TBSUK
The Theravada Buddhist Sangha in the United Kingdom
At an excellent meeting of TBSUK yesterday at the London Buddhist Vihara when ten temples were represented we made good progress on a Constitution with the provisional objectives:
To encourage friendliness and concord within the Sangha;
To foster mutual support within the Sangha;
To safeguard and protect the Sasana.
A committee was formed with myself as Chairman and Ven Bogoola Seelawimala of London Buddhist Vihara (Vice Chairman, Sri Lankan), Phrakru Panyasudhammavites of Buddhavihara Temple, Kings Bromley (Vice Chairman, Thai), Ashin Pannobhasa of Tisarana Vihara, Whitton (Vice Chairman, Burmese) and Phramaha Sangthong Dhammacaro of Buddhapadipa Temple, Wimbledon (Secretary).
It was decided to continue with two meetings a year of the full TBSUK. All legitimate Theravadan monks and nuns in the UK are deemed members but we would like to limit attendance at meetings to one or two representatives from each temple. The next meeting will be at Kings Bromley on August 13th at 3 p.m. In addition, the committee will meet at least once in the interval between the full meetings. One of the committee’s first tasks is to take forward the development of the Constitution in time for the August meeting.
Issues of concern included the Buddhist Healthcare Chaplaincy Group, the Endorsing Authority for Buddhist Chaplaincy to the Armed Forces and the new Immigration rules which are likely to have a staggering impact on our ability to bring monks and nuns here from overseas and to cost our temples a small fortune.
The Committee
