Interfaith Reflections 2016 at London Buddhist Vihara

Part of the Interfaith Network UK the Interfaith Reflections 2016 was held at the London Buddhist Vihara on Saturday the 19th November. Head of the Vihara and the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain Most Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera and all the resident monks of the Vihara, Father Edward Barlow from St Michael and All Angels Church, Swami Nirliptananda from London Sevashram Sangha, Mr. Charanjit Ajit Singh, MBE from Hounslow Friends of Faith, Mr. Hashim Bhatti, Councillor, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead representing the Islam faith, Venerable Gyoro Nagase from the Battersea Peace Pagoda and Dr. Harriet Crabtree, OBE Executive Director Interfaith Network UK and a large number of guests from all the major faiths attended the meeting. Children from the London Buddhist Vihara Rahula Dhamma school presented a welcoming Peace Dance and chanted the Karaniya Metta Sutta with explanations in English.

The Interfaith Network for the UK was founded in 1987 to promote good relations between people of different faiths living in the United Kingdom. It's member organisations include representative bodies from the Buddhist, Bahai, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Islam, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities, National and local interfaith bodies, academic institutions and educational bodies concerned with inter religious issues. London Buddhist Vihara under the leadership of late Most Ven. Dr. Medagama Vajiragnaana Nayaka Thera was a founder member of the Interfaith Network UK.

Photographs by Tissa Madawela