Everybody can become a member or a trustee, regardless of religion?!

[dsiluvu]

Pledge that "everybody can become a member or a trustee, regardless of religion or nationality"



From left to right: Buddhist Communty Centre UK trustees Janga Bahadur Gurung, public relations officer Maj (Retd) Damar Ghale MBE and Ram Bahadur Gurung

Aldershot's new Buddhist centre is almost complete, after a refurbishment was carried out ahead of its grand opening.

Plans by Buddhist Community Centre UK (BCCUK) to turn the former BT social club building, accessed from Ordnance Road, into a place for Buddhist worship, ceremonies and community activities were approved in July.

Refurbishment work costing more than £500,000 has followed, with only the finishing touches of Buddha statues and decorative items, such as prayer reels, left to add.

The centre was originally due to be finished earlier this year, but disruption caused by the stormy weather delayed the work.

It is now expected to be opened early in the summer, with a visit by His Holiness the Dalai Lama scheduled for October.

BCCUK public relations officer Major (retired) Damar Ghale MBE has stressed from the outset that the centre will be open to people of all faiths.

Asked whether he felt that would be a reality, he said: “Yes, I think so. The indigenous British public can also come and do the meditation.

"We will, in time, do the services in English. The whole idea is we respect each other.

“This is for everybody. Everybody can become a member or a trustee, regardless of religion or nationality.”

Just over 400 members of the community pledged a minimum £1,000 to become trustees, which paid for work such as adding a kitchen, toilets, a store room, seating for the public and accommodation for two monks, who will be sponsored to travel over from Nepal.

Once the necessary health and safety certificates are obtained for the centre, it will be open for any members of the community to visit to pray, meditate and enjoy refreshments.

It may also host marriage and funeral services and a health clinic, but will not be available to book for events such as parties.

The opening hours, centre management and appointment of committee members will be dealt with once the centre has opened.

Independent community worker Rich Cooper, who has worked on projects such as the United Rushmoor football team, aimed at uniting Rushmoor’s diverse community, said he was looking forward to getting to know the monks at the centre in order to work together for the community.

He felt non-Nepalese members of the public would take up the invitation to visit the centre.

Mr Cooper said: “There’s a growing Buddhist community in Aldershot. In recent years that’s been viewed as a negative due to the way it’s been handled and any support for this community has often been viewed negatively.

"But I don’t think it’s a case of us and them, it’s a case of finding common ground. Regardless of what faith you are from, I think people are really quite spiritually hungry.”

Source: http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/local-news/hope-new-buddhist-centre-can-6927088

Is this for REAL? Is this really for everybody? They are saying that "Everybody" can become a member or a trustee, regardless of religion or nationality. REALLY?!?! So will they allow Shugdepas practitioners to be members and or even a trustee? If that is so, then it is wonderful news and some Shugdenpas should actually got sign up... and let's see what they say. Someone should bring a video camera too just in case lol.

[icy]

It is now expected to be opened early in the summer, with a visit by His Holiness the Dalai Lama scheduled for October.

Let's see what will happen when all the Shudgenpas turn up at this event in October when HHDL come visiting.  It will be most amazing if the Dalai Lama finds that his audiences are all Shugdenpas.  Most certainly ostracism cannot be practised here.  There would be another show down as the International Shudgen Community vows to protest and remind the Dalai Lama to lift the ban.  Dharmapala Dorje Shugden will againreceive more publicity and this time the place is United Kingdom but will be covered by world medias. 

[DharmaDefender]

Right I think this topic is a little unfair. First of, they never said theyd bar Shugdenpas though thatd be our assumption. Second I think they deserve a round of applause for getting 400 people to become trustees by pledging a minimum of £1000 each. Thats a fair sum of money.

Having said that I think its hilarious and completely Nepalese to open a centre and not sort out the "opening hours, centre management and appointment of committee members" beforehand. With such disorganising, I hope the centre actually continues to run and doesnt shut down due to mismanagement or a lack of activity after a while. It wouldnt send a very good message to the local community who by the sounds of it arent keen on Buddhism as it is.

Also hilarious - indigenous British population LMAO. Dont want to upset the BNP aye?

[Jessie Fong]

£1000 each is what you need to become a member or trustee of this Buddhist Community Centre UK. If you have this amount to spare, then when you sit on the board of trustees, what would be your obligations/responsibilities?  They have not sorted out the administrative part of the Centre, simple arrangement as to opening hours are not even though of yet, so how do they propose to move on to handle the bigger things to come?

If from now until October, things can be sorted out, then they will be ready to welcome HHDL to visit.

[dsiluvu]

Wow £1000 each is what you need to become a member or trustee of this Buddhist Community... I wonder what if they would accept this happily and warmly if a Shugdenpa does register for it. Not assuming they won't but it will be an interesting turn of even especially on the day HHDL comes to grace the opening ceremony of the centre in Oct. Yes it would be interesting to see if ISC members will be allowed in.

If Shugdenpas are allowed to register and do this in front of the DL this would give us a clear indication that our right to "religious freedom" is headed and granted.  Or will teh Dalai Lama angrily replies again? https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5Wvqb-DaAS0

Dalai Lama angrily replies to peaceful nun
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/dalai-lama-angrily-replies-back-a-peaceful-nun/comment-page-2/