West London Buddhist Centre

Lessons from loss for living

We’ve all had losses in our life: everything from a parent or partner or friend to a job or a home or a country. And loss teaches us that things, ideas and yes, even those we love, are impermanent.

Join us for one of the most important Buddhist festivals of the year where we mark the Buddha’s death known as his ‘parinirvana’. We will be reflecting on the Buddha’s teaching on impermanence, how he approached his own death and how these are relevant for how we live our lives. We will also take the time to remember those who have died. You are invited to send us the names of any people you know who have died in the past year, together with a photo, if you’d like, and we will remember them together as a Sangha in a meditative context, reading out their names. If you’re coming in-person, feel free to bring a photo for placing on the shrine.

Parinirvana Day is also about appreciating life and how to make the most of the opportunities we have. It is an opportunity to reassess what is most important to us and what we wish to prioritise in our lives going forward.

If you would to include the names and photos of those who have died in the past year, please send them to sent to info@westlondonbuddhistcentre.com by Friday 9 February.

Come for part or all of the day. Please bring something for a share lunch.

Drop in. By donation (suggested £5-£25).

Programme
10.00am centre opens
10.30am welcome/introduction to the day/meditation
11.15ish tea break
11.40ish talks on loss by different sangha members/reflections
1.00-2.00pm lunch
2.00pm talk by Maitripushpa on living from the lessons of impermance and loss
2.30pm reflections
2.50pm silent tea break
3.10pm ritual reading of names of those who have died and closing ritual
4.00pm letting go of the day