From March 10th to 20th, 2024, at the invitation of the Qingliang Lecture Hall in London, the Association formed a four-member Chinese Buddhist delegation headed by Venerable Miao Jiang, Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China, to visit and exchange in the UK. During the visit, the delegation attended the unveiling and donation ceremony of "Chinese Buddhism" (Chinese and English volumes) held at the London Book Fair, and the Cleansing Ceremony and Conversion Ceremony held at the Cool Lecture Hall in London.
On the morning of March 14, the unveiling and donation ceremony of "Buddhism in China" (Chinese and English volumes) was held at the London Book Fair.
On the morning of the 14th local time, at the London Book Fair, China Publishing Group Chinese Publishing House held the unveiling and donation ceremony of "Chinese Buddhism" (Chinese and English volumes). "Chinese Buddhism" (Chinese and English volumes) is a general work on the general situation of Chinese Buddhism compiled by our association, and has been selected as a national key publication project in the "14th Five-Year Plan". Venerable Miao Jiang, head of the delegation, Bao Yan, president of the Chinese Publishing House, Dr. Jotika Khur-Yearn, representative of the library of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and Lei Jianhua, assistant general manager of China Books Import and Export (Group) Co., Ltd., jointly unveiled the book "Chinese Buddhism" (Chinese and English volumes). On behalf of the Association, Vice President Miao Jiang donated a set of 10 volumes of Chinese Buddhism (Chinese and English volumes) to the library of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. In his speech, Vice President Miao Jiang said: "We are proud to launch the 10-volume book "Chinese Buddhism" (Chinese and English volumes) at the London Book Fair, the most important event in the global publishing industry, which is not only to provide readers around the world with a comprehensive introduction to the general situation of Chinese Buddhism, but also to open a window to understand Chinese culture to friends around the world through the merits of the sages, and to add a spiritual food to the world today. In 1997, the Buddhist Association of China donated a photocopy of the Fangshan Stone Classic to the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, which provided important materials for British Buddhist scholars to study the Chinese Buddhist scriptures. President Bao Yan said that Chinese Buddhism is not only an important part of Chinese traditional culture, but also an important part of world civilization, which can be called a demonstration and example of civilization integration, and has important reference significance for the friendly exchanges between different civilizations in the world today. "Chinese Buddhism" (Chinese and English volumes) embodies the painstaking efforts of several generations of Chinese Buddhism, hoping that through this series of books, British readers and friends can deepen their understanding of Chinese culture, and at the same time enhance the international dissemination of Buddhist culture. Dr Jotika Khur-Yearn, who accepted the book on behalf of SOAS Library, University of London, said that SOAS Library is one of the top five libraries in the UK and an academic institution specialising in Asia. The donation of Buddhism in China will become one of the treasures of Chinese Buddhism and Chinese culture in the SOAS Library, and will also benefit countless scholars from all over the world.
Vice President Miao Jiang, on behalf of the Association, presented "Chinese Buddhism" (Chinese and English volumes) to the Library of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
On the 17th local time (the eighth day of the second lunar month Shakyamuni Buddha's ordination), the London Qingliang Lecture Hall held a foundation laying ceremony and a refuge meeting. Nearly 200 people from all over the UK attended the ceremony, including Dharma protectors, overseas Chinese, elites from all walks of life, and local scholars engaged in Buddhist studies. At the festival, Vice President Miao Jiang taught the three refuges and five precepts to dozens of believers in the Qingliang Lecture Hall, and said that Buddhism originated in India, took root in China, and spread to the world, which is one of the important parts of Chinese culture, a symbol of auspiciousness and peace, and a blessing of merit left by the Buddha to the world. The Groundbreaking Ceremony and Refuge Ceremony of the Cool Lecture Hall is not only a grand event for British Buddhists, but also an opportunity to promote the Buddha's concept of compassion and pray for world peace. Vice President Miao Jiang hopes that the Qingliang Lecture Hall will continue the wisdom of the Buddha, spread the wisdom of the Buddha, and lead more Chinese and Western people in Britain and Europe to get close to Buddhism. The London Qingliang Lecture Hall is the first Han Buddhist monastery established by the mainland Buddhist community in mainland China to spread Buddhist culture in Britain and Europe, cultivate Buddhist talents, unite overseas Chinese and British Buddhist believers, promote cultural exchanges between Buddhism and other religions, and build a link between the diverse cultures of the East and the West and a Buddhist education garden. At present, the London Cool Lecture Hall has been registered as a religious charity organization in the United Kingdom, offering courses such as chanting, Dharma lectures, meditation and yoga, which are open to the public on weekends, attracting the majority of believers to participate in various public welfare activities held by it.
On March 17th, the London Qingliang Lecture Hall held a foundation laying ceremony and a legal refuge meeting
During the visit, the delegation also visited the London Buddhist Centre, Fo Guang Shan in London, the London Buddhist Monastery in Sri Lanka, the Centre for Buddhist Studies at the University of Oxford, the China Centre of the University of Oxford, the British National Parliament, and Canterbury Cathedral.
The delegation visited the Buddhist Centre of the University of Oxford and presented "Chinese Buddhism" (Chinese and English volumes)
The delegation visited the China Centre of Dickson Pan at the University of Oxford
Source: Buddhist Association of China