Loving the World - Buddha Day Festival 2024

Loving the World - Buddha Day Festival 2024

Saturday, 25th May, 10:30am - 4:30pm

Led by Mokshadarshini and Viryadeva

Vegan & gluten free lunch provided

Suggested donation: £30 / £25 (conc.)

All welcome!

Buddhist teaching all stems from a single moment of vision. Over two thousand years ago, the Buddha awoke to the true meaning of existence. He saw that amid the suffering, difficulty and confusion of human life, lies the hidden possibility of total liberation: a love and freedom beyond all bounds.

He also saw that everyone - no matter who they are - could also discover this potential. In his mind's eye, he saw a field of lotuses. Some were buried deep in mud, their buds obscured. Others were beginning to rise up, reaching beyond the dirt and decay, on the cusp of opening out freely and completely. He loved what he saw, and dedicated his life to helping others open out beyond the mess and difficulty of their lives.

Join us on this very special day celebrating the moment the Buddha woke up to this; the day he fell in love with the world. In the course of the day, we'll meditate together, share food and participate in some simple Buddhist ritual. We'll also hear a keynote talk from our Chair, Vajragupta, on this most important of themes: the Buddha's vision for a liberated world.

Schedule

10:30am Introduction & loving kindness meditation

11:30am Tea break

11:50am Keynote talk from Vajragupta - "Buddha: a light in the darkness" followed by Q&A

1:00pm Lunch (vegan & gluten free) 

2:15pm The Buddha's Great Vision: a short dramatisation 

3:00pm Tea break

3:15pm Ritual

4:30pm Close

Dana economy

All our events are by donation, because we believe that the Buddha's teachings should be freely given. We suggest a donation of £30 / £25 (concession rate) for this event to help with running costs, but we welcome you however much you can afford to give.