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34-836: The London Buddhist Centre (LBC) is a temple located on Roman Road , Bethnal Green , London , that serves as the main base for the London Triratna Buddhist Community . It opened in 1978 in an ornate, vernacular redbrick former Victorian fire station that was completed in 1888, and in use by the London Fire Brigade until 1969. The building was fire-damaged in the 1970s, before being renovated by volunteers for its current use. Further major improvements were completed in 2009. The centre teaches meditation and Buddhism and offers drop-in lunchtime meditation sessions Monday-Saturday, and evening sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, open to beginners. The centre also explores

68-662: A Chinese Buddhist monk I-tsing on his pilgrim journey to India, witnessed the powerful maritime empire of Srivijaya based on Sumatra in the 7th century. A number of Buddhist historical heritages can be found in Indonesia, including the 8th century Borobudur mandala monument and Sewu temple in Central Java , Batujaya in West Java, Muaro Jambi , Muara Takus and Bahal temple in Sumatra, and numerous of statues or inscriptions from

102-575: A charity shop and an arts centre. The former fire station is a Grade II listed building . 51°31′41″N 0°03′05″W  /  51.5281°N 0.0514°W  / 51.5281; -0.0514 Buddhist temple Its architecture and structure varies from region to region. Usually, the temple consists not only of its buildings, but also the surrounding environment. The Buddhist temples are designed to symbolize five elements: fire, air, water, earth and void (space). The design of temples in India

136-605: A circular type. Ashoka also built the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya circa 250 BCE, a circular structure, in order to protect the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha had found enlightenment. The Bairat Temple is also a round structure, which can be seen through archaeological remains. Representations of this early temple structure are found on a 100 BCE relief sculpted on the railing of

170-542: A member of the Triratna Buddhist Order. A third, basement, room for meditation and classes, primarily used by a project called "Breathing Space", opened in 2009. The building's upper floors house Buddhist residential communities. The LBC is a UK-registered charity (255420), and is part of a local network of Buddhist businesses and organisations within the Bethnal Green area. This includes Buddhist communities ,

204-499: Is known to you, Sirs, how great is my reverence and faith in the Buddha , the Dharma (and) the Samgha . Whatsoever, Sirs, has been spoken by the blessed Buddha, all that is quite well spoken. But, Sirs, what would indeed appear to me (to be referred to by the words of the scripture): "thus the true Dharma will be of long duration", that I feel bound to declare: The following expositions of

238-590: Is most common in Buddhism , where it refers to a space with a stupa and a rounded apse at the end opposite the entrance, and a high roof with a rounded profile. Strictly speaking, the chaitya is the stupa itself, and the Indian buildings are chaitya halls, but this distinction is often not observed. Many of the early Chaitya were rock-cut , as in Karla caves or Ajanta . Some of the earliest free-standing temples may have been of

272-558: The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya circa 250 BCE, also a circular structure, in order to protect the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha had found enlightenment. Representations of this early temple structure are found on a 100 BCE relief sculpted on the railing of the stupa at Bhārhut , as well as in Sanchi . From that period the Diamond throne remains, an almost intact slab of sandstone decorated with reliefs, which Ashoka had established at

306-691: The Phutthawat and the Sangkhawat . The Phutthawat ( Thai : พุทธาวาส ) is the area which is dedicated to Buddha. While the Sangkhawat is the area which is dedicated to Sangha Buddhist monastic community. Buddhist temples in Sri Lanla are known as 'Pansala' or 'Viharaya' in Sinhalese . Common features in Sri Lankan temples include Stupa , Bo Tree and Temple Buildings. Oldest living human-planted Bodhi Tree in

340-637: The University of Massachusetts Medical School , featured in the Financial Times in 2008. This initiative is supported by the local authority, the London borough of Tower Hamlets . The Times has also reported on the centre's work with those affected by alcohol dependency The building's ground floor areas include a library, bookshop and reception room, with painted murals, as well as two ornate shrine rooms with Buddha figures, or "rupas", sculpted by Chintamani,

374-414: The architecture of India . It is situated in the ancient region of Matsya Janpad, a centre of vedic sacrifices in early literary and epigraphic references. Thus evidence of a flourishing Buddhist centre from this region is very significant. Bairat temple has been given attention by several archaeologists such as Cunningham and later by Carlleyle, Bhandarkar and Dayaram Sahni. The significant structures at

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408-508: The Buddhist monks. There must have been a considerable presence of the Buddhist monks in Bairat. But the centre must have declined in later period and a change in situation is recorded in the travelogue of Hieun-tsang who wrote that the popularity of Buddhism in Bairat was not what he had imagined it to be. Some of the earliest free-standing temples may have been of a circular type. Ashoka also built

442-541: The Dharma and may reflect (on them). In the same way both laymen and laywomen (should act). For the following (purpose), Sirs, am I causing this to be written, (viz.) in order that they may know my intention. This edict was the basis for the efforts at deciphering Brahmi , led by James Prinsep in 1837. A commemorative plaque is visible at the Asiatic Society. The inscription of Asoka found from this region addresses

476-1018: The Dharma, Sirs, (viz.) the Vinaya-Samukasa ("The Exaltation of Discipline"), the Aliya-vasas ("The Ideal Mode of Life"), the Anagata-bhayas ("Fears to Come"), the Muni-gathas ("The Songs of the Hermit"), the Moneya-Suta ("Discourse on the Hermit Life"), the Upatisa-pasina ("The Questions of Upatishya"), and the Laghulovada ("The Sermon to Rahula ") which was spoken by the blessed Buddha concerning falsehood, — I desire, Sirs, that many groups of monks and (many) nuns may repeatedly listen to these expositions of

510-553: The Inscription ' ). The temple is of a circular type, formed of a central stupa surrounded by a circular colonnade and an enclosing wall. It was built during the time of Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, and near it were found two of Ashoka's Minor Rock Edicts , the Bairat and the Calcutta-Bairat Minor Rock Edicts. It is the earliest circular Buddhist shrine and therefore, Bairat temple is an important marker of

544-572: The circular stupa at the Bijak hills were definitely majestic. They evidence that Buddhism existed here in a developed stage. Early Chaitya halls are known from the 3rd century BCE. They generally followed a circular or apsidal plan, and were either rock-cut or freestanding. Temples —built on elliptical, circular, quadrilateral, or apsidal plans— were initially constructed using brick and timber. Some temples of timber with wattle-and-daub may have preceded them, but none remain to this day. Today, only

578-731: The earlier history of Indonesian Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms. During the era of Kediri , Singhasari and Majapahit empire, Buddhism—identified as Dharma ri Kasogatan —was acknowledged as one of kingdom's official religions along with Hinduism. Although some of kings might favour Hinduism over another, nevertheless the harmony, toleration and even syncretism were promoted as manifested in Bhinneka Tunggal Ika national motto, coined from Kakawin Sutasoma , written by Mpu Tantular to promotes tolerance between Hindus (Shivaites) and Buddhists . The classical era of ancient Java also had produces some of

612-476: The exquisite examples of Buddhist arts , such as the statue of Prajnaparamita and the statue of Buddha Vairochana and Boddhisttva Padmapani and Vajrapani in Mendut temple. In contemporary Indonesian Buddhist perspective, Candi refers to a shrine, either ancient or new. Several contemporary viharas in Indonesia for example, contain the actual-size replica or reconstruction of famous Buddhist temples, such as

646-441: The foot of the Bodhi tree . These circular-type temples were also found in later rock-hewn caves such as Tulja Caves or Guntupalli . Another early free-standing temple in India, this time apsidal in shape, appears to be Temple 40 at Sanchi , which is also dated to the 3rd century BCE. It was an apsidal temple built of timber on top of a high rectangular stone platform, 26.52x14x3.35 metres, with two flights of stairs to

680-422: The foundation of the temple remains. The circular temple was located inside a rectangular enclosure wall, and had an outer diameter of 5.6 meters. It was built around a small stupa at the centre, with a diameter of 1.6 meters. There was also an internal circle of 26 wooden octagonal columns surrounding the stupa. The layout created two pradaksina circular paths for devotional deambulation. The global shape of

714-415: The kind. Dayaram Sahni has suggested that Bairat temple is the oldest structural temple and it served as model for the numerous rock-cut temples of Western and Eastern India. The monastery attached to the shrine is elaborate with cells being large enough to accommodate just a single monk or nun. It is situated on the upper platform. Many portable antiquities like pottery jars, lamps etc have also been found on

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748-614: The latest dated from the 12th century. Subsequently, significant numbers of Buddhist sites were found in Jambi , Palembang and Riau provinces in Sumatra, as well as in Central and East Java . The Indonesian archipelago has, over the centuries, witnessed the rise and fall of powerful Buddhist empires, such as the Sailendra dynasty, the Mataram and Srivijaya empires. According to some Chinese source,

782-451: The replica of Pawon and Plaosan 's perwara (small) temples. In Buddhism, the role of a candi as a shrine is sometimes interchangeable with a stupa , a domed structure to store Buddhist relics or the ashes of cremated Buddhist priests, patrons or benefactors. Japanese Buddhist temples typically include a Main Hall . A distinctive feature is the chinjusha , a Shinto shrine devoted to

816-557: The second century. The history of Buddhism in Indonesia is closely related to the history of Hinduism, as a number of empires influenced by Indian culture were established around the same period. The oldest Buddhist archaeological site in Indonesia is arguably the Batujaya stupas complex in Karawang , West Java. The oldest relic in Batujaya was estimated to originate from the 2nd century, while

850-508: The site of Bairat include a monastery and numerous remnants of Asokan pillars beside the circular temple. The circular temple is constructed on the lower platform. It is surrounded by a circumambulatory path. It is a structural temple that had made use of fire burnt bricks. It has crevices that indicate that it was surrounded by wooden pillars. The lime-plastered panels of brickwork in the shrine alternate with twenty-six octagonal pillars of wood. It shows two circles in plan and has no precedent of

884-535: The site. All the evidence indiacate that Bairat temple was highly revered in the contemporary Buddhist world. Sahni suggests that the elaborate structures indicate sincreasing visibility of Buddhist sites. The remarkable presence of structures like the Bairat temple can be linked to increasing popularity of Buddhism at the time. Mauryan king Asoka's support and interest led to extraordinary development of Buddhist art. It appears that Rajasthan did not remain untouched with this wave of Buddhism. The sangharam of Bairat and

918-486: The stupa at Bhārhut , as well as in Sanchi . From that period the Diamond throne remains, an almost intact slab of sandstone decorated with reliefs, which Ashoka had established at the foot of the Bodhi tree . These circular-type temples were also found in later rock-hewn caves such as Tulja Caves or Guntupalli . Buddhism is the second oldest religion in Indonesia after Hinduism , which arrived from India around

952-533: The teaching of the Buddha (dharma) and its relevance in today's society through seminars, courses, classes and retreats. Regular retreats are run at its retreat centre in Suffolk, Vajrasana. In addition to this the centre also runs courses and retreats using mindfulness based cognitive therapy approaches. Its courses for depression, based on the mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy methodology of Jon Kabat-Zinn at

986-507: The temple has been inferred from more or less contemporary reliefs of such buildings from Bharhut , or from rock-cut temples at Kondivite , Tulja Caves or Guntupalli Caves . It has been suggested that this circular design with columns was derived from the similar design of the Greek Tholos . However local circular hut designs are a more probable source of inspiration. A Minor Rock Edict of Ashoka (the unique Minor Rock Edict No.3)

1020-544: The temple with a high level of certainty, as well as confirm its Buddhist affiliation. The Edict, relocated since the 19th century to the Asiatic Society of Bengal in Calcutta (hence the name "Calcutta-Bairat Edict)", is the only one of its kind, describing Buddhist scriptures recommended by Ashoka for study. It reads: The Magadha King Priyadarsin, having saluted the Samgha hopes they are both well and comfortable. It

1054-693: The temple's kami . Buddhism co-existed with Shinto , but in the 8th century Buddhism became the state religion and Buddhist temples were built. High concentration of important Japanese Buddhist temples can be found in Japanese culture heartland of Kansai region , especially in Nara and Kyoto . Buddhist temples in Thailand are known as wat , from the Pāḷi vāṭa, meaning "enclosure". Wat architecture adheres to consistent principles. A wat, with few exceptions, consists of two parts:

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1088-426: The world Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and some of the largest Stupa in the world including Ruwanwelisaya , Jetavanaramaya and Abhayagiri vihāra located in Sri Lankan temples. Bairat Temple Bairat Temple is a freestanding Buddhist temple , a Chaityagriha , located about a mile southwest of the city Viratnagar , Rajasthan , India , on a hill locally called "Bijak-ki-Pahari" ( lit.   ' Hill of

1122-764: Was found in close proximity to the Temple: the Bairat-Calcutta Edict, also called the Bhabru Edict, from the name of a nearby village. Dating to circa 250 BCE, the edict was found just in front of the remains of the Bairat Temple, on the lower platform located between the temple and the cannon-shaped large rock, by Major Burt in 1840 ( 27°25′02″N 76°09′45″E  /  27.417124°N 76.162569°E  / 27.417124; 76.162569 ). The presence of this inscription, its date and its Buddhist content, help date

1156-450: Was influenced by the idea of a place of worship as a representation of the universe. For Buddhist temple complexes one tall temple is often centrally located and surrounded by smaller temples and walls. This center surrounded by oceans, lesser mountains and a huge wall. A Chaitya , Chaitya hall or Chaitya-griha refers to a shrine, sanctuary, temple or prayer hall in Indian religions . The term

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