News & Events

This article will cover following points:

• Activities
• Outreach
• Development at the centre
• Kathina
• Dates for you

The centre was busy with different activities at the centre and outreach during autumn. One of the objectives of the centre is to provide an opportunity to learn and explore Buddhism and Buddhist teaching and practice at the centre. Thus, every year the centre held temporary novice ordination and retreat for people who are interested to experienced monastic life. This year, Norman and Lucy took the ordination on 15 August for two weeks. The day was very especial with the presence of the Most Venerable Phra Rajwithetpanyakhun or Dr Laow came up to centre to ordain them. Their daily program was morning chanting at 6 am, studying Buddhist scriptures, practice of meditation and going to almround. It was an opportunity for lay community to offer daana and join the meritorious activities at the centre.

Currently the centre has two toilets, up stair one and in the living room another. It is always uncomfortable, and toilet is one of the best needs at the moment. Therefore, the centre organised Phapah Fund raising ceremony on 2 September along with celebrating 2nd anniversary of new place. With the general support and help from different parts of the UK, Thailand, Austria, Jersey and Ireland we had a successful fundraising ceremony. We were able to raise £24,000 for this cause. On behalf of the centre special thanks to Ajahn Wichian from Thailand and thank you everyone and all support to the centre. Now we are on the process of construction.

The centre offers mindfulness sessions in different places. Every last Monday of the months the centre in collaboration with Multicultural health and well-being and Aberdeen Health Village is offering lunch time Monday mindfulness sessions for general public for an hour and for the staffs another hour since 2017. Which led us to develop 6 weeks course and successfully run two sessions at the Credo. The course led by David under guidance of Ajahn. Second session was successfully ended on 28 October at the centre with meditation and discussion in the centre’s environment.

Meanwhile, the centre also offers mindfulness sessions on demand. On 3 September David went to led mindfulness meditation at Len Ironsides centre. On 1st October, Bruce volunteered to guide mindfulness meditation at City Hospital for staffs. These are some of the main sessions the members of community went to guide on behalf of the centre for the benefit of many.

The centre also works with other organisations in the area and other parts of the country. Apart from being actively involve with local Aberdeen interfaith and other religious groups the centre extends its relationship with other Buddhist groups in the UK. On 28-30 September under the leadership of Ajahn Sujan 5 members of community went to Staffordshire to attend and support the interfaith conference at Wat Mahathat UK temple. On that tour, members visited Wat PhraSing in Runcorn, Wat Phrasiratanaram Manchester and Dhamma talaria peace Pagoda in Birmingham too.

On 20 October Ajahn Sujan attended human library event at Aberdeen Centre Library. The Human Library was organised by Aberdeen Interfaith Group.

Kathina ceremony is a traditional festival of offering a robe to the venerable monks, which is one of the only events that the monastic and lay community work together. Rest of other monastic rituals, lay people are not allowed to attend the ceremony. This ceremony also demonstrates a communal event and communal appreciation. The annual Kathina at the centre was on Sunday 28 October. The main Kathina Robe was sponsored by David and Lena Briggs along with Jackie. It was a successful event with chanting at 10am and followed by guided meditation for half an hour. It led to offering almsround and lunch. There was informal talk and blessings chantings at 1pm before officially offering the Robe. The ceremony ended by guided meditation and practice of loving kindness. Around 60 people attended the day. Similarly, on 1 November Monks went to London to attend first ever Kathina ceremony at London Mindfulness Meditation Centre.

The month of November, everyone is welcome to attend the evening and weekend sessions but unlikely there will be guidance or teaching. It would be mostly group sitting. In December, monks are on retreat. So, the centre is closed to public apart from weekend morning practice session. You are invited to join the group sittings in the weekend.

The New Year Eve evening service at the centre started at 9pm that lasted until 1 am. Members of the centre joined the chanting, meditation and listened reflection talks. On the first of January, lay members joined blessing chanting and alms-offering as a part of blessing for good new year. It was a busy day as members visited the centre for the New Year Blessing.

Ajahn Sujan attended New Year event on Sunday the 6th January in Basildon Essex, which was organised by Nibbanaram Buddhist Community Group. Ajahn Sujan is its patron and advisor.

On 13 January, we had annual Remembrance Day service at the centre. The day began with chanting, meditation and alms offering. In the afternoon, there was a ceremony dedicating merits to our departed loved ones. Members brought pictures of their loved ones who passed away. This ceremony will take place every second Sunday of January.

Mindfulness Mondays at Aberdeen Health Village have been booked for whole year. It’s last Monday of the months from 11 am to 1pm. Please contact to Health Village for more information and booking your place.

Similarly, 3rd session of 6 weeks Mindfulness course at Credo has been started mid-February with 20 people taking part. This course is also free but your generous donation will help us to continue this service. We are planning to run 4th session in Summer and 5th session in Autumn. If you are interested, please contact the centre.

We were very honoured to be nominated for Aberdeen City Health and Social Care partnership award ‘Heart Award’ on 1st of March. The centre did not win the award but privileged to be nominated for our Mindfulness services around the city supporting people suffering from different physical and mental health issues.

These are some of the main dates and upcoming events at the centre.

Dates for 2019:

➢ 11th May – Interfaith mindful walk

➢ 19th May – Vesak Celebration

➢ 24th to 26th May – Ajahn in London

➢ 16th July – Rains Retreat starts & possible arrival of visiting monks

➢ 13th October – end of rains retreat

➢ 27th October Kathina Ceremony

➢ One Day retreat Every 1st Sunday of the months from 8 – 5

Residential Retreats

➢ April 12-14 (Thai)

➢ June 21-23 (English)

➢ July 20-21 (English)

➢ August 9-11 (English)

Chanting and meditation practice

➢ Every Saturday morning 8am to 11am

August 2018

Everyone enjoyed beautiful summer this year giving smile and great hope of wonderful home grown organic salads and vegetables on the dinner tables. As the month of August began weather got colder and nights become shorter. Nevertheless, centre was busy as usual extending its helping hands giving support and encouragements. Apart from busy running courses at the centre, the centre continued its activities outreaching communities locally and beyond.

The centre raised £510 to help victims of the natural disaster and dam collapse in Attapeu Province. Norman, Matthew and Lucy represented on behalf of the centre to hand over the fund to the Ambassador of PDR Lao on 11 August 2018 at Copthorn Hotel.

In the past, the centre has supported flood victims in Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Similarly, the centre also raised significant fund to support Earthquake victims in Nepal, which killed almost 10,000 people and almost a hundred thousand households. There are still thousands of people struggling to establish their houses.

On 12 August 2018: Venerable monks along with Rudee went to attend the first ever Traditional Jataka Tale telling event in London, which was organised by Nibbanaram Buddhist Group. Ajahn Sujan is an advisor and operates finance of this group. The event was organised to raise a fund to establish centre, where venerable monks will be residing to conduct Buddhist activities and meditation classes. At the event, along with other monks, Luangpor Pradit, Ajanh Yui and Ajahn Sujan also gave talks in traditional form.  Meanwhile, the centre also offered fund just almost £400 for the establishment of the centre. The event went very well and hopeful that the centre will be established soon for the benefit and welfare of many people.

On 15 August 2018:

The centre organised 2nd year Novice ordination on the day with a presence of Venerable Phra Rajwithetpanyakhun or Dr. Laow, who was the preceptor for two novices; Norman and Lucy, from the Netherlands and England respectfully. Both being a student the University of Aberdeen regularly visited the Varapunya Meditation Centre attending meditation classes and finally embark to learn further by being a novice and living a monastic life.

The ceremony was attended by number of members and rejoiced on their noble act. They stayed at the centre as novice for just over two weeks learning and practising Buddhist philosophies and practice of meditation. They also had an opportunity to go alms in the city experiencing monks’ going around collecting food from people. The centre would like to express appreciation to  all members who supported for the successful Novice Ordination project by providing food and other necessities.

Mindfulness Mondays at the Aberdeen Health Village has been very successful and number of attendants are still remain high volume. Massive thanks and appreciation goes to Liz, who has been working very hard toward the success. Meanwhile, we are happy to announce that the 2nd Learning Mindfulness Meditation at the Credo is starting on mid September 2018, which David is going to lead. This course is designed to give more insight into meditation and facilitating group practice for the better understanding its theory and benefit of meditation.

On 7 July 2018, Ajahn Sujan along with Ajahn Wichian and two members of Varapunya Meditation Centre traveled to Jersey channel Island building bridges between centre in Aberdeen and people in Jersey. It was a fruitful visit and people warmly welcomed us all and given first class hospitality during our stay.

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