Buddhist Action Day July 2012 events
Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire. Saturday 28th July
At Amaravati, we are celebrating Buddhist Action Day on the afternoon of Saturday the 28th July. This is a good breathing space between the celebration of Luang Por Sumedho’s birthday on Friday the 27th, and the ordination of two new monks on the Sunday afternoon. Luang Por Sumedho retired two years ago and was the founding Abbot of Amaravati. So Buddhist Action Day is nicely poised as a breathing space in this cycle of renewal at the monastery.
And in keeping with this sense of poise between the old and the new, Buddhist Action Day will be a spontaneous, self-organised afternoon where the watchwords are ‘respect, relax and enjoy’. Participants take full responsibility for how they wish to spend the afternoon. The only timed events for those who wish to take part are the meditation workshop in the Temple, from 2-4pm and tea, in the Sala, at 5pm.
Choose and mix from the following activities:
- Do nothing – just be mindful.
- Be a Womble – pick up discarded litter on lanes and paths near Amaravati
- Walk or cycle with Amaravati as the start and end point
- Wear an item of clothing or apparel with a ‘green environment’ link.
- Bring friends or someone from a non-Buddhist faith to Amaravati
- Join the meditation workshop from 2 till 4pm
- Join and talk with Ajahn Amaro & other community members at tea time – 5pm
- Meet monks and nuns and non-ordained Buddhists
- Photograph nature and the environment at Amaravati
- Bring some dark chocolate at teatime
Web: www.buddhacommunity.org/~ ayearofservice.org.uk/~
Amida Trust
On 7th July Amida London Buddhist Centre are organising an ecology event at the Islington Ecology Centre. This Interfaith work session will comprise extensive repairs to a seating area outside the main ecology centre building. In effect the finished structure will be an arbor and a place for visitors to sit quietly. Constructed of recycled lengths of hazel, wired together into a trellis, into which living branches will be woven, the finished job will resemble a green cave and provide a cool place of refuge during warm weather.
Date and times: July 7th 10.30 to 3.30 with a shared veggie picnic lunch
Contact: Amida London Buddhist Centre tel 0207 2632183
Post: Sukhavati, 21 Sussex Way, Finsbury Park, London N7 6RT
Email: modgala2004 [at] lycos [dot] com
Web: www.islington.gov.uk/~
Birmingham Buddhist Centre
On the final weekend of Birmingham’s Moseley Festival, there will be a focus on the environment with two unusual faith-based events: an InterFaith Talks Symposium on Saturday, 14th July and a Tree-Planting Event on Sunday, 15th July. The Symposium is an opportunity to hear from representatives of the world’s major religions about the ways in which faith influences our relationship with the natural world. The Tree-Planting Event is a series of tree-planting ceremonies in seven different places of worship around Moseley to symbolise the links of friendship and co-operation that exist between the diverse faiths represented in this eclectic suburb of Birmingham.
- Date: Saturday, 14th and Sunday 15th July
- Contact: Samacitta
- Email: info [@] birminghambuddhistcentre.org.uk/~
- Web: birminghambuddhistcentre.org.uk/~
1) Earthkind: Faith in the Environment. To be held at Birmingham Buddhist Centre 3pm to 5pm, Saturday 14th July 2012. Representatives from the faith communities in and around Moseley will give short talks on the relationship of their faith to the environment, followed by questions and general discussion.
2) Earthkind: Walk with Plants. An interfaith tree-planting ceremony to be held sequentially at seven different places of worship in Moseley on Sunday 15th July 2012 from 1pm to 6pm. Trees – whether majestic, fragrant, lush or delicate – represent our vital connection to the natural world and to the environment upon which all life depends. With the planting and growing of these memorial trees in our places of worship, we hope to encourage awareness of the ways in which we can live in harmony with one another, with the environment, and with the wider society. The event will be launched at 1pm on the Village Green in the centre of Moseley. The first place of worship to be visited will be the Synagogue, approx 300 yards south along the Alcester Rd, opposite Moseley Hall Hospital.
All people of all faiths or none are warmly invited to join the walk, visiting any or all the gardens of the different places of worship. You may join us at any point on the journey. Refreshments will be offered at various points along the way. It is a great privilege of living in Birmingham and Moseley that we are able to visit one another’s places of worship so readily. Our warm thanks to all our hosts.
Buddhafield
For two weeks in July a team of forty people – Buddhists of all traditions, plus others of all faiths and none – will be volunteering in the Buddhist-run Buddhafield Cafe preparing and serving free organic vegetarian food for up to 500 people who together make up the support team for the annual Buddhafield Festival, at which over 3000 people (again of all faiths and none) gather to celebrate, learn, network, and practice living in community.
- Date: July 3rd – 18th
- Contact: Lokabandhu
- Email: loka.bandhu [@] buddhafield.com
- Web: www.buddhafield.com/~
Clear Vision
Clear Vision have a great selection of free online educational video materials in the ‘Buddhism and Community’ section of their website, aimed at children and students aged 12-16 years. Section 5 (Being an Example) looks at the topics of karma/kamma and conditionality through the topic of waste management – recycling, karma and compost. There are supporting questions and activities and the handbook gives background text. Anyone can use them free of charge in a Buddhist context, by registering as a home- or temple-user.
- Date: ongoing
- Contact: Clear Vision Trust
- Email: clearvision [@] clear-vision.org
- Web: www.clear-vision.org/~ or www.cvinteractive.org/~
Colchester Buddhist Centre
We’ll be having an ‘Earthkind’ day on 21st July at Colchester Buddhist Centre which will be open to the local community. The day will comprise of a litter pick in the morning-wearing hi-viz Colchester Buddhist Centre jackets, a vegetarian shared lunch (package free) with posters up about why it benefits the environment to be veggie, a talk in the afternoon by myself linking Buddhist principles with Environmental Issues, discussion groups in the form of a Dharma cafe, and finally a Green Tara Puja. We are also talking about asking those that come to cycle/walk or bus-with the idea that we will offset the Carbon post meeting by planting trees! And we did discuss a bigger project-a food co-op/community garden scheme- linked to a veggie cafe, but this is more longer term.
- Date: July 21st
- Contact: Amalaketu
- Email: colchester.buddhist [@] tiscali.co.uk
- Web: www.colchesterbuddhistcentre.com/~
Jamyang Buddhist Centre
“Peace in the City” event
The exact mix of activities will vary on the day, but will include a “Mindfullness walk” from Jamyang to the nearby Tibetan Peace Garden with a litter-pick as we go along and in the Garden…
There will be an afternoon of complementary therapies offered by kind therapists at reduced prices to benefit Jamyang. Come along and sample the range of therapies on offer from chi kung to massage to reiki to reflexology to Indian head massage. The Jamyang Cafe and our garden will be open too.
- Date: July 29th Sun 12 noon - 4pm
- Web: www.jamyang.co.uk/~
Kagyu Samye Dzong London Tibetan Buddhist Centre
We at KSD London have been invited to lead a day on the 30th June. The Dean of Southwark Cathedral will participate along with Lama Yeshe Rinpoche, Abbott of Samye Ling Monastery and various other religious representatives and public figures. The Young People’s Group from the Rockingham Estate will also be involved in our proposed activity. We are located opposite a small South London park called Bermondsey Spa Gardens, so we thought we might be able to care for the environment by making a contribution to the park through planting trees or planting a hedge. We have not settled anything yet but I have contacted the relevant officer in Southwark council to start an exchange. KSD London is a branch of Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland, a Tibetan Buddhist Centre which was established in 1967 and now has branches worldwide (www.samyeling.org/~).
- Date: June 30th
- Contact: Adam Rose
- Email: luoxirose [@] yahoo.co.uk
- Web: www.london.samye.org/~
London Buddhist Centre
Buddhist Year of Service Eco-Day – Creative Engagement with our World
A morning of reflection and contemplation on our ethical responsibility towards the world, followed by an afternoon of creative community action – details to be announced nearer the time. Please bring something home-grown, home-made and/or locally sourced for a shared vegetarian/vegan picnic lunch.
- Date: July 29th Sun 10am- 5pm dana, suggested £15
- Contact: Kalyanavaca and Akashadevi
- Email: info [@] lbc.org.uk/~
- Web: www.lbc.org.uk/~
Manchester Buddhist Centre
At the Manchester Buddhist Centre we are holding an Earth Kind day on the 7th July- we are hoping to recruit around 30 volunteers. It will be a day working on the Ashton Canal, organised by the Manchester Buddhist Centre in partnership with the Ancoats Canal Project and MERCi. Please see this link for more details
- Date: 7th July 10.30am-3.30pm
- Contact: Claire Morris
- Email: clairemo2002 [at] yahoo.co.uk/~
- Web: www.manchesterbuddhistcentre.org.uk/~
Oxford Network of Engaged Buddhists
Date – Saturday 21st July
Time – 1.45pm at Folly Bridge, 2.15pm (approx) at Osney Bridge, finishing after tea on Port Meadow at 5.00pm (approx)
You are warmly invited to join us on a silent afternoon walk of awareness along the river Thames in Oxford towards the common land of Port Meadow in Jericho. Through being present to our bodies, the land and life around us, we will confirm and celebrate our deep interconnectedness in the circle of life. When we arrive at Port Meadow we will join in a guided reflection before engaging in a collective litter pick. Through this action we will be caring for the diverse life forms that visit and make their home on the meadow. We will then gather together for tea on the meadow (bring a flask or cold drink and, if you wish, some vegetarian snacks), and have some time to share experiences from the walk, and any poems and short stories that link with our theme for the day. We will close with a guided meditation.
Start point Leaving from Folly Bridge, at the town end of the Abingdon Road, and stopping off at Osney Bridge where it meets Botley Road – you can join at either of these points. What to bring – wear sturdy shoes/walking boots, waterproofs or sun hats as weather suggests, drink/snacks for tea, something light and waterproof to sit on; and a large plastic bag plus protective gloves for the litter pick. Contact Brigid on 01608 811940 or Ally on 01865 747912
Sanghaseva
Celebrating the Human Family, Southampton, UK
16 – 22 July, 2012
We will be joining “Tools for Self Reliance”, a small UK based charity working to relieve poverty by focusing on the artisan sector in rural communities. Each year the charity ships tens of thousands of high-quality refurbished tools of various kinds and sewing machines to Africa.
In our week with the charity we will be supporting them in their headquarters just outside Southampton, in whatever way will be helpful to them. This may mean cleaning and refurbishing tools alongside the regular volunteers who come from all walks of life and include retired people, people with learning difficulties or mental health issues.
We may also do some maintenance work on the grounds and buildings.
The days will combine 5-6 hours of work with time set aside for meditation and reflection and will include some silent periods.
The retreat will be facilitated by Kirsten Kratz and Jenny Wilks.
To find out more about the charity please have a look at their website: www.tfsr.org/~
If you would like to find out more about the retreat or register please visit www.sanghaseva.org/~
SGI-UK Events
Kinson Common, 30th June
Bournemouth and Poole Chapter, on June 30th 2012, through the local council have arranged to clean up Kinson Common. Local members have invited community members to help them
SGI member coordinating: Jack Horwood
Sarisbury Green Community Centre, 1st July
Members of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight HQ will do some work at Sarisbury Green Community Centre. They have already supported the centre with some activities this year but on this day they aim to clear up the shrubs and the area at the front of the centre and the car park. Everyone is welcome. Please bring along gloves, cutters and old trousers if you are able to help.
The activity will start at 12.00 and continue for two hours.
SGI member coordinating: David Vane (Tel 023 8076 8495 : Skype ID: david0510
Grant Park, Forres, 1st July
Moray, Firth and Speyside district with other Highlands members will be painting the railings in Grant Park on Sunday 1st July 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. to help ‘Forres in Bloom’ with their 2012 champion of Champions floral event. All local faith groups have been invited to join in. An article was carried in the 29 June, Forres Gazette.
Moray, Firth and Speyside district with other Highlands members are raising money to buy trees which will be planted as part of a ‘Trees for Life’ Jubilee forest project in the Highlands.
SGI member contact: Janet Rodriguez
‘Picnic in the Park’LadygrovePark, Didcot, Oxfordshire 14th July
Saturday, 14th July South East Oxfordshire District is holding a stall at ‘Picnic in the Park’LadygrovePark, Didcot, Oxfordshire. The picnic is from 12.30 – 5pm.
We are running children’s activities focused on protecting wildlife. Children will learn how to make and decorate bee houses and also plant seeds that attract butterflies and bees.
(Contact: Pippa Harvey)
Gordon Community Woodland, Scottish Borders, 28th July
Scottish Borders District will be holding a Friends and Family Day in support of the Earthkind project at Gordon Community Woodland, in the Scottish Borders, on Saturday 28th July.
We will be tending a stand of young native broadleaved trees to improve biodiversity for wildlife and to increase their value for the local community. This will take place between 2 and 5 pm followed by a picnic in the log cabin beside the pond. We hope that local people will join us in this activity.
All are welcome to join us.
Contact: Donald McPhillimy, Scottish Borders District, Hillside, 9 Leaderdale Crescent, Earlston, TD4 6BJ, 01896 849 777 or 07891 961 960
Sheffield Buddhist Centre
We’re organising a summer fair at the Buddhist Centre; we’ll be selling lots of recycled clothes, books and other goods, serving vegetarian food and pulling in lots of people from the sangha and the local community.
- Date: Sunday 15th July
- Contact: Suryamati
- Email: info [@] sheffieldbuddhistcentre.org
- Web: www.sheffieldbuddhistcentre.org/~
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