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News Update
New Year Blessings from the OBV
Dear All Friends and Devotees of the Oxford Buddha Vihara,
2009 is coming to an end. The year has witnessed a lot.
Global economic recession has hit hard everywhere. Consequently, insecurity has
been the hallmark of life in many aspects. Some of our devotees, far and near, were
among those hard hit. They have been in our thoughts most of the times. As if that
was not enough, my pupil, Ven. Laisai Vilassaga, passed away with Virus C in early
January. With spiritual support from the Buddha's wisdom and morale support from
one another, I believe we have dealt with all situations rather well in
our own way.
There are some positive things for us to look back at the year. Academically, I
successfully initiated two unique conferences, in March in Burma and in October
in Thailand: a Pali speaking conference at the international level. In March, the
Theravada universities from around the world, of which I have the honour of being
their Executive Secretary, hosted the first ever Pali speaking scholars in a two-day
meeting. The October meeting in Bangkok was to honour His Holiness the Thai Sangharaja's
96th Birthday. In two weeks' time, another one will be held, with my help, again
in Thailand, although I will not be there in person. The OBV has also helped finance
the publication of two books in Pali in Romanized alphabets. A devout family from
Bangkok has helped publish my English translation The Mind-city.
I also helped one Indonesian Buddhist college in Jakarta to gain government recognition
for their MA course, serving as their Hon. Director of the course. I gave a series
of lectures there in May. Besides, from October I started giving weekly
lectures for the Theology Faculty at Oxford, although I still have a great deal
to improve.
For our dhamma propagation, we have opened a branch of the OBV in Singapore, although
we still need to work harder to be as successful as expected. In India, the first
meditation retreats we organized at Buddhagaya had a good outcome. For the first
time in mainland China, I co-chaired a plenary session at the 2nd World Buddhist
Forum. I also had the opportunity to visit some Buddhist universities in Taiwan.
And, also for the first time in Thailand, I ran a week-long vipassana meditation
retreat at the Young Buddhist Association of Thailand. As in the previous four years,
I also played a key role as the General Secretary, in organizing the 2009 United
Nations Day of Vesak celebrations in Bangkok. In Oxford, all our regular teachings
i.e. sutta classes and meditation have been successful. In addition, two summer
courses for children were conducted. There is a growing demand for it now. School
visits were also stretched to our full capacity. As I write this message, my assistant,
Ven. Dr. Seng Pannyavamsa, is in Belgium on a two-week dhamma teaching tour. With
your generous support, I have also been able to renovate a chediya in my hometown
and made some contribution toward the construction of a dhamma hall in the
village where I was born. We also offered some limited financial support towards
some monks studying in Sri Lanka.
As you all know, amid the recession, the OBV has moved to a bigger property in 356-
358, Abingdon Road, Oxford. The price of this new OBV premises is double the previous
one. With extraordinary generosity and goodwill from everyone, we have made this
move possible.
2010 is now at our doorsteps. Throughout the year, all
regular teaching programs at the OBV will go on. Meditation retreats in Buddhagaya
will be extended to two months. Meditation retreats are planned elsewhere in Europe
and Asia. More scholarships_ humble they may be_ will be offered to Buddhist novices
as far as Assam, India. I am thinking of establishing a separate fund for
them. Initially, we will support five of them. Financial support for children who
have no access to school in many villages in my hometown
will also continue; this support is confined to a two-month literary campaign
and Buddhist education. And also in the village I was born, the construction of
the dhamma hall is going on. I shall be sending donations from time to time. So,
the year 2010 promises to be yet a busy year for us.
Last year this time we were busy collecting interest-free loans for the purchase
of the new premises for the OBV at Oxford; now this year we have a responsibility
to pay off our mortgage. For this, we shall be raising fund in April. We owe one
hundred and fifty thousand Pounds to the bank and another one hundred and thirty
thousand Pounds to members of our own community. Our monthly mortgage payment
(interest only) is around nine hundred Pounds. Right now, anyone can become
a donor of land in this new premise by making a donation of fifty Pounds per square
foot.
So much for mundane matters. Now, let me invoke the blessings of the Lord Buddha
upon all of you for the New Year. As in my last year's message, a New Year celebration
is based on conventional truth (sammuti-scca/ thamuti-thitsar/ sommoot); not
on paramattha, a natural and ultimate truth. However, our life is organized around
this conventional truth and we cannot ignore its important role in spiritual practice.
With this in mind, we will be organizing a chanting, starting just before midnight
on 31 Dec. 2009 continuing until well in 1st January 2010 morning. (All are
welcome and invited to join the New Year blessing ceremony.)
May the Buddha's blessings be upon and with each and every one of you for your long
life, good health, safety, happiness and success throughout the 2010.
Dukkhappatta ca niddukkha: may those in suffering be free
from suffering.
Bhayappatta ca nibbhaya: may those in danger be from danger.
Sokappatta ca nissoka: may those in anxiety be free from anxiety.
Hontu sabbe pi panino: may all of you be well and happy !
With metta and in the dhamma,
Ven. Dr. Khammai Dhammasami
Abbot
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