The UK’s different faiths come together to celebrate Interfaith Week at London Buddhist Vihara

The UK’s different faiths come together to celebrate Interfaith Week at London Buddhist Vihara

Pictures by Tissa Madawala & Report by Pandula Ranatunga

On the 24th of November 2011, the London Buddhist Vihara in Chiswick organised an event that brought representatives from different faiths together for the common purpose of encouraging harmony and understanding among the UK’s different faiths and religions. Part of the 2011 Inter Faith Week celebration, the event consisted of prayers and thoughts from different faiths. It also included inspirational talks and readings that support the theme "Living Well Together”.

The event began with a welcome speech by Dr. Gnanis Subasinghe introducing the theme of the day "Living Well Together” and this was followed by the lighting of candles by the representatives of other religions and interfaith groups. The illuminated candles were placed in a pyramid structure to represent the underlying theme of the unity and harmony of all faiths and religions. There was also an observation of one minutes’ silence as a reflection of faith. Drawing from the life of Buddha and his teachings, the chief incumbent of the London Buddhist Vihara and the chief Sanga Nayaka of Great Britain, the Ven.Bogoda Seelawimala reminisced about the Buddha’s profound understanding and tolerance towards other religions and of the founders of other religions and faiths. Describing the Buddha’s uttering of “Nibbanam Paramang Sukkan,” the Ven.Bogoda Seelawimala compared enlightenment and wisdom which bring joy and light to the world by comparing this to a Lotus which is born in the gloomy depths of a pond and then blooms over the surface of the water providing beauty and light to the pond.

The keynote speech was given by the previous Director and now Advisor to the UK Interfaith Network Organisation Brian Pearce who Dr. Gnanis Subasinghe introduced as the founding member and a stalwart of the movement. Brian Pearce, who was recently awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law degree by the University of Warwick, said Buddhists brought calmness and courteousness to the Interfaith Network proceedings and paid homage to previous Head Monk, the late Dr. Vajiragnana for his tireless work towards the building of the UK Interfaith Network. Representing the UK Sikh community, Mr. Setti Singh spoke about cultivating good practices and creating a positive mind where we all have responsibilities towards others and ought to respect others as one ’s self.

Achariya Moggala from Ameda Temple, who has joined Interfaith Network recently, said the UK Interfaith Network has become very dear to her heart just as Buddhism became dear to her heart twenty years ago when she began to follow the path of the Buddha. In a personal note she said that the deeper she trained and learned about Buddhism and doing the work through the Interfaith network prepared her to understand and deal with today’s wonderfully diverse society. Representing past and present students of LBV Dhamma School, Rushika Ratnasiri, Milanee Unawatuna, Minaree Jayasena and Navindu Vithane spoke of the valuable teaching of the Buddha that contributes to the idea of "Living Well Together” in a diverse society.

The day’s programme came to an end with the screening of an award winning short film in Sinhala portraying the vicissitudes of life where gain and loss dictate where a human mind can be conditioned to happiness or unhappiness. The story referring to Buddha’s teaching was based on a story by the Ven.Bogoda Seelawimala. Overall the programme superbly reflected the theme "Living Well Together" in explaining the value of unity and peace among world religions and faiths. All those who attended the event were treated to refreshments, organised by the coordinators and the supporters of the London Buddhist Vihara.