Last Sunday evening
16th September, Luangpoh Sudhiro with Ken and Dick drove down to Spring Hill
prison near Aylesbury to join in the 20th anniversary of the opening of The
Buddha Grove in the prison grounds.
About 400
people, including many monks, attended this anniversary which was
organised by Angulimala, the Buddhist Prison Chaplaincy with the help of many
Thai friends and the prison.
The Buddha Grove is a landscaped garden with a large Buddha Rupa at the centre, all constructed by prison inmates of various faiths during 1991, a place of tranquillity and peace much appreciated by inmates and staff of the prison.
Laungpoh
Khemmadhammo, the Spiritual Director of Angulimala, presented the evening
and related the wonderful history of how the Grove came to be and also
the story of Angulimala. The evening
included speeches from Angulimala
members including Lord Averbury, prison staff and inmates and a meal
in the visitors canteen, this supper being organised and supplied by
Thai supporters, an astounding feat.
After dark this was followed by
a candle lit circumabulation of everyone round the Buddha Rupa, a
magical moment with this large crown of forms in the candle light slowly
making its way three times round the Buddha.
So, a truly
amazing event in a place where prisoners prepare to leave the confines
of their sentences, Spring Hill being a Category D Open Prison, may
it help them on their way.
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