Vesak Event At Buddhapadipa Temple

Written by Ubasaka Colin

THE LAY BHUDDIST ASSOCIATIONS OF THE FORSET AND CITY TRADITIONS JOIN TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE VISAKHAPUJA DAY AT BUDDHAPADIPA TEMPLE THROUGH A CONTEMPLATIVE TALK FROM MR. NICK CARROLL (AMARAVATI LAY BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION)This year (2550) Visakhapuja Day was celebrated by Sangha of the Buddhapadipa temple, young Buddhist group in UK and the Lay Buddhist Association of Buddhapadipa Temple by inviting as our Guest Speaker Mr. Nick Carroll, a founding member of the lay community network at Amaravati Temple in Hertfordshire, now known as ALBA (Amaravati Lay Buddhist Association). Buddhapadipa is, of course, the main temple of the Thai community in the UK and Amaravati is the home of the English Sangha. The inter-relationship between the two nations and the two temples is underlined by the importance to both of Ajahn Chah – a famous Thai teacher. One of Ajahn Chah’s main disciples was Ajahn Summedho, currently, of course, Abbot of Amaravati. Both Sanghas are founded in the Therevadan tradition and practice Vipassana meditation. Many members of the Lay Buddhist Association make regular visits to Hemel Hempstead to escape the hustle and bustle of London life and to participate in those ‘forest’ activities that call for a countryside setting. It was to our great delight, therefore, when our invitation to speak at our Visakhapuja celebration was graciously accepted and we could at last share with a group of like-minded friends the wonderful Thai-welcome and hospitality that we regularly receive on a weekly basis when we come to the temple as guests of the Thai community. Mr. Carroll and the two other members of ALBA who accompanied him remarked on the beauty of the Thai architecture of the temple, its murals and the garden and pond. They felt most welcome and enjoyed the refreshments and food that were kindly given by their Thai hosts.

Mr. Carroll had specifically asked that the mediation hall be set up with mainly meditation cushions and some chairs so that he could sit in his usual unassuming position on the floor in front of the Buddha statue. This seating arrangement, which had also been used for Ajahn Bramahvamso’s visit, encouraged a meditative attitude from the outset and allowed an intimacy and connectedness that became the key-feature of Mr. Carroll’s talk. Mr. Carroll is a counsellor and psychotherapist in his lay-life and he spoke of how he uses dhamma-bhavana as a direct therapeutic approach in his work. He spoke of the importance of relationship between a therapist and the person who has come to him seeking a solution out of a problematic situation. He described his usual patient as being a person who finds themselves in a ‘stuck position’ vis-