskrit); private preceptor Muditasri.

Carol Bois becomes MAITRIPUSHPA (long second 'i' and last 'a'); 'she whohas the flower of benevolence' (sanskrit); private preceptor Ratnadharini.

Ethel Findlay becomes AMBARANTA (long third 'a'); literally 'sky-limit'; horizon;'she who is unbounded like the sky' (sanskrit); privatepreceptor Dhammadassin.

Emma Styles becomes AMBARAVAJRI (long 'i'); 'sky vajra', 'she who is a vajra like the sky' (sanskrit); private preceptor Dhammadassin.

Margaret Wilson becomes Stavarha (long middle 'a'), 'She who is worthy of praise' (sanskrit); private preceptor Muditasri.

LBC’s work hits the US press!

2007-06-19T16:55:00.000+01:00

LBC’s work hits the US press!
An article about the LBC and meditation – quoting Maitreyabandhu, the LBC’s Breathing Space Programme Director – has appeared on the CNN website, which has a worldwide audience of hundreds of millions. Its author, Brigid Delaney, took part in our Urban Retreat in May. The experience clearly left strong impressions on her. Follow this link to read the article: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/06/11/pl.meditation.main/index.html

Breathing Space gets the Green Light!

2007-06-01T16:22:00.000+01:00

Breathing Space gets the green light! And now we need your help…

Futurebuilders - the government-backed investment agency - has awarded us around £300,000 (part grant, part loan) for our exciting Breathing Space programme for health and wellbeing.

Building work for the Breathing Space programme is scheduled to start in September. This will create a beautiful new venue for our courses that help people who have struggled with depression, addiction, stress and chronic pain to look after their own mental health. This also gives us the opportunity of making the LBC much more flexible – so we can attract a more diverse range of people.

To make the vital improvements we want at the LBC we need to raise £150,000. So far we’ve raised £50,000, with another £20,000 pledged. So we still need to raise at least another £80,000.
You can make a donation using the online donation form or make a pledge or request a standing order form by e-mailing breathingspace@lbc.org.uk

Fundraising for Breathing space

2007-04-17T13:24:00.000+01:00

Fundraising is picking up as more and more people feel excited about the prospect of Breathing Space. We recently received a single donation of £10,000 and others of £2,000 and £1,000. There are a good amount of fundraising events every month. Val Witonska's play ' Do not collect £200' raised over £700. We have also received many smaller donations.

We received £500 from the Joan Strutt Fund and are currently applying to the City Bridge Trust and the Tudor Trust .

Breathing Space News

2007-04-17T13:18:00.000+01:00

We had our 'full investigation' meeting at the LBC with Futurebuilders on April 3rd. It went very well. We reviewed the business plan, showed the carers and depression film and talked about LBC finances and cash flow. The next stage is to go to their cabinet meeting and respond by April 20th to questions arising from the Future Builders visit.
Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust has expressed interest in our running a mindfulness based cognitive therepy (MBCT) outreach programme on the Isle of Dogs. We are looking into costings and feasibility.
The Breathing Space team attended 'The role of Faith and Faith Communities in Supporting Mental Health in Refugees' - funded by the NHS
Paramabandhu ran a well-attended MBCT Training Day at the LBC on March 31st. Clare Thormod GP Fiona Johnstone and Manjumitra (Clinical Psychologists) gave presentations on the treatment of depression; Paramabandhu outlined the MBCT course and Maitreyabandhu outlined our requirements for teaching MBCT at the LBC.
We have updated our website about the Breathing Space programme and are creating a new 'micro site' for Breathing Space.

A word from those getting Ordained

2007-04-16T17:37:00.000+01:00

Alban Leigh has worked on the centre team for 5 years, and he has left for his ordination retreat. Alban says:
"There was a dream that I had recently. I was in the Tate Modern. At the top, David Smith (the sculptor of metal) had a vast studio. I went up there, finding myself on the edge of a vast space, full of his imaginative works. He was there, welding metal, sparks flying, but hidden from view. Infront of me was a small sign. A piece of card held up by a feeble metal pole. It read 'Please do not enter'. So I didn't. I turned around and walked off.
The image of stepping back from the edge is familiar, showing up in tendencies and habits borne of fear. I imagine disregarding the sign and stepping over the threshold. Taking a step, not away out of fear and habit, but towards out of resolve, awareness, faith.
Stepping towards Guhyaloka is an enjoyable, meaningful and moving experience. The conditions here, the people of the LBC, are so genuinely positive; it is a good place to leave from. I have appreciated and been touched by the support, gladness and rejoicing that I have received. Having such an event 'in front of me' calls forth energy, gratitude, potency, happiness. Simply to have such a clear direction and to be relatively free of indecision is itself enjoyable.

Carol Bois has been working at the Wild Cherry for the past year, and she has left for her ordination retreat. Carol says:
Leaping into the unknown. We do it all the time - getting up to welcome (or face) a new day, making friends, meeting a lover, tasting some new food, walking around the corner.
For me, ordination is all of this and more - an unknowable combination of the mundane with the magical, for life. And all with the underlying, supporting context of the Three Jewels in both the practical and transcendental sense.
To be ordained with the first group of women at Akashavana, the WBOs first women's dedicated ordination centre, is a wonderful gift. I go with much gratitude for the support and kindness of my new sangha, the LBC, where I have been since July 2006, my earlier FWBO sanghas at Birmingham and Aryaloka in the States as well as all my various inspirations along the way. I return as - who knows?

Who keeps the centre running?

2007-04-16T11:53:00.000+01:00

The LBC Centre Support Team work in the basement-office underneath the main shrine room at the LBC. This team is responsible for the general running of the Centre which involves doing the administration for the courses, classes and retreats that the LBC runs. We take care of finances. We maintain the buildings; not just the Centre building but the community buildings associated with the Centre and our retreat centre. We do the publicity, help to organise events as guided by the LBC Council and... we clean the Centre with a couple of volunteers who come in regularly to help us.

The current team is: Maitreyaraja, who is the Manager; Daniel, who has finance and web responsibilities; Steve takes care of bookings and publicity; Adam, who is doing finance work and managing the bookshop; Jayaka is our Facilities Manager and Simon is the Treasurer. Paul who has been with the Team for nearly 18 months utilising his strong IT skills plans to leave soon and is looking to use his experience in a training environment. We wish him well with that. Alban is currently living in a Spanish Valley in Southern Spain getting himself Ordained into the Western Buddhist Order and will return to the Centre Team in late August, early September.

Breathing Space in Schools

2007-04-16T11:12:00.000+01:00

Maitrivajri and Srivati of Bodhi Tree regularly host school visits at the LBC. Through positive feedback received about the children’s responses to meditation, in March they piloted the project ‘Breathing space in schools’, funded by Onwards for all.
The project was conceived to take meditation into schools and see what effect it has on children’s self awareness, on bullying, and to teach them ways to cope with their own anger and stress.
"The thing i really like about it is it builds my contentment and alleviates my apprehension" (Year four pupil)
For five weeks, Bodhi Tree taught aspects of meditation to children aged between six and ten, of the multi ethnic and faith school Bangabandhu in the form of a three minute breathing space (mini meditation). Aspects taught included relaxation, everyday awareness, and kind awareness to self and other.

"You come every week and make us relax" (Year six pupil)

"My work is getting better and I dont need to worry" (Year four pupil)

The meditation practices were taught separately to the school teachers to enable them to continue to conduct the three minute breathing space for the children everyday throughout the summer term. Of 218 children that responded to feedback forms 211 have said they benefited from the meditation. Meanwhile research into the effects on the children’s stress levels and how they deal with others is continuing.

Environmental News

2007-04-15T12:37:00.000+01:00

The LBC hosts an environmental group that meets every month to work out the practical steps we can continue to take in protecting the environment.
Currently the group is promoting, 'The Big Switch' - A project to encourage people to move to renewable energy sources.
In the wider community the group is working closely with TELCO on an environmental project with local schools, bringing awareness of climate change and how it can be combated.
Recently, on the 1st of March this year The LBC reached out into Leicester Square for a combined fundraising meditation lesson and film screening of 'An Inconvenient Truth', at the Prince Charles cinema. The film has successfully brought awareness to the potent topic of climate change. When combined with the practice of meditation, the issue becomes grounded in compassionate action and altruistic intention; moving away from a tendancy to get bogged down in fear, blame and a denial of our effects on the world around us.