Wishing you all a Happy New Year

Thank you to everyone who has shared their practice,
and supported the temple in so many different ways,
during the past year.

Wishing you all a healthy and peaceful 2025.
Let us offer the merit of our practice to all beings;
may all beings be able to realise the truth.

Events on New Year’s Eve

On New Year’s Eve we will be holding the traditional New Year’s Eve Festival, starting with meditation from 7pm. People will be able to take part in the ceremony either in person or via zoom, and details have been sent out to lay Sangha members.

During the ceremony we recite the Scripture of Great Wisdom, and a ceremonial copy of the scripture arranged in a fanfold design is “revolved”, symbolically showing it and offering it in all directions. After this we all drink a glass of celebratory New Year juice together, making a wish for the peace and prosperity of the temple and the Sangha, and all beings, during the coming year.

After the ceremony we will have a chance to meet and talk together, and the evening will end at about 9pm or so.

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New Year’s Day:
The Festival of Maitreya Bodhisattva

Then on New Year’s Day we will be celebrating the Festival of Maitreya Bodhisattva. Maitreya is known as “the Buddha who is yet to come”. It is said that Maitreya will appear when the teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha has completely disappeared and been forgotten. Associated with new beginnings, the Festival of Maitreya is often celebrated on New Year’s Day.

In addition to welcoming visitors to the temple for the festival (please book in advance), we will also be holding the festival over zoom so that Lay Sangha members can join in from where they are. We hope you will be able to join us, and details have been sent out to Lay Sangha members.

This festival day will run from 10am to 4pm, with the Festival and Dharma Talk both in the morning so that people can come just for those if they would prefer. There will then be the option to stay on for a bring-and-share lunch and an afternoon of meditation, followed by tea and biscuits and an opportunity to ask questions.

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Closed Period in January

The temple will be closed to visitors for just over a week in the first half of January, from the 4th to the 12th inclusive, to allow Rev. Aiden to have some retreat time.

There won’t be any events at the temple during that time; after the evening meeting on Thursday the 4th of January, the next events will be the visit to the Nottingham group on Monday the 13th, and then morning meditation and service on Tuesday the 14th of January. You will still be able to contact the temple by email during this period, but not by phone or text.

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Festival of the Buddha’s Enlightenment
and Tenth Anniversary Celebrations

It was lovely to have seven people here in person on Saturday the 7th of December, despite the challenging stormy weather, for the Festival of the Buddha’s Enlightenment and tenth anniversary celebration, as well as half a dozen or so people online. This was our first Enlightenment festival since we have had the Mount Sumeru altar which came from Reading, and the photo below shows the meditation hall and altar, illuminated by the festive lights.

The photo below is a close-up of the picture which is on the altar, which was painted by Kevin and given to the temple as an Enlightenment Day card and gift. Thank you to Kevin, and to everyone who made the day so enjoyable and such a success. I hope that we and the temple will experience many happy returns of the day.

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Alms Bowl Requests

Donations of Food
Offering food is a traditional way to support a monk, and all donations of vegetarian food are most welcome. In particular:

• porridge oats
• peanuts or other nuts
• peanut butter
• fresh fruit and vegetables (except garlic or peppers)
• dried herbs
• cheese, eggs and yoghurt

Any other suitable items would also be appreciated.

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Donations

The temple is dependent on donations for its continued existence, and any financial support you are able to offer is greatly appreciated. Details of how to offer support can be found on the Donations page of the website.

All donations are received with gratitude