The Dhamma Center UK presents an interactive online (Zoom) session on Buddhism, Governance & Corruption

Corruption has a debilitating impact on the lives of people throughout the world. The constitutions of several countries refer to fostering and upholding Buddhism. This working session presents what the Buddha said and did on governance and corruption. Using case studies in the Pali Canon, the session will highlight decisive actions taken by the Buddha and his disciples to deal with corruption, the obligations of rulers to care for the welfare of people, “unprincipled” leadership and principles of good governance.

Presenter: Don de Silva,

Trustee, Dhamma Center UK
Former Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Former Director, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

University Buddhist Chaplain and Mentor UK, Diplomacy and Sustainability

Moderator: Bhante Pannavamsa, Abbot, Dhamma Centre UK

Date: Sunday, 24th April 2022

Time:
2pm to 4pm (London Time)
9 AM to 11 AM (Washinton D.C Time)
5 PM to 7 PM (Dubai Time)
6.30 PM to 8.30 PM (Sri Lankan Time)

How to Join:

Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9204160619

YouTube live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2YrxPbKPIOmGMqupcTKorASee less

In Celebration of the invaluable service rendered by Bhukkhini Sanghamitta, to Buddhism.

Panel Discussion & Q&A Session

The Panel…

VEN HOKANDARA PANNAVAMSA THERO

Abbot, Dhamma Center UK
Secretary, Colchester Diverse Communities Network
Advisor, Global Interfaith Commission
Director, World Interfaith Choral Ensemble

BHIKKHUNI MAHARAGAMA UPPALAWANNA

Chair, International Buddhist Education and Research Organisation Chair,
Sanghamitta Foundation
Supreme Council Member, All Ceylon Bhikkhuni Congress (ACBC)
Chief Editor, Therini Newspaper

ANOJA WIJEYSEKARA

Former President, Servants of the Buddha
Career as an International Civil Servant of the United Nations
Former UNICEF Representative, Bhutan
Former Sri Lankan Ambassador, Indonesia
Author, Facing The Taliban

PROF MANORIE SENANAYAKE

President, Servants of the Buddha
Emeritus Professor in Paediatrics, University of Colombo
Author, Past Unfolded (History of Paediatrics)
Author, Engish through Buddhism

DON DE SILVA

Trustee, Dhamma Center UK
Former Senior Official, United Nations Environment Programme
Former Official, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
University Buddhist Chaplain

For questions and concerns
Email: secretary@dhammacenter.uk.
More information is available at www.dhammacenter.uk

W/ Alan Clements

Alan’s international sales and marketing career span 55 years with companies that include Wiggins Teape, Alcan, and Unilever. As an entrepreneur, he has also built up businesses as diverse as printing, packaging, advertising, and online marketing. Alan has visited over 30 countries, had an office in China, and his knowledge of international marketing is extensive.

A Buddhist for more than 30 years Alan has taken instruction in meditation and dharma in both the Gelug Tibetan Buddhist and Japanese Soto Zen traditions.

An early grounding in Christianity and a degree that included Philosophy and Physics sparked off an interest in the deeper questions of life. His first of several private meetings with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1992 was to ask the question “what is the meaning of life” and this led him to become the Chairman and later Vice President of the Tibet Society and Relief Fund of the UK. He has also been greatly influenced by the teachings, videos, and books about Lao Tzu, Gandhi, Father Bede Griffiths, Alan Watts, and Fritjof Capra.

Alan is particularly interested in the comparison of east-west philosophies and the remarkable cross-relation between the scientific findings of quantum physics, Buddhism, and Taoism. A lifetime of being in awe of nature, a love of the world’s great landscapes, and his passion for gardening have led him to create his own four-acre meditation garden, Cascades Gardens in Bonsall, Derbyshire. He has a strong belief in the therapeutic and spiritual value of beautiful landscapes and the concept of being “one with nature”.

W/ Ven Daisan Roshi

This online event will include a talk and question & answer session.

Synopsis: Training in the Zen tradition has for a long time been compared to the difficult task of bull-herding. The bull has tremendous energy & power. It represents the life force of the human being which if not humanized can wreak havoc.

When truly gentled & disciplined, however, this elemental energy is harmonized with Life, which also then represents the Buddha-nature immanent within all to function fully, with warmth & joyful service to others.

The pictures represent the various stages inherent in a serious training process, showing typical signposts & also pitfalls to avoid. Generations of sincere students have for than a millennium found these pictures & what they represent most useful for their development & thus they have tremendous value as a guide along the Way.

This talk will look at some introductory aspects of this very important methodology in Zen training.

W/ Dr Udayan Chakrabarti

This online event will include a talk and question & answer session.

Synopsis: Training in the Zen tradition has for a long time been compared to the difficult task of bull-herding. The bull has tremendous energy & power. It represents the life force of the human being which if not humanized can wreak havoc.

When truly gentled & disciplined, however, this elemental energy is harmonized with Life, which also then represents the Buddha-nature immanent within all to function fully, with warmth & joyful service to others.

The pictures represent the various stages inherent in a serious training process, showing typical signposts & also pitfalls to avoid. Generations of sincere students have for than a millennium found these pictures & what they represent most useful for their development & thus they have tremendous value as a guide along the Way.

This talk will look at some introductory aspects of this very important methodology in Zen training.

W/ Don de Silva

Don de Silva is an environmentalist, author, Buddhist Chaplain, and trainer.

He worked as a senior official with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and also for the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and implemented effective global media campaigns to create awareness about sustainable development and has participated in creating new forms of environmental diplomacy.

A certified mindfulness trainer, he focuses on the Buddhist foundations of mindfulness, particularly its relevance to sustainable living. Presently a university mentor, delivering sessions on areas, such as mindfulness and confidence building, reducing stress and anxiety, mindful learning, and speaking.

Through Buddhist organizations, he has delivered sessions on faith, environment, and justice; responding to climate change and COVID 19; and Buddhism and Action.

Dr. Kamal Witharana (MD, MSC, FRSPH, PTLLS, IFL)

This online 4-week Dhamma learning series will include a dhamma talk, brief guided meditation, and a Q&A session.

The Four Noble Truths is one of the most vital teachings in Buddhist practice. This 4-week series has been organized to give learners a clear understanding of the Four Noble Truths and how to implement this teaching into the practice of Meditation.

Zoom ID: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9204160619
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2YrxPbKPIOmGMqupcTKorA

W/ Don de Silva

Fake speech and news undermine our democracies. Today, many are struggling to discriminate between informed debate and misinformation spread through social media. Based on the Early Buddhist Texts, this session will focus on actions taken by the Buddha to highlight the pivotal role of “right speech” in our daily lives. During his time, as now, debates and discussion were commonplace within and between contemporary ascetics and contemplative communities. Sometimes, these interactions were fierce and fearful. In many discourses, the Buddha urged his followers to abstain from false and harsh speech and gossip and only speak from their experiences.

Dr. Kamal Witharana (MD, MSC, FRSPH, PTLLS, IFL)

This online 4-week Dhamma learning series will include a dhamma talk, brief guided meditation, and a Q&A session.

The Four Noble Truths is one of the most vital teachings in Buddhist practice. This 4-week series has been organized to give learners a clear understanding of the Four Noble Truths and how to implement this teaching into the practice of Meditation.

Zoom ID: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9204160619
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2YrxPbKPIOmGMqupcTKorA

Dr. Kamal Witharana (MD, MSC, FRSPH, PTLLS, IFL)

This online 4-week Dhamma learning series will include a dhamma talk, brief guided meditation, and a Q&A session.

The Four Noble Truths is one of the most vital teachings in Buddhist practice. This 4-week series has been organized to give learners a clear understanding of the Four Noble Truths and how to implement this teaching into the practice of Meditation.

Zoom ID: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9204160619
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2YrxPbKPIOmGMqupcTKorA

Dr. Kamal Witharana (MD, MSC, FRSPH, PTLLS, IFL)

This online 4-week Dhamma learning series will include a dhamma talk, brief guided meditation, and a Q&A session.

The Four Noble Truths is one of the most vital teachings in Buddhist practice. This 4-week series has been organized to give learners a clear understanding of the Four Noble Truths and how to implement this teaching into the practice of Meditation.

Zoom ID: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9204160619
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2YrxPbKPIOmGMqupcTKorA

W/ Dr Udayan Chakrabarti

This online event will include a talk and question & answer session.

Synopsis: In this talk, the development of Zen as a separate school will be clarified further, including the two main current branches (Rinzai & Soto), the main differences from a practice point of view.

Views of sudden/gradual enlightenment, the story of sixth Patriarch & its relevance now.

Mention will be made of the Koan system (Rinzai) & Shikantaza.

The Bull-herding pictures & poems as a pointer to ‘stages’ of practice- a brief account.

There will be training stories from the old days as well as modern anecdotes, including examples from current daily life practice.

Further pointers to practice in daily life.

Discussion W/ Mina Madhu
(RN, RM, BSc(Hons), MA)

This online event will include a question & answer session. Mina joins us to celebrate Mothers Day and to share her experiences of being a mother and her reflections on her life being the single mother of one, whilst trying to find balance with a demanding career.

W/ Shaila Catherine

This online event will include a dhamma talk, brief guided meditation, and question & answer session. You may ask questions about your practice of concentration, and Shaila will respond with understandings gleaned from her extensive experience with jhana practice. Join us to explore the role of concentration in your dhamma practice.