Tag Archive for "Beaufoy" - London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre

Posts Tagged ‘Beaufoy’

Take our Buddhist Centre home with you!

Posted on: August 3rd, 2016 No Comments

The laws of space-time notwithstanding, you can now bring the 2,000 sq m Beaufoy building home with you!

We have created a very limited run of models of our Buddhist centre. Some other Buddhist centres who would like to support us have taken one back to their centre. It can be a physical focal point for raising donations. It’s not only about the large numbers of pounds that we need, but also the chance for as many people as possible to make a karmic connection with the project, so even putting a single coin in the box becomes very meaningful.

If you would like to take the Beaufoy home with you, come and see us at our stand!

Don’t be shy – come and see us

The Beaufoy Box is easy to put together

Head and heart

Posted on: August 2nd, 2016 No Comments

It’s not all about money! The reason we create, renovate and run Buddhist centres (and so the reason we are here in Germany promoting our renovation project) is to develop our human qualities like friendship, compassion, and fearlessness. And we don’t have to wait until it’s finished. The whole process helps us do this.

Working together on meaningful projects brings us closer together. Combined with meditation, it helps us see the qualities and potential in people.

Without a lot of philosophy we can just say: contributing to something bigger than oneself simply makes you feel good.

Of course good ideas are always welcome as well as good feelings. While we were looking for our new centre we collected best practices from all round the world, and we’re still learning. So if you have suggestions for how we could do any aspect of our project better, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Fundraising with friends

Posted on: August 1st, 2016 No Comments

Members of the London Diamond Way Buddhist centre are here at the Europe Center Summer Course in Germany to fundraise for our renovation project. And of course to meditate, and to have fun!

We’re building up our information stand where we will explain to the course visitors what we’re doing: renovating the roof of our century-old centre, creating a civilised space for people to live there, and completing the Great Hall, our magnificent meditation space.

For our fellow Buddhists who are planning on coming to the meditation course – you can find us in the Information part of the dining tent. See you!

Buddhist meditation centre opens in Lambeth: Video invitation

Posted on: April 2nd, 2014 No Comments

This Saturday, 5th April 2014, the London Diamond Way Buddhist Meditation Centre will be officially opened! Representatives from Lambeth Council, local residents and special guests from a number of Buddhist and other faith groups will join Lama Jigme Rinpoche and Lama Ole Nydahl at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The opening ceremony is part of a weekend of Buddhist teachings and meditation with Lama Jigme Rinpoche and Lama Ole Nydahl, accomplished meditation masters in the Karma Kagyu lineage. Tickets are still available on the door (the opening ceremony itself is free). See here for the full programme of the meditation course.

Once the Buddhist centre is opened, public meditations will commence every Thursday evening at 7pm, starting on Thursday 10th April, with a short talk about Buddhism preceding the guided meditation. All welcome.

To celebrate this wonderful occasion, we have produced this short video invitation below. Enjoy!

Lambeth Council: Beaufoy Institute sale profits to be invested in Prince’s Ward

Posted on: December 10th, 2013 No Comments

When Diamond Way Teachings and Centres bought the Beaufoy Institute, many local people were interested to hear of the benefits a prospering Buddhist centre might bring to their part of Lambeth.

One of the most immediate benefits is that Lambeth Council received £200,000 from the sale of the former Beaufoy Institute and annexe on Black Prince Road (bought by Diamond Way) and the adjoining plot of land bordering Sancroft Street (bought by Bellway Homes). This money was earmarked for local regeneration projects.

Those of us who now live in the area can not only rejoice at the benefit this is bringing to everyone (which is something very Buddhist!), but also take a personal interest in what improvements are being planned literally on our street.

Recently, Lambeth Council announced exactly where the money will be spent. Councillors Lorna Campbell, Mark Harrison and Stephen Morgan wrote on their SE11 blog that five projects will be funded. Money from the sale of the Beaufoy Institute and associated plot will be combined with the proceeds from the sale of the Old Lillian Baylis School for a number of projects.

Lollard Street Adventure playground, part of Lambeth Walk Open Space, was recently handed over to the Kennington Association by Lambeth Council. £113,000 from the Beaufoy proceeds will help to regenerate this important space for local residents.
Lambeth Living and representatives of VGERTA (Vauxhall Gardens Estate Residents and Tenants Association) proposed ‘greening’ the sunken area outside the two 1960s towers on Vauxhall Walk, which project will be funded with £30,000. Durning Library on Kennington Lane will have new computers bought.
Tyers Street will be investigated to see if it could be turned into a traffic-free green space, which would make this area more peaceful and pleasant.
Just over the road from the Beaufoy, and of interest especially to those with children, the landscaping of the playground between Mountain House and Sullivan House was also strongly supported by the poll of Princes Ward residents. This project will be funded by Lambeth Living.

You can read more about the proposals in the Local investment projects from the Beaufoy sale announced! article on the Princes Ward SE11 blog.

Lama Ole Nydahl comes to the Beaufoy Institute

Posted on: April 21st, 2013 3 Comments

As reported on our national Diamond Way Buddhism UK Blog, last week Lama Ole Nydahl visited London on a surprise break from his project work, which time he usually spends in one of our larger centres working on manuscripts and answering queries from his students. He came straight to the new London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre, the Beaufoy Institute, from the airport.

Despite London’s extended cold spell and the chilly conditions in the building, on both evenings, Lama Ole Nydahl gave teachings and Q&A sessions for his students in the beautiful main hall of the Beaufoy Institute. As Lama Ole so aptly put it in one of the Q&A sessions “There is no way to enlightenment for a lazy man.”

Read the full report on Lama Ole’s visit to London, and enjoy some images below of Lama Ole Nydahl and the London sangha in the Beaufoy Institute:

Diamond Way gets the keys to the Beaufoy Institute!

Posted on: January 23rd, 2013 2 Comments

The wait is over and the work starts on Wednesday 23rd January 2013 to transform a derelict school in Lambeth into one of the capital’s biggest Buddhist centres, with a visit by Lama Ole Nydahl.

Over the last 10 years, London’s Buddhist community has rocketed by more than 50% – that’s 27,000 new Buddhists, who now total 1% of the capital’s population. This makes London more Buddhist than India, where just 0.8% follow this famously peaceful tradition.
Unsurprisingly, London’s Buddhists have been looking to expand to accommodate the growing interest. Today, a derelict school in Lambeth starts its transformation into one of the capital’s biggest Buddhist centres as a home for Diamond Way Buddhism.
The Grade II Beaufoy Institute promises to be regenerated back to its former splendour, having stood empty for more than 15 years.

The project gained community support and planning approval from Lambeth Council in July and turning the empty Institute into a Buddhist meditation centre will now take some time – and hard work too, explains Steve James, a doctor and spokesman for Diamond Way Buddhism:

“We’re thrilled and delighted to bring the Beaufoy Institute back to life – it’s our dream fulfilled. The project’s success is thanks to the enormous support we’ve had from everyone. It will make a hugely positive impact locally. We’re expecting a lot of hard work now cleaning, painting and cooking for all the volunteers – and the fun starts today”.

If you are interested to hear more about the project, the Danish Lama Ole Nydahl, who has inspired the founding of this and more than 600 other Diamond Way Buddhist centres around the world, will be talking about “Buddhism in the West” at Kensington Town Hall, 5pm Saturday 26th January.

The keys to the Beaufoy Institute!

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!

Planning application submitted for the Beaufoy Institute

Posted on: March 27th, 2012

Following local community consultation, the planning proposal to bring the historic Beaufoy Institute and Annex back to life has been submitted by Diamond Way Buddhism. The plan will:

Fully renovate the Beaufoy Institute, with minimal changes to the listed building
Provide space for community living including common dining and children’s areas.
Include a contemplation garden, exhibition room and facilities for events and meetings.
Provide accommodation for the Buddhists living at the centre and visitors.

The community consultation has highlighted interest in the history of the building and in the transformation of the derelict site. The renovation will provide opportunities for local people to be involved in the project and also visit and use the building for different events and community activities.

The primary activity in the institute will be Buddhist meditation and an associated program including art exhibitions and classes on wellbeing. Funds have been raised for the project from within the Buddhist community and have come from many activities in the last 10 years both in the UK and in Europe.

Planning Consultation at the Tea House Theatre, Vauxhall Walk

Posted on: February 2nd, 2012

Representatives of Diamond Way Buddhism gathered at the splendid Tea House theatre by Vauxhall Spring Gardens to offer the local community the opportunity to look at plans for the renovation of the Beaufoy Institute building. The informal consultation was part of the multi-stage planning consultation and planning application process, which could last several months, and followed on from the recent discussion about planning at the KOV Forum.

Various visitors shared local stories about the history of the Beaufoy building and how different groups would like to be involved in the new Buddhist centre following various previous projects.

Comments about the planning application were positive and the general feeling was that it is a good thing that the Beaufoy building – which has been vacant for some 15 years – will finally be brought back to life.

Some of the ideas discussed with the local visitors included the opportunity for tours of the Beaufoy Institute before and after the renovation; the potential for volunteering or apprenticeship opportunities for local youths; possible connections with local schools and the prospect of an annual community fundraiser where the whole community are invited into the Beaufoy for a concert. These ideas are all being looked into and announcements will be made further down the line.

You can read more articles about the planning application process.