Fo Guang Shan London Temple

General information

London Fo Guang Shan Temple was established in 1992 and is located in the heart of London behind Oxford Street. It is a five minute walk from Oxford Circus underground station and a fifteen minute walk from Chinatown. It is therefore extremely easy to get there by public transport. London Fo Guang Temple is a place of peace and tranquillity within the busy and noisy environment of Central London. London Fo Guang Shan is one of 200 worldwide branches of Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Taiwan, founded by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, who advocates Humanistic Buddhism.
The building of London Fo Guang Shan Temple, which was once a Protestant institute where clergymen were trained, is now listed as a Grade II* historical building. In the basement of the four storey building is the Veggie House. On the ground floor there are a reception, library and office. The first floor houses the Main Shrine, Guan Yin Shrine and Di Zang Shrine. The meditation hall is on the second floor, which also contains a small stage, a wide screen with a projector, and a multimedia system. It is a great location for cultural and educational activities.
The seed for Buddhism in England has been sown and will continue to grow. London Fo Guang Shan promotes the four principles initiated by Venerable Master Hsing Yun: “Propagating Dharma through cultural activities, fostering talent through education, benefiting society through philanthropic programmes and purifying human minds”. We also promote Buddhism locally by educating local Buddhists to assist in propagating the Dharma. We are committed to the establishment of a Pureland in western society through nurturing joy and harmony, unity and coexistence, respect and tolerance, equality and peace.
Apart from services on Sundays, New and Full moon days of the lunar calendar and annual Dharma Functions, many other seasonal activities are also organized by London Fo Guang Shan Temple. Such activities include the annual Buddha’s Birthday Celebration in Leicester Square, Mid-Autumn Festival parties and pilgrimages. Other activities include Sutra Study, Buddhist and meditation classes, reading clubs, lifestyle talks and the little Bodhi Garden for children. Further activities intended to propagate Humanistic Buddhism, thereby integrating living Buddhism into today’s society, include Buddhist and educational interactive events, Buddhist exhibitions and concerts, charitable visits, fundraising and vegetarian food fairs.
London Fo Guang Shan Temple, is also know as International Buddhist Progress Society UK, a registered charity in the UK, has been taking part in humanistic activities for British communities since 1992. We believe that diversity is a source of strength, vitality and prosperity and we would like to bring cultural harmony to communities across the country and strengthen the bonds of friendships among people of different faiths and cultures. In addition to being at the service of faith, London Fo Guang Shan has participated in various social events in Britain briefed as the following:
Interfaith service/ceremony – we were invited to join in "July 7 Peace Day" Multifaith Blessing in the London Inter Faith Centre, The annual interfaith service of thanksgiving at Marylebone, Interreligious Dialogue in the UK (Westminster Cathedral), and we hosted the Interfaith event of “Week Of Prayer For World Peace” etc.
Cultural events – we annually organized the biggest Buddha's Birthday Festival in central London. We took part in the National St George's Day Banquet, Chinese New Year 2007 Celebration and 2006 Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration in the V&A Museum, Celebration of Buddha Day at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and we organised the 2007 "HARMONISE" Interfaiths & Intercultural Musical Performances etc.
Community activities – we took part in woodland project of tree planting in London, Beach cleanup, River Thames cleanup, The New Year's Day Parade in London, Annual visiting of nursing home, Providing counselling and caring for the 7th July London blasts victims and we hosted a candle lightening blessing ceremony & luncheon for the homelessness etc.
International charitable projects – we took part in fund-raising concert for water restoration projects in Senegal, Relief for earthquake victims in Pakistan and for Tsunami victims in South Asia, and adoption of Orphans in Brazil, South America etc.
Our affiliated lay association – Buddha’s Light International Association is granted Non-Governmental Organisation Special Consultative Status by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and working together with our 200 worldwide branches of Fo Guang Shan Monastery in the world to promote a better future for human society.
When people act together, great things are possible. London Fo Guang Shan is looking forward to the collaboration with British society and communities in the near future so as to promote enduring interfaith network, create cultures of peace and bring the world harmony and happiness among all people. The London Fo Guang Temple offers a friendly atmosphere for anyone who is interested in its services and activities. It is open to public from 9AM to 5 PM daily except Friday.
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當星雲大師許下“佛光普照三千界，法水長流五大洲”的慈悲願力時，佛教種子在英國悄悄地萌芽了。一九九零年十一月，星雲大師率團至歐洲弘法並繞道英國考察之際，留下兩項使命：1.倫敦要有道場；2.倫敦要成立佛光會。在依益法師、永有法師以及慈莊法師的努力之下，終於在一九九二年初在倫敦市中心最繁榮的牛津街及麗晶街交匯之處，為佛光山找到了弘法的據點，這棟四層樓高的維多利亞式的建築物有一百四十多年的歷史，是英國國家保護的二星級古蹟，原來是基督教書院，修道人在此潛修與學習以期能通過神職人員的考驗；繼一九九二年四月二十日星雲大師於倫敦主持「國際佛光會倫敦協會」成立大會暨皈依典禮，六月二十日簽訂購屋合約後，同年九月二十八日星雲大師於此地親臨主持開光落成典禮，至此，中國大乘佛教在倫敦有了據點；這棟古書院也成了佛光山在英國弘法的搖籃。
倫敦佛光山是棟地上三層、地下一層的雙拼四層樓高的建築，地下室為滴水坊，一樓設有會客室、文物流通處、圖書館及辦公室，二樓為三寶殿、觀音殿及地藏殿，三樓是禪堂及一個小小的舞台。十年多來 ，歷經慈莊、依益、滿讓、覺彥住持法師的帶領下，本著人間佛教的精神在此地透過多元化的教育、慈善、文化、修持的活動與十方信眾結緣並提高其對佛教的認識。
倫敦佛光山的現況
修持淨化人心 - 倫敦佛光山除了定期地舉辦例行的共修法會，如大悲懺、念佛共修、金剛禪坐法會外，還有配合時節的大型法會，其中以每年於倫敦華埠所舉行的露天浴佛法會最為盛大，計有數千人前往參加 ，倫敦西敏市市長對浴佛淨心的意義極為贊同，特定浴佛法會為唐人街的公定節日之一，每年都有市政府高級官員參加。
文化弘揚佛法 - 音樂無國界，一首神聖的樂曲或佛讚，往往可以觸動人的內心深處，使積塵已久的心靈得以洗滌；自1992年至今，倫敦佛光山舉辦與協辦過多場音樂會，如倫敦海華文藝季親子音樂會、梵之旅音樂會、佛教梵唄音樂會、籌募修寺基金慈善音樂會等，其中以天籟之音梵唄音樂會歐洲巡迴讚頌團於英國皇家音樂廳的演出，吸引二千多人前往觀賞並受到當地媒體的廣泛注目，這是佛教梵唄音樂首次出現在英國舞台上，清流的法音成功地促進中英文化藝術的交流。音樂傳法音之外，本寺並透過畫展、中國結展覽以及參與倫敦地方政府所主辦的佛教教義與文化展積極地把佛教文化藝術介紹給西方人士。
教育培養人才 - 為了提昇信眾對佛法的認知及修持的體證，本寺定期舉辦佛學講座，並開辦中文佛學班、英文佛學班、音樂讀書會、禪坐班、兒童菩提園；此外，倫敦佛光會也定期舉辦生活系列講座，邀請檀講師或知名社會人士前來演講。
送愛心到社會，學習佛陀無緣大慈，同體大悲的本懷，倫敦佛光山以布施去利己利人，經由老人院和孤兒院的探訪，將愛心與關懷送到社會去。此外，本寺也支持捐血助醫的活動並為國際性的急難意外災害，如南亞的大地震募款。
倫敦佛光山於英國本土化的發展
為了促進大乘佛教在英國本土化、提供西方人士認識佛教善美的機緣，近年來，倫敦佛光山主動積極地舉辦及參與英國社會多元化的活動，廣結十方善緣，力促佛教與當地的文化、種族與宗教的融合，主要的本土發展包括：
跨宗教的對話與交流：倫敦佛光山於2006年受邀參加英國「77和平日」跨宗教祈福會；自2005年起，每年受邀出席倫敦西敏市年度跨宗教感恩晚禱會；2005年，倫敦佛光山於寺內首度承辦跨宗教為世界和平祈禱會以及受邀參與2005年於西敏大教堂所舉辦的跨宗教圓桌會議。
佛教文化的推廣與交流：倫敦佛光山每年於倫敦市中心舉辦全英最大的佛誕節戶外慶典外；西元2007年首度舉辦以「和諧」為主題的多元宗教暨文化音樂饗宴，同年4月23日的國慶日，受邀出席於倫敦國會區的皇家宴會廳舉行聖喬治節國宴，倫敦敦煌舞團於8月假北威爾斯所舉辦的全英瑜珈師資營表演；2006年應邀參加具有一百二十年歷史的伯明翰博物館所舉行的佛誕祈禱會，倫敦佛光山前往誦經祈福以及演出英式音樂劇「智者之旅：佛陀的一生」，同年秋天，倫敦佛光山與維多利亞&亞伯特(V&A)博物館同慶中秋，以精緻、多元的表演節目 – 敦煌舞蹈、人間音緣歌曲以及青年勁舞，首次於倫敦博物館中展露倫敦佛光人的獨特佛教藝術光芒，成為現場鎂光燈的焦點。
對英國的社區關懷：倫敦佛光山於2007年10月首度參與英國古森林復育的植樹活動、2006年首度從事倫敦泰晤士河清攤環保活動、以及年度海洋淨灘；2007年元旦首度參加倫敦市新年大遊行，同年，以佛教團體身分首度舉辦為英國街頭流浪漢點燈祈福會與關懷慰問活動；2005年為倫敦連環爆炸恐怖事件的罹難者祈福並提供罹難諮商協助。
國際慈善計畫的參與：倫敦佛光山於2007年首度以佛教舞蹈藝術聞名於英國的敦煌舞蹈團參與為非洲鑿井募款音樂會演出。此外，倫敦佛光山以行動贊助巴西、南美的孤兒領養計畫；並為巴基斯坦大地震而募款及提供急難救助品。
請您一起來為倫敦佛光山祈福
如果說倫敦佛光山第一個十年是搖籃中的嬰兒，那麼，經過歷屆住持法師們以及護法信徒的耕耘與建設，倫敦佛光山是成功地在倫敦完成第一階段“開山”的任務，成了無數信眾的法身慧命之家。大乘佛教的法輪是繼續地在轉動著，倫敦佛光山也將邁出古院的大門，與英國的社會正式接軌，以在英國各地點燃“人間佛教”的重重火炬，開拓佛光的淨土，倫敦佛光山邀請您一起合十來為他祝福！
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