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by Nemsiri Mutukumara

The order of Buddhist Contemplatives founded by the Reverend Roshi Jiyu Kenett is based in Mount Shasta, in California in the United States of America.

After the passing away of the founder, The Order is now headed by the Reverend Master Eko Little, who calls himself, Abbot.

The Order is dedicated to follow the tradition of Serene Reflection Meditation. Like the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions, the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives includes both men and women monastics and women and men lay ministers.

Everyone of them have to obtain Licence of Suitability and Competence, Religious knowledge and Linguistic proficiency from the Order.

The Buddhist Contemplatives have established two main Training monasteries. The Throssel Hall Buddhist Abbey in England and Shasta Abbey in the U.S.A. each offers both monastic and lay training for women and men.

Priests and those in training for the priesthood follow the celibate monastic path, while lay members of the Order follow the way of training of the householder. The Order also has a growing number of priories and affiliated meditation groups. In the West, both in the Northern and Southern American countries, England and in the European countries have witnessed a remarkable growth in the interest in Buddhism. Many, however look to the Theravada tradition, closely followed by the Vajrayana the Tibetan Buddhism of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Buddhist contemplatives shares their experience in many parts of the globe with other Buddhist Orders so that, the requirement of Alms Round the Pindapata decreed by the Buddha is practised to-date.

Monks in the countries from the West of Ireland to the West Indies have walked on Pindapata making it a new venture in these countries.

As far as the Pindapata is concerned those living in England are conspicuous in their absence in going on Pindapata- except of course by the Theravada bhikkhu Sangha from Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia where those ethnic dayakas live around the viharas.

In Heartfordshire, the Bhikkhu Sangha led by the Venerable Ajahne Sumedha Viharadhipathi of Amarawati walk on Pindapata a few distance away from the Vihara.

The dayaka-dayika line up along the walking path and offer the dana-the reason being residential areas are found to be a little far away from Amarawati. Amarawati is a pure and simple Theravada Viharaya, meditations retreat, Bhikku training centre where Samaneris - Dasa silavantis are also residing.

The Buddhist contemplatives are totally different from all these three traditions but are growing in leaps and bounds. The Reverend Chusin, from South Wales has set up the first home of The Dharma Cloud Centre- a Buddhist meditation retreat.

Besides daily meditation and weekly ceremonies there is a regular One day Retreat every month. In North Norfolk in England, the Reverend Jigen Sayo, "Since moving from Throssel last year I have been continuing practice and training with many desciples, The Reverend Larena. At the moment this takes the form of a somewhat find existence as we accept the kind offering of accommodation, support for our daily needs and various imitations. In Norfolk an abode has been offered where they reside now.

The Reverend Mugo has been travelling extensively in Britain, Europe and North America, visiting Order temples, meditation groups and individuals meeting people informally and giving talks and leading Retreats both in the capacity of the lay ministry advisor and as a teacher of the Order.

His offering has helped to draw together the wider sangha and to support lay training wherever it takes place. He is based in Cornwall in England. Reverend Mugo advices those interested in offering the Four Requisites of the Sangha Food, Shelter, Clothing and Medicine, can be made through the European Order of the Buddhist Contemplatives treasurer at Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey, earmarked for her benefit.

The greater New York-New Jersey area in the North Eastern part of the United States has witnessed the increasing number of Buddhist Contemplatives necessity the recently to start a priory that would serve the area.

In the New York city itself, they have no regular and affordable meeting place. Monthly meetings are held at the Broadway Presbyterian church on the upper west side of Manhattan.

West Indies

A new development is taking place in the West Indies. Buddhist discussions were held in a number of islands where English-speaking people live.

Buddhist practices and meditation Retreads were held in some of the islands by Reverend Lewyn. He lived in the West Indies for much of the 1970s and 1980s before becoming a monk. Reverend Lewyn has spent three months in Trinidad at the invitation of a supporter of the Buddhist contemplatives to find the Buddhist Order of the Sangha can be developed in Trinidad.

Reverend Lewyn says: "If you would like to support this new development in spreading the Dhamma we would be very pleased to hear from you. Cheques should be made payable to Portobello Buddhist Priory (West Indies Fund) and sent to Portobello Priory.

Ireland's interest in meditation

The Reverend Hogetsu in his mission in Ireland says more and more people are interested in meditation and to know the Dharma. Stress from the recent 'Celtic Tiger' affluence may factor into it, but this is also a country with deep and long abiding spiritual roots. It has been a fruitful year, with monastic life now embracing grocery shopping as well, as the unmarked roads of the Irish countryside and her new culture.

"The alms-bowl has thus far been the sole support of this Dharma project and monk, with Sangha friends in Ireland, the United Kingdom and United States giving food, funds and a small car in excellent condition.

Warmly received Dhamma talks and events also show that a temple of our order could indeed thrive in Ireland.

She is most grateful to the Sangha. The next project is to finding a rural location accessible to a city even in a rented out building. With the Irish Dharma project continuing successfully, means will appear for having a building, she expresses confidence.

The Order of Buddhist Contemplatives is the umbrella organisation which exists beyond the structure of the monasteries and priories.

Its three basic purposes are:

* To provide a means by which members may govern themselves;

* To assure that the practice and teaching one finds among the members and at the temples is that of the Serene Reflection Meditation (Soto Zen) tradition of Buddhism;

* to bind together the members and congregations into one harmonious Sangha.

Dana can be offered to all the Monastics. In North America: The Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, 3724, Summit Drive, Mount Shastra, California, United States of America 96067; In Europe and United Kingdom: The Community of Buddhist Contemplatives, Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey, Carrshield, Hexham, Northumberland NE47 8 AL, United Kingdom.

The community of Buddhist Contemplatives has open doors for the spread of the Buddha Dhamma in West Indies, Ireland, far and remote paths of the United Kingdom.

In the State of California, the Order has temples in Mount Sharta; Gasquet; Berkeley Buddhist Priory in Albany; Columbian Zen Buddhist Priory in South Carolina; Eugene Buddhist Priory in Eugene; North Cascades Buddhist Priory in McKenna; Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple in Maricopa; Portland Buddhist Priory, Milwaukee Avenue, Portland.

In Canada

Lions Gate Buddhist Priory, Vancouver; Edmonton Buddhist Priory, Alberta. Affiliated Buddhist meditation groups are opened in Auburn, Eureka, Fresno, Los Osos - Morro Bay, Ojai-Oak View, Sam Jose, Sandpoint, White Fish and New York City.

Europe

European temples are found in Northumberland, Reading Buddhist Priory in Cressingham Road, Reading; Telford Buddhist Priory, Ketley, Telford; Portobello Buddhist Priory, Edinburgh, Scotland; Great Ocean Dharma Refuge, Crymych, Pembrokeshire, Wales; Rochdale Zen Retreat, Rochdale, Lancashire; The Place of Peace Dharma House, Aberystwyth, Wales.

So far there is one centre in the Netherlands known as Dharmatoerlucht (Dharma Refuge) in Apeldorn, The Netherlands.

In addition to the temples, societies affiliated to the centre are situated at Aberdeen, Birmingham, Brighton, Cambridge, Cardiff, Chichester, Cornwall, Exeter, Galloway, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Hull, Lancaster, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Preston and Sheffield.

In Germany: Munich.

The Netherlands: Den Haag, Maastrict and Utrecht.

The majority of the Buddhist Contemplatives Monastics are Nuns although not described as Nuns.

The latest feature in this New Western Buddhist Order is that all terms used to identity the Ordained Community and the lay community are Western and used by the Christian communities.

For instance, knowing very well, that Buddha Sasana has neither incumbents or priests, the ordained members are called priests. Though the word Temple is used which is used in the West to refer to churches as well - for example The Victoria Masonic Temple, the Buddhist Contemplatives prefer to call the place Abbey.

The word Venerable is never used at all. The preferred word is Reverend. The Viharadhipati is the Abbot.

However, the alms bowl has been given a higher position in the Sangha community and a few words like 'Dana', the Four Requisites' are used.

The word Buddha, Buddhist and the Dharma are the Buddhist terms used by the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives.

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