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The Full Moon of February Strange as it may seem, Buddhists celebrate the death of the Buddha. His death came when he was eighty years old and had spent some forty years teaching after his Enlightenment. What is more, the notion that all things are impermanent is central to Buddhist teaching and, for Buddhists, loss and impermanence are things to be accepted rather than causes of pain and grief. The Paranibbana Sutta gives a moving and dignified account of the Buddha's last days and passages from it are often read on Paranirvana Day. The day is used as an opportunity to reflect on the fact of one's own future death and on people whom one has known who have recently died. Meditations are done for the recently deceased to give them help and support wherever they might be now. TOP
The Full Moon of May/June Two
Events celebrating this festival: The Buddha's Enlightenment is the central event in Buddhism, and Wesak, the celebration of that Enlightenment, is the most important festival of the Buddhist year. Many of the Buddha's disciples also attained Enlightenment, and in the centuries that have followed there have been many other Enlightened masters. They too are recalled at Wesak with readings of accounts of their lives or from works they wrote themselves. But Enlightenment is also an ideal to which all Buddhists aspire. So Wesak is a chance to reflect on what it might mean for individual Buddhists. Come to celebrate the biggest Buddhist festival of the year. A gathering of Buddhists from different traditions celebrating the Buddha’s Enlightenment. Meditations, symposium of speakers ritual, talks, stalls, events for kids. Admission free. Lunch freely offered by the Sri Lankan and FWBO communities.
Sunday 18th May 08 at the GBC.
Starts 4.00pm- Ends 9.00pm
4.00pm - 6.30pm
6.30pm-7.30pm Meal (Satpal providing Indian meal - additions also welcome!)
Also from 10.00pm
The Full Moon of July
Soon after his Enlightenment the Buddha rose from where he had been sitting, went to find his former disciples and shared his experience with them. This event, which happened at a place called Sarnath in northern India, might be called the start of the Buddhist religion and it is this that Dharma Day celebrates. On Dharma day there are often readings from the Buddhist scriptures and a chance to reflect deeply on their contents. Above all, on Dharma day Buddhists feel profoundly grateful that the Buddha and other Enlightened masters did share their teachings with other people. The Full Moon of October Sunday 23rd September, 10.30am – 9pm
Sangha Day Sunday : Spiritual Community
23 November This year the festival will take 2 days celebrating the Buddhist community in history, in myth and in our own experience. We will be exploring the five precepts as a means of unifying the Sangha. Saturday and Sunday, 23-24th November, 10.30–4.30 both days
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