Ketumati Buddhist Vihara

Reviews about Ketumati Buddhist Vihara

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  Stephen Karakashev Review added: 2018.07.10

  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  Ketumati Buddhist Vihara is a Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhist Temple, offering various services to the Buddhist community in England and to anyone having an interest in Buddhism or meditation. Anyone is welcome.
  
  The temple is open nearly every day. Each Wednesday, at 7pm, there is a meditation session, followed by a group discussion around a topic raised in one amongst the many teachings that the Buddha gave. The Sri Lankan monks are able to converse in English fluently.
  
  The monks are well-trained, highly learned, welcoming and deeply kind and compassionate, offering their services of teaching the Buddhist principles of virtue, meditation, wisdom, and loving-kindness freely, generously and openly, without expecting anything in return, solely with the purpose of aiding people who have a desire to lead better lives of peace, happiness and harmony along the Path towards Enlightenment and freedom from the suffering and problems of mundane life.
  
  Services include: Buddhist meditation instructions (according to the Satipatthana Sutta); reading, explanation and discussion of Buddhist scriptures (the words of the Buddha); Dhamma sermons, religious observances such as worship and paying respect to the Buddha, the Dhamma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the spiritual community), chanting, offering of blessings, help and support to Buddhists in their learning and practice, and introducing newcomers or those with an interest to the Buddhist religion and way of life. In addition, the monks offer Dhamma schools for children and organize events and celebrations of major Buddhist holidays.
  
  Ketumati Buddhist Vihara is one of the biggest and oldest Buddhist temples in England. Although it is geared towards the Sri Lankan community in Manchester, the North-West, and the UK, and is largely supported by the Sri Lankan people, the temple welcomes people of all nationalities, backgrounds, religions (or lack of religion), persuasions, races, genders, abilities, and levels of knowledge without discrimination, judgment or reservation, as long as they have basic respect for the Buddhist religion and intentions of harmlessness.
  
  Everyone who visits is required to observe basic etiquette. Shoes are not permitted inside, modest clothing is a must, and a respectful and peaceful attitude is expected. Bowing to the Buddha statue and to the monks is a sign of such respect and is encouraged. Generous offerings of food or monetary donations are entirely up to the visitor's choice, though they are much appreciated as the temple also needs financial support to continue functioning in order to maintain their services to the Buddhist community and to the people interested in Buddhism or meditation.
  
  The temple premises are brand new and modern, having been built in 2015. There is a shrine room with a Buddha statue and an incredibly beautiful mural, as well as a library, a conference room where people can socialize and discuss (brews and biscuits are freely available), a kitchen, toilets and wheelchair access.
  
  Most of the time the front gates are open during the day, but not always. If you arrive and they are closed, simply ring the bell, and one of the monks will open it, if they are present.
  
  There are convenient bus and tram services within close proximity to the temple: buses 18, 19, 108, 109, and 370, and tram stops Moor Road or Wythenshawe Park (Line F).

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