Our society participated in the Buddhist festival at the request of Thai Buddhists held on Sunday, 17th September 2009 at the Grange Leisure centre, Bepton Road, Midhurst, West Sussex. Buddhist organisations representing Thai, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, Tibetan and Western Buddhist traditions participated and had their stalls to exhibit their respective Buddhist arts and countries’ tradition and culture.

The festival started with Buddhist monks and nuns in alms round (Pindapata) to receive food. The opening speech was given by Ambassador of Thailand followed by Dharma talk by venerable Ajahn Sucitto of Cittaviveka, Chithurst. The representative from Oxford University Oxford Mindfulness Centre gave a talk on ‘Mindfulness as Medicine’. According to him meditation has been recommended by NICE (national institute of clinical excellence) for management of depression especially its relapse. A panel discussion on ‘Buddhist meditation and stress management’ followed this talk which was participated by Buddhist monks from different traditions including our society’s president Venerable Bhikkhu Sumana.

Following the panel discussion lively and very entertaining Thai traditional/classical dances were performed by OBV Sunday School Children.

Besides the exhibition stalls from different Buddhist groups, there were Thai crafts and food on sale. The programme ended with candle-lit procession and reflection. The organisers are planning to hold similar festival next year.

An essay competition was held in July 2009 in collaboration with Buddhist Youth Group of Kathmandu, Nepal to mark the Society’s 12th anniversary on “Buddhist Attitude to Conflict (Buddha Siksha Ra Kalaha Samadhan)” in Kathmandu, Nepal. Altogether 10 people took part in the competition and following were declared first second and third.

First position:		 Ms. Ambika Shakya
Second position:	 	 Ms. Sunita Manandhar
Third position:		 Ms. Sangita Dhakkhwa

The prize giving ceremony was held on Saturday, 29 August 2009 at Jagat Sundar Bwonekuthi (School), Lakhtirtha, Kathmandu, which was chaired by Most Venerable Bhikkhu Ashwoghosha Mahathera. More than 200 people attended the prize giving ceremony. Our society’s founder president Mr. Amrit Ratna Sthapit, his wife Mrs Anu Sthapit, Dr. Swayambhu Tuladhar and Mrs Suchita Tuladhar attended the ceremony on behalf of the society. We hope to continue this type of essay competition in the future. Congratulation to those who came first, second and third and our appreciation to every one who participated in the competition and who has helped in organising and making the competition a success.

Our society participated in the first ever Nepali Mela organised by Tamu Dhee (UK) at the request of its president Mr. Subasing Gurung on Saturday, 8th August 2009 in Richmond Athletic Ground, London.

It was a huge event participated by thousands of people from Nepal and UK. Various Nepalese ethnic groups had their stalls displaying their cultural heritages and wearing traditional dresses and singing traditional songs and dancing to their tunes. All together there were 43 stalls including stalls for refreshment.

Altogether it was an enjoyable and friendly event well organised and run. Every one who participated enjoyed the event. The event itself consisted of opening ceremony with all participants taking part in the procession displaying their respective banners and wearing traditional dresses, stalls and cultural show from various groups. Representatives of all the organisations who participated in the event jointly declared the ceremony officially opened by cutting the red ribbon together. Masters of the ceremony did wonderful job announcing and describing specific particulars of each group in Nepali and English.

Most of our executive committee members, their families, friends and well wishers of the society joined us and had a nice and enjoyable time sharing traditional Nepali food kindly brought by members and well wishers.

Our society would like to thank Tamu Dhee (UK) especially Mr. Subasing Gurung who is not only a chairman of Tamu Dhee (UK) but also a long standing member of our society and a friend for not only inviting us to participate in the Mela but also helping with stall and making us feel welcome. Well done Tamu Dhee (UK). We were happy to be a part of the Mela.

Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) celebrated 2553rd Buddha Jayanti (Buddha Day) on Sunday, 17th May 2009 at the usual venue of Priory Community Centre, Acton, London. The celebration started with offering of flowers, candles, incenses etc to Buddha (Buddha Puja) by devotees followed by administration of Panca Sila by Venerable Bhikkhu Seelawimala and chanting according to Tibetan tradition by Venerable Lodro Thaye. Mr. Jhabindra Prashad Aryal, Chargé d’affaire of Embassy of Nepal, London gave a brief speech in which he emphasized the importance of Buddha’s teaching in the present day world and wished our country Nepal will achieve lasting peace as taught by Buddha more than 2500 years ago.

During the occasion Venerable Bhikkhu Bogoda Seelawimala, Head of London Buddhist Vihara and Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain and Venerable Bhikkhu Sumana, President of our society gave talks on ‘The Art of Noble Living ’ and ‘What is Buddhism’ respectively. Venerable Bhikkhu Sujan conducted guided meditation and emphasized the importance of regular meditation for calming the mind and preparing oneself for the day in a better mood. The whole audience listened to the talks with interest and every one remained absolutely quiet during guided meditation. A VCD of Swayambhu was shown which was very much appreciated. Mr. Pabitra Man Shakya sang two beautiful songs in between the talks.

To mark the occasion, the society’s publication LUMBINI 2009 magazine which was printed at Jedo print was released and distributed. The society used one of the famous Buddhist sites of Nepal Mahaboudha temple of Patan for the front cover.

Venerable Sumana and Venerable Sujan did Paritran chanting and blessed the audience and offered sacred Paritran thread to those who wished to have them. People really appreciated Paritran chanting and blessing from Venerable monks to end the day.

The hall was decorated appropriately with Buddhist flags and tankas for the occasion. About 200 people from Nepal, India, Burma, Britain and other countries attended the ceremony. People from the press and director- public relation of Nepali Samaj UK took notes and photos for their respective publications. Sujan and Ujwal Shakya provided an excellent sound system. After the formal programme every one enjoyed the traditional Nepali refreshment generously provided by members and well-wishers of the society.

Members attended the Buddhist Legacy in the United Kingdom, a centenary celebration of establishment of Buddhism in the UK organised by World Buddhist Foundation on Sunday, 28-9-08 at Brent Town Hall, London. On behalf of the society and representing Nepal the members of Koseli Cultural Group Mr. Madan Thapa played Mangal Dhoon in Sarangi (a classical Nepalese musical instrument) accompanied by guitar from Mr. Amar Lama. Mangal Dhoon is an auspious devotional song played in many occasions in Nepal.

As a part of world tour to conduct retreats in different countries famous Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh visited UK in August 2008. He gave public talk to a packed audience of more than 1000 people of all nationalities at Friends’ meeting house at Euston, London on the evening of Friday, 22 August 2008. He also conducted retreat from 24th – 29th August at Nottingham University. Two of our society’s members attended this week long retreat along with other 750 people of various nationalities and faiths. Most memorable part of this retreat was an environment of peace and quiet that prevailed throughout the retreat; and his excellent teachings. He is also visiting Italy, India and Vietnam to conduct retreats this year

Dharma and Pramila attended this one day conference on Contemporary religions in Britain on Wednesday, 10-9-08 organised by Prof Peter Jarvis of Surrey University for University of Third Age (U3A) mature students at Swindon. Speakers from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism spoke on their traditions. Dharma spoke on basic Buddhism. About 50 mature students attended the conference. The conference ended with the question and answer session to the panel of all the speakers of the day present.

A one day meditation retreat was held on Sunday 17th August 2008 at the residence of Dinesh and Rasana Bajracharya in Tunbridge Wells, Kent led by Ajahn Santacitta and an Anagarika from Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, Hemel Hempstead and the society’s president Venerable Bhikkhu Sumana. About 15 people attended this one day meditation consisting of sitting and walking meditations followed by question and answer session towards the end.

Venerable Bhikkhu Sumana and Dharma attended three day British Buddhist Landscape Conference organised jointly by Network of Buddhist Organisation (UK) and Institute of Oriental Philosophy on Saturday, 28-6-08 at Taplow Court in Taplow near Maidenhead, Berkshire. As a part of ethnicity and Buddhism session Bhikkhu Sumana spoke on Buddhism and Nepalese. About 70 Buddhists from various Buddhist traditions in Britain attended the conference.

His Holiness Dalai Lama visited UK in May 2008 and gave teachings in London, Nottingham, Oxford etc. Some of our members including Venerable Bhikkhu Sumana (at Oxford) and Venerable Bhikkhu Sujan (at Nottingham) attended his teachings at all three venues. His main teaching was given at Nottingham Arena, Nottingham from 24th -28th May which was attended by up to 10,000 people of all nationalities and faiths. Huge numbers of Nepalese attended his teaching on the last day i.e. 28th May 2008 and took Vajrasattva Initiation. On Sunday, 25 May 2008 afternoon His Holiness answered questions put to him by students of Nottingham. This discussion was facilitated by TV presenter Jonathan Dimbleby. Besides giving teachings His Holiness also met with spiritual and political leaders during his visit.