Sangha and Royalty
2568 BE/2025 EVENTS CALENDAR
BIRMINGHAM BUDDHIST VIHARA – DHAMMATALAKA PEACE PAGODA- BIRMINGHAM BUDDHIST ACADEMY
FESTIVALS
Buddha Day (Visaka)
Sunday 11th May 2025 10:30am
Dhammacakka Day & Pagoda Anniversary
Sunday, 13th July 2025 10:30am
Abhidhamma & Pavarana Day
Monday 6th October 2025 7:00pm
Kathina
Sunday, 12th October 2025 10:30am
FULL MOON
Chanting in the Pagoda at 7:30pm except on festival days.
13th Jan, 12th Feb, 13th Mar, 12th Apr, 11th May, 10th Jun, 9th Jul, 8th Aug, 6th Sep, 6th Oct, 4th Nov, 4th Dec
RETREATS
Easter Retreat
Friday 18th April – Monday 21st April 2025
Led by Dr Ottara Nyana
10-DAY Insight Retreat
Friday 15th Aug – Sunday 24th August 2025 (experienced)
Led by Dr Ottara Nyana
Designed to enable meditators to experience the characteristic of impermanence and nature of non-selfhood as part of the process of insight meditation.
SCHOOL VISIT FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
We welcome school visits every academic year. We have magnificent Burmese style Pagoda (listed as English Heritage Building) located a few minutes away from Birmingham City. Students from all schools and colleges (except nursery) can come to explore the Pagoda, Buddhist culture and teaching. The visits provide students with invaluable experience to hear about the Buddha and his teachings and to meet Buddhist monks. This is also part of the community work that Birmingham Buddhist Vihara does. For a school visit please contact:
Dr Nagasena
Email : uk.suriya@gmail.com
Dr Max Kyi Email: maxkyi@gmail.com
Sunday Buddhist Classes
We run Zoom Buddhist classes for children between 5-15 years starting from Sunday 6th April to Sunday 6th July 2025. The class will start at 2pm and end at 3.30pm.
For details contact Dr Negasena email at uk.suriya@gmail.com
SUMMER COURSE FOR CHILDREN (13th to 17th Aug 2025)
This course is suitable for those students who attended zoom classes. Please bring your children to the Vihara to stay here and learn about Buddhism. During this five-day course children can learn meditation, chanting, prayer plus key cultural and philosophical points of Buddha’s teachings. Accommodation will be available in our Vihara and we look forward to our children’s course. If you want to train your children with novice ordination, you are welcome to book with us during these children days.
For details please contact Dr Nagasana: uk.suriya@gmail.com
WEEKLY MEDITATION CLASSES
Beginners: Thurs. 7:30pm
Advanced: Mon. 7:30pm
Zen Group : 1st and 3rd Week of Friday 7pm
PAGODA OPENING
12pm – 6pm
The Pagoda is open most days, preferably starting from 12pm to 5pm every day but to avoid disappointment please call or e-mail first to ensure there will be someone available to welcome you and show you around.
Phone: 0121 454 6591 or
email: venuttaranyana@gmail.com
New Year Patthana Chanting
5pm – 7pm 1st January 2025
Everyone is welcome to join New Year’s Day Patthana Chanting at Birmingham Buddhist Vihara.
Vesak Day – 2024
Dhammatalaka Peace Pagoda BUDDHA DAY – VESAK CELEBRATION
2024 Events
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Kappiya Job Description
Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Trust
Job Description
Title: Kappiya – Steward at the Theravadin Buddhist Monastery near the centre of Birmingham
Job Summary: The post of kappiya is a voluntary position for somebody who attends to the needs of the monastery and the resident monks. This is a residential post.
Situation: The monastery (vihara) is one of 3 buildings on site, the others being a pagoda built in Burmese style and a teaching hall which also includes a library used by the head monk and a kitchen and dining hall for large functions. The head monk / Spiritual Director is Burmese. At present there are 2 Burmese and 1 Bangladeshi monk in residence (total 3)
Job Role: Responsible to the trustees, but reports to the head monk for day to day duties
Responsibilities:
• Prepares and cooks daily meals for the monks
• Attends to the monk’s needs (including visiting monks)
• Shops for the day to day needs of the monastery
• Keeps the monastery, pagoda and teaching hall clean and tidy
• Generally keeps the grounds tidy
• Answers the telephone
• Attends to visiting trades people
• Conducts health and safety checks according to the protocol
Requirements:
• Understands and respects the monks living rules (vinaya)
• Keeps to the 5 precepts while staying at the monastery
• Speaks Burmese and sufficient English
• Able to cook SE Asian food
• Is male as the vihara is for monks
• Able to accept all who come to the vihara irrespective of race, ethnicity, faith or sex
• Is able to be resident at the vihara
• Is a non-smoker and non-vaper
This post is subject to a 3 month trial period and is available for a maximum of 2 years with board and lodging provided.
Kappiya Advert 2023
Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Trust
29/31 Osler Street, Birmingham B16 9EU
0121 454 6591
www.birminghambuddhistvihara.org
The Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Trust is seeking a traditional Kappiya (voluntary monastery steward) for the vhara (monastery) in Birmingham. At present there are 3 monks in residence. Main duties to include attending to the monk’s needs and generally looking after the 3 buildings on site. The person appointed must be able to speak Burmese and English and have an understanding of vinya (monks’ rules).
Click here for Job Description and Requirements.
For further information please contact the head monk venuttaranyana@gmail.com
Please apply in writing, to the above address or by email to the head monk as above or Ann Lovelock chair of trustees ann_lovelock@yahoo.co.uk in English, explaining why you would like to undertake such duties giving your name, age, address and current legal status as regards residency in England.
Closing date: 17 th November 2023
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BUDDHA DAY – VESAK CELEBRATION – 2023
