TOURS OF PLACES OF WORSHIP IN REDBRIDGE: REDBRIDGE BUDDHIST VIHARA, Thursday 22nd May 2025-
VENUE:- REDBRIDGE BUDDHIST VIHARA, 9 Balfour Road, Ilford, IG1 4HP
DATE:- THURSDAY 22nd MAY 2025
Redbridge Faith Forum Visit to Buddhist Vihara – May 22nd, 2025
On May 22nd, 2025, over 40 participants joined the Redbridge Faith Forum’s second visit in a series exploring Places of Worship. This visit took place at the Redbridge Buddhist Vihara in Ilford, a spiritual centre serving the local Buddhist community since its inauguration in November 1998. The event offered attendees a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of Buddhist practices and beliefs, especially following the strong interest expressed during the Forum’s Annual Walks of Peace.
The serene and beautifully adorned Vihara shrine room left a deep impression on visitors. The Forum's initiative was widely praised for fostering meaningful dialogue and mutual respect, offering a powerful reminder of our shared humanity in increasingly divided times.
Welcome and Talk by Reverend Hemaratna
Reverend Hemaratna, resident monk at the Vihara since 2003, warmly welcomed the group and delivered an informative talk on Buddhism. He recounted the life of Siddhartha Gautama—the historical Buddha—who renounced royal life after encountering the “four sights” (old age, sickness, death, and a holy monk) that revealed to him the suffering inherent in existence. After years of ascetic practice, he attained enlightenment at age 35 under the Bodhi tree and spent the next 45 years teaching until his passing at age 80. His final words—“All things are constantly changing. Work hard to gain your own salvation.”—encapsulate a central tenet of Buddhist teaching.
The shrine room was decorated in honour of Vesak, the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar, commemorating the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death.
Key Teachings and Practices Discussed
The Four Noble Truths
- Life involves suffering (Dukkha), including imperfection, illness, and death, as well as the discomfort caused by change and impermanence.
- Suffering is rooted in desire, craving, and attachment.
- Suffering can end—Nirvana is the cessation of suffering through the elimination of desire and ignorance.
- The Eightfold Path offers a practical guide to end suffering, through ethics, mental discipline, and wisdom.
Precepts and Lay Practice
While monks follow 227 monastic precepts, lay Buddhists observe Five Daily Precepts:
- Refrain from killing
- Refrain from stealing
- Refrain from improper sexual relations
- Refrain from lying
- Refrain from consuming intoxicants
On special days like the full moon, lay followers may adopt Eight Precepts, which involve additional commitments such as fasting at certain times, avoiding entertainment, and practicing simplicity and stillness.
Ahimsa and Meditation
The concept of Ahimsa (non-violence) was discussed as a foundation of Buddhist ethics, extending to kindness toward oneself and all beings. Loving-kindness meditation (Metta Bhavana) begins with oneself and gradually expands to encompass loved ones, strangers, and all beings.
Two main types of meditation were explored:
- Concentration Meditation: Developing focus and tranquillity by concentrating on a single object, such as the breath.
- Insight Meditation (Vipassanā): Gaining insight into the impermanent and interdependent nature of all phenomena.
Monastic Life and Symbols
The monk’s alms bowl was shown as a symbol of detachment and humility, reflecting the sacred interdependence between the monastic and lay communities. Monks traditionally accept only what is freely offered, embodying the principle of non-attachment.
Q&A Session Highlights
The visit concluded with a lively and respectful question-and-answer session with Rev Hemaratna, Dr. Palitha Serasinghe, and Dr. Suhasini, covering a wide range of topics:
- Diet: Not all Buddhists are vegetarian. Killing must be intentional to be considered sinful. Many Buddhists eat fish provided they did not kill it themselves.
- Karma and Responsibility: Individuals are solely responsible for their actions. Karma—the law of cause and effect—governs moral consequences across lifetimes.
- Pacifism: While Buddhism upholds non-violence, the topic of self-defence and holy wars was left open-ended.
- End-of-Life Care: Compassionate care at life’s end is important. Assisted dying is not permitted. Monks and laypeople alike are looked after within the community.
- Ordination of Women: Women can be ordained as Buddhist nuns.
- Buddhist Calendar: Most traditions follow lunisolar calendars for religious observances.
Appreciation and Hospitality
Saira extended heartfelt thanks to Rev Hemaratna and the Buddhist community for their warm and generous hospitality, which was, “second to none.” Guests were treated to delicious and abundant refreshments, with many leaving joyfully with “doggie bags.”