Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Lambeth Buddhist Centre symbolically opened by Lama Ole Nydahl

Posted on: January 23rd, 2013 4 Comments

It was a long journey, from the wishes of our highest Karma Kagyu lamas 40 years ago until now, running through the long preparation and planning application, down to the approval and the receipt of the keys, supported by the enormous hard work and altruistic dedication of many friends and supporters.

Finally, on Wednesday 23rd January 2013, the London Diamond Way Buddhist Sangha entered their new Buddhist centre and home for many years to come, the Beaufoy Institute. Lama Ole Nydahl, founder of over 640 Buddhist Centres around the world to date, symbolically unlocked the front doors and led a large group of students and friends inside.

Lama Ole helped to carry an impressive-sized statue of Maitreya, the Future Buddha, into the main meditation hall. Truly, the power-field of the direct unbroken lineage of the Karmapas was now established definitively, here in the heart of Lambeth. In the centre of London, we are a stone’s throw from the Thames and the Houses of Parliament, home of the oldest parliamentary democracy, heir to the Magna Carta, the “foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot”, often mentioned by Lama Ole in his lectures. History was in the air, and it seemed to fit perfectly that this very Institute, founded to help people, embodying a hundred years of idealism, would now be an exemplar of the development of selflessness and freedom – a Buddhist centre – home to so many idealists, and carrying the blessing of a thousand years of the Karma Kagyu Buddhist meditation transmission.

Waiting for Lama Ole, holding the keys to the Beaufoy InstituteLama Ole Nydahl entering the Beaufoy Institute, our new Buddhist centreLama Ole Nydahl unlocked the door to the Beaufoy Institute
After having waited on Black Prince Road in the crisp winter weather, everyone was glad to be inside. Lama Ole gave a short speech, praising the hard work of his friends and students and underscoring the importance of working to benefit others. Especially, building up Buddhist meditation centres, places where people can access the Buddha’s teachings and experience the nature of their mind, is considered to be one of the most useful things one can do.

Statue of Maitreya and Lama Ole Nydahl in the Beaufoy InstituteLama Ole gives a speech by the altar in the BeaufoyLama Ole gives a speech about the new Buddhist Centre

Immediately after Lama Ole’s speech, work began on cleaning the small meditation room. The delicate task of restoring the Beaufoy Institute and making it usable as a Buddhist centre will take some months; then we will open it for the Lambeth community and the general public, and it will be some years before the full potential of the Beaufoy Institute as a Buddhist centre is realised. The work continues – we shall not be bored!

 

Planning application approved for the Beaufoy Institute!

Posted on: October 14th, 2012 1 Comment

We are delighted to announce that our planning application to transform the Beaufoy Institute has been approved. The application from Diamond Way Buddhism went to the Lambeth Planning Application Committee on 3rd July 2012, and was approved by the vote of 6 Lambeth councillors, with 5 in favour and one abstention, and the planning permission has now been granted.

We are very thankful for the overwhelming support of the local people of the Kennington, Oval, and Vauxhall (KOV) area, and the ward councillors during the planning consultation process – and now the project to bring the Beaufoy Institute back to life can go ahead! More details can be found on our Diamond Way Buddhism UK blog.

Members of Diamond Way Buddhism celebrate outside the Town Hall where Lambeth Council granted planning permission for the Beaufoy Institute

Members of Diamond Way and friends joyful at the granting of planning permission by Lambeth Council

What next for the Beaufoy Institute?

It is expected that work to transform the Beaufoy Institute will start in early 2013. We hope the Beaufoy will be open, at least in part, for use within a year.
The project itself has now moved into detailed planning and further fundraising phases – so there is lots going on behind the scenes! The architectural plans in particular need to be converted into detailed plans for the renovation and there is a huge effort underway now to secure the benefits of the project for all.

The local community will be interested in how and when they can visit the Beaufoy Institute, as well as any disruption that might be caused by the building works. We very much have this in mind and so will post more updates as soon as we know more.

We are all very excited and looking forward to the move to Lambeth – watch this space for more information!

Diamond Way cakes at Kennington Village Fete

Posted on: June 5th, 2012

After an epic bake-athon the day before, a Diamond Way team brought cakes galore to the Kennington Fete in Cleaver Square on Sunday 27th May where thousands of locals enjoyed a day out in glorious sunshine.

The team sold hundreds of slices of cake along with donations from the Tommyfield pub, a 12 year old local resident and Fete organiser Alex (with his glorious organic chocolate mousse). To add to the festivities, the team also hosted a “Guess the Weight” competition with a splendid Jubilee Themed cake as the subject matter and prize. A thrilled winner took home the 5.196kg beauty – we’re confident she’ll find plenty of friends to share with. A buzzwire also kept quite a few kids busy!

The fete itself was a splendid occasion, featuring exotic dancing, the local beekeepers, a human slot machine and the famous Kennington Tandoori to keep us all entertained. It was a wonderful chance for us to work together with the local community and to raise money for this year’s cause, Kennington Market Garden.

We look forward to coming back next year!

Lambeth community invited to meet the Buddhas

Posted on: May 29th, 2012

 

This week an extraordinary free exhibition of local art from Lambeth and Buddhist art from the Himalayas is being exhibited. Uniquely, the exhibition includes a contemporary art response from local artists in Lambeth displayed alongside pieces from the British Council Collection.

It is a chance for local people to come and meet us and enjoy the rich Tibetan tradition and its contemporary equivalent.

The exhibition features more than 50 separate items including gilded statues, ritual ornaments and embroidered scroll paintings called Thangkas. The largest Thangka stretches more than 16 feet from bottom to top, while the smallest sculpture measures just 4in tall. The oldest piece in the exhibition is a rare 3rd century stone statue of the Buddha, carved in the ancient kingdom of Gandhara – part of modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Buddhist collection was previously displayed at the European Parliament in Brussels, in honour of the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. First assembled in 2001, the collection has also been shown in Germany, Spain, Finland, Belgium, Hungary and Poland.

The Exhibition is free and at The Spring, 100 Vauxhall Walk, SE11 5EL and runs from 28th May to 3rd June 2012. A complementary programme of tours, talks and films are also happening daily – these are either free or £7.

See full details www.spaceforart.org.uk. All are very welcome to come and visit.