Manchester Triratna Buddhist Centre in  is hosting this years Buddhist convention. All groups and traditions in the Manchester area have been invited and many have accepted. There is a full programme of talks and meditation and an opportunity to meet senior representatives from many traditions as well as a diverse range of Buddhists from complete beginners through to those with more experience. The event is open to all, but please register at: https://studychinaprogramme.wufoo.com/forms/manchester-buddhist-convention-2011/

Programme Details – Manchester Buddhist Convention 11/06/11

1. Introductory Chanting

2. Early History of Traditions
By Andy Taylor from the Manchester University Buddhist Society. A brief talk about the early history of Buddhism, the early texts and how it branched and diversified across the world and how each of the groups in the Manchester region can be traced back to Buddha.

3. Keynote Speech – Do we need to choose a Buddhist tradition?
By Chris Ward from the Network of Buddhist Organisations.
Chris will briefly explore how we can relate to the diversity of Buddhist traditions in the UK. Do we need to become a disciple of a tradition or can we be non-aligned or a butterfly Buddhist? What criteria can be used to judge traditions? Can we use scripture, lineage, ethical behaviour, google, or intuition? Is UK Buddhism going to become more sectarian or are there things that UK Buddhists have in common – common threads – that unite us?
www.nbo.org.uk/

4. Lunch
Ordained members from certain traditions are required to eat before mid day so please allow venerables and Senior lay members to be served first. The Fo Guang Shan temple will chant the blessing before lunch commences. Please get your food but wait for nuns to chant blessing before starting eating.

5. Marketplace
All groups are welcome to bring Buddhist related goods to sell. Stalls will be provided.

6. Meditation Taster Session
Led by the Samatha group.

7. Practice by following the six paramitas
By Ven. Miao-Gi Shih from Fo Guang Shan IBPS. (International Buddhist Progress Society)
The Six Paramitas are: – 1 Giving, 2 Taking Precepts, 3 Endurance/Patience, 4 Vigor, 5 Meditation/Samadhi, 6 Wisdom/Prajna.

8. Dhammapada
By Valerie Roebuck from the Samatha centre.

9 Talk on the History of Kagyu Buddhism
By Robin Jackson Kagyu Ling

10 Workshop for Buddhist Creatives
Led by Oxana Poberejnaia
Provides space for Buddhists, creatives and Buddhist creatives to meet, share their work and discuss Buddhist path and creativity and how they do or don’t go together. So far, attendees can expect to experience poetry readings, an exhibition of watercolours, images of ceramic sculptures and live music. There will also be an opportunity for everyone to make a paper collage and write a haiku. Even if you do not write to us in advance about your particular creative pursuit, please come along and bring your works to share. We will equally be happy to see everyone who wishes to form a participating audience.

11 Meditation taster session
Led by Western Chan group. 12. Buddhism in the modern world – opportunities and challenges
By Vidyamala from Triratna
Based on her experience of teaching both ‘hard core’ Buddhism and secular mindfulness, Vidyamala will explore two opposite positions that can be taken in response to this ques­tion. One can be ‘liberal’ and try to change Buddhism to align with popular values in society, or ‘conservative’ and try to change society to align with traditional Buddhist values. Is there a middle way between these two extremes?”

13. Nichiren Buddhism in Action
By Helen Barker, Ameena Ahmed and Frankie Kington
Helen, Ameena and Frankie, all leaders in Soka Gakkai International Greater Manchester (SGI Greater Manchester), will provide an introduction to Nichiren Buddhism. Helen will talk about the SGI, Ameena will give details of the practice of Nichiren Buddhism and Frankie will explain about a local campaign, “Victory over Violence”.

14 History and Practice of the Kwan Um School of Zen
By Koonlin Eunice

15. Meditation taster session – Kagyu Ling
XXXX from the Kagyu Ling tradition will lead a meditation session. The Kagyu prayer will be chanted in Tibetan followed by a session of Samatha meditation.

16 Introduction to Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation – The Bodhisattva Path (Buddhism in action)
In 1966, Dharma Master Cheng Yen established the Tzu Chi Foundation in Hualien on the east coast of Taiwan. With the spirit of self-discipline, diligence, frugality and perseverance Tzu Chi set out to help the poor and relieve suffering. Over time the foundation’s mission started with Charity and extended into Medicine, Education, and Humanistic Culture, Bone Marrow Donation, Environmental Protection, Community Volunteerism, and International Relief. For more information, please visit www.tzuchi.org.

17 How Buddhism can inform Psychotherapy
Ken Blythin will explore ways in which Buddhist teachings and practice can contribute to awareness-based psychotherapy. Ken is a UKCP accredited Core Process Psychotherapist and is currently Chair of the Association of Core Process Psychotherapists.

18. The union of dharma and daily life
By New Kadampur Tradition

19. Teabreak
Tea coffee and biscuits will be served in the ?????? by the main entrance on the ground floor but people will stand in the main reception area opposite.

20. Questions and answers for monks, nuns, and senior practitioners
Chaired by. Please feel free to ask questions of our panel. These can be questions on any topic you like relating to life and Buddhism. Examples from previous conferences are: – What is the meaning of life? Should we have children, since all we give them is life that is suffering with death at its end? Why do some Buddhists eat meat? Start thinking about questions you might like to ask or just sit and listen to the discussions. There is a large panel of venerables who will consider the questions. Not all of them will answer each question but there will hopefully be some interesting discussions. If you can email us with your questions in advance that would help prepare a more interesting reply manchesterbuddhistconvention@yahoo.co.uk

21. Closing speech- notices about future of the Convention
Andy Taylor

22. Chanting
Hannya Shingyo by Manchester Zen Dojo

If you are able to buy a copy of the Big Issue in or around London over the next three weeks  you will find an advert for the Tick the Box for Buddhism Campaign. Let us know what you think and let your friends know about the ad and the campaign.

Birmingham Maha Vihara are holding an open day on Monday 22nd November as part of the inter faith week. For details see the poster:

BMV open day

As you may know, the next national census is to take place at the end of March 2011. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is working with local authorities and community groups to make sure the 2011 Census accounts for population diversity: special attention is being paid to hard-to-count, under-represented groups, including:

• disabled and/or very elderly people
• ethnic minority groups
• faith communities
• migrants
• non-English speaking people
• unemployed people
• people on low income
• students and other young adults
• gypsy, traveller and other groups where response has historically been low

The data from the census will be used to guide government policy in the provision of medical services, schools, social services, care homes, employment &  training, policing, and many other services. Funding is also allocated to different areas based on the census figures.

For example, over £100 billion per year (over £1 trillion in the decade between each census) is allocated from central government to local authorities and to NHS Primary Care Trusts. Census information is used to try to ensure that this funding is distributed appropriately between different parts of the country to meet the needs of local populations. If census forms are not completed, then funding will not be allocated where it is needed, and over ten years, this can amount to a lot of lost funding for an area.

To ensure that as many census forms are completed as possible, faith groups are being asked to encourage their congregations to complete them and to assure them that the information is treated anonymously and is not passed to tax or immigration departments. Once the forms have been collected, they are not made public for 100 years.

There is a particular problem within the Buddhist community of forms not being completed. Not only is this an issue within some ethnic Asian Buddhist communities, but also for western people who practice Buddhism but are reluctant for various reasons to indicate this on the census.

For these reasons, the NBO is mounting a campaign  to encourage all to complete the census, and for all who practice Buddhism, mindfulness,meditation and who regard Buddhism as worth supporting, to tick the Buddhist box on the census forms and to encourage others to do the same. A large increase in the number of Buddhists on the census could have a large positive impact on the general quality of debate and publicity for faiths in the UK and in the current ways that religion is regarded and taught in schools in the UK.

See the NBO page on the campaign.

If you require information about the census in another language then try here: http://2011.census.gov.uk/Partners/Community-support/Translation-booklets

The aim of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is to stage an inspirational and memorable Games, where everyone is invited, can take part and get involved in this exciting event.

Diversity was a key reason why London, one of the most multicultural cities in the world, was chosen to host the Games. And we want to ensure that this is reflected in the volunteers we recruit for the London 2012 Games.

Volunteers have always been an important part of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. London 2012 will need  up to 70,000 fantastic, enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers to help make sure the Games run smoothly and successfully and be part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They want to attract, train and retain the best of the best volunteers in the UK – a team of passionate and dedicated individuals that reflects the best of modern UK.

Put simply, they want London 2012 to be everyone’s 2012.

LOCOG is committed to recruiting the most diverse and inclusive team possible – the organisation will be looking for volunteers from across the UK, from a diverse range of communities and backgrounds. London 2012 values and embraces diversity – be it age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and belief or sexual orientation.

Some Buddhists have already volunteered through the website but LOCOG hopes that more will offer their services. In addition to the Buddhist athletes and coaches, numbering up to 700, there will be Buddhist visitors to the Games. In a spirit of goodwill and to ease the strain on hotels, LOCOG would be grateful if members of the Buddhist communities, where possible Buddhist centres, could accommodate these guests. Volunteers(gamesmakers), may also require somewhere to stay. This is also a golden opportunity for the Network of Buddhist Organisations UK to involve not only its London members but also to encourage its membership nationwide to contribute to the success of the greatest event on the planet.

Bryan Appleyard

Buddhist representative to the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

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1. We want Games Makers from all walks of life and from across the UK

We want the Games to be open to everyone, and we will recruit volunteers from across the UK, from a diverse range of communities and backgrounds. We value and embrace diversity – be it age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and belief or sexual orientation.

2. We are looking for people who have the same values and passion as us

The fundamental qualities we are looking for are professionalism, passion, enthusiasm, energy and a readiness to push beyond your personal best to help us put on a truly memorable Games. We want Games Makers to share our values and be inspirational, open, respectful, team-focused, distinctive and have a can-do attitude.

3. You must be 18 or over on 1 January 2012 and have the right to volunteer in the UK Most of our roles require Games Makers to be 18 years old or over by 1 January 2012. However, we do want young people to get involved too! We will unveil the Young Games Maker programme for under 18s in summer 2011. Games Makers must also be eligible to volunteer in the UK in accordance with immigration rules.

4. You must volunteer for a minimum of 10 days during the Games and attend at least three days of training

Games Makers must be available for the duration of the Olympic Games (27 July-12 August 2012) or the Paralympic Games (29 August-9 September 2012).

You must be willing to volunteer for a minimum of 10 days at either the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games; or for a minimum of 20 days if you want to volunteer at both.

Shifts will typically last eight to 10 hours and you will be given adequate rest days. Games Makers will also need to attend at least three training sessions prior to the Games.

5. You must find your own means of transport and accommodation

We are unable to provide accommodation for Games Makers, and will not reimburse travel costs to selection events, training or Test Events.

You will however be provided with free travel on public transport to and from your Games-time shifts. This will include travel within London zones 1-6 and between London and the following venues: Eton Dorney, Lee Valley White Water Centre and Hadleigh Farm, Essex.

We will also provide free transport to Games Makers with roles in Weymouth & Portland and the co-Host Cities (within defined boundaries) for the Football competition: Manchester, Coventry, Cardiff, Newcastle and Glasgow. We will not provide transport to these locations from elsewhere in the UK.

6. You are not entitled to free tickets or back stage passes

Neither staff nor volunteers are entitled to ‘access all area’ passes or freebies – there will be thousands of people working for the Games come summer 2012, and there would be no tickets for everyone else if we kept them all for ourselves!

7. Specialists and special interest groups are invited to apply from 27 July and generalists from 15 September 2010

The Games Maker programme is being launched in two phases. Online applications are now open for pre-identified applicants for specialist roles – for example doctors, nurses, sports specialists, doping control officers and press operations staff. Applications are also open for special interest

groups such as Personal Best graduates and members of a number of pre-identified disability organisations.

Online applications open to the public for generalist roles and continue for specialist roles on 15 September – so if you have the necessary skills or qualifications to fill a specialist role but weren’t pre-identified, you can apply now.

Don’t worry, we won’t review any applications – from generalists or specialists – until the deadline has passed, so those who apply in July will have no advantage over those who apply from 15 September.

8. You apply to be a Games Maker by completing an online application form

Applicants will need to register and then complete an online application form -this should take 30-40 minutes. You will then be given access to the Games Maker zone – a personalised portal. If your application is successful we will invite you to a selection event in 2011.

9. You can indicate where and how you would like to volunteer but this is not guaranteed

On the application form you can indicate the team (‘functional area’) and venue that you would like to volunteer in, but we can’t guarantee you’ll get your preferences. You will not be able to apply for a specific role.

10. We expect many applications and you have a one in 10 chance of getting a role We have experienced a huge amount of interest from potential volunteers and expect to receive around 10 applications for each role. We understand you may be disappointed if you are not selected as a Games Maker, but there are plenty of other ways to volunteer.

People interested in becoming a volunteer should look at the London 2012 website www.london2012.com/volunteering where they can find out more info on volunteering for London 2012.