17th Death Anniversary Ceremony for Reverend Handa Shonin Sama

NA MU MYO HO REN GE KYO

On Sunday 20th August, there was the 17th Death Anniversary Ceremony for Reverend Handa Shonin Sama.
Rev Handa was a Buddhist Monk, the abbot of Milton Keynes Peace Pagoda and Temple until his sudden death in 2007.
He was a follower of Fujii Guruji (1885-1985), a Japanese monk who established the basic practice of chanting a prayer for peace accompanied by a drum, bowing in respect to whoever he met, and walking to bring the prayer wherever it is most needed.
After the nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Fujii started the construction of Peace Pagoda's as a way to raise a spiritual basis for people to unite and turn around the threat to all life.
The Peace Pagoda in Milton Keynes is the first in the West, and Rev. Handa was a driving force in its construction and associated work.
He died in August 2007 in an accident doing maintenance work around the Pagoda, just weeks after joining in an anti-nuclear walk and leading the annual Hiroshima Day lantern floating on the lake.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mkbuddhism

Alex Fox

Kamchatka

In city centre locations, the Kamchàtka characters appear, lost. Naïve and curious, their emotions are barely contained. They know nothing of our norms, our rules and our way of life. A chance for interaction opens up, passers-by turn into spectators and become an active part of the exchange and the experiment.

About Kamchàtka

Kamchàtka, an extraordinary award-winning collective of international artists, first came together in Barcelona in 2006. They create powerful award-winning outdoor theatre, drawing audiences in to their world through silent gestures, exploring themes of migration and displacement.

Alex Fox

Funfair

A funfair is an event held in a park or field at which people pay to ride on various machines for amusement or try to win prizes in games. The people who organize and operate it usually take it from one place to another. We all love to frighten ourselves by going on hair-raising rides at funfairs.

Alex Fox

Hiroshima Day Lanterns

NA MU MYO HO REN GE KYO

On Sunday 6th August, there was the Hiroshima Day Lanterns at the Japanese Buddhist Temple in Willen.

This ceremony sought to reflect on the horrors of war in an atomic age, to remember those who have died, and to pray together for peace and harmony between all people and nations.

All were welcome to join and float a candle on Willen Lake.

The United States detonated two nuclear weapons over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, respectively. The two bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and remain the only use of nuclear weapons in armed conflict.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mkbuddhism

Alex Fox

Open Mic Night

Camphill Milton Keynes was thrilled to have launched an Open Mic Night for the community to showcase the residents and staff’s incredible talents.

Resident Lucie and the team had been planning this event for many months, and the first showcase happened on Monday 7th August. The community could choose to take part or simply enjoy the show! The Open Mic sessions played a big role in people coming together and building confidence and a space at the Chrysalis Theatre where people could express their talent and individuality.

The audience was spoilt for choice and captivated by various performances, including poetry readings, singing, dancing, and live musical instrument performances. There was an impressive lineup of resident and staff talent ready to take the stage and some yummy refreshments during the interval.

Alex Fox