Interfaith Week Celebrated at The London Buddhist Vihara

As part of UK's Interfaith Week, the London Buddhist Vihara organised a session of Interfaith Chantings,Prayers and Blessings on Friday 19th November 2021. This year's theme was "Altruism in each religion".

Altruism is the principle and moral practice of concern for happiness of other human beings or other animals, resulting in a quality of life both material and spiritual. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures and a core aspect of various religious and secular world views. However, the object(s) of concern vary among cultures and religions. In an extreme case, altruism may become a synonym of selflessness, which is the opposite of selfishness.

Under the strict new Covid 19 national restrictions the meeting was held using the internet Zoom facility. Representatives from various religions joint together to perform a common ceremony of chantings, prayers and blessings for those who had become victims of the Covid 19 pandemic and for the world to be free from this global calamity.
Inter Faith Week 2021 took place from Sunday 14 - Sunday 21 November.Each year, Inter Faith Week begins on Remembrance Sunday, and runs until the following Sunday. Remembrance Sunday was chosen as a start day to encourage people to remember together the contributions of all faiths and none, and to consider how best to create a just, peaceful, and harmonious world.Inter Faith Week also ends on Mitzvah Day, an annual day of faith-based social action

Head of the London Buddhist Vihara and the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain Most Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera welcomed the guests and everyone who joint via the internet. Ven. Thawalama Bandula Thera, Ven. Kalugamuwe Kassapa Thera from London Buddhist Vihara, Dr Harriet Crabtree - Director of Interfaith Network, UK, Hindu Prayers by Mr.Ranjish Kashyap, General Secretary/Director Hindu Council,UK, Sikh Prayers by Mrs. Charanjith and Mr. Ajith Sing MBE, Hounslow Friends of Faith, Jain Prayers by Dr.Pujya Samaniji Pratibha Pragya, who is a Jain nun from Harrow, Dr Desmond Bidulph - Chairman of Buddhist Society and Chanting by The Reverend Gyoro Nagase, Japanese monk, London Peace Pagoda,

Battersea took part via Zoom.
Pre recorded video of Devotional Songs by London Buddhist Vihara Dhamma School Children was played.

Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera acknowledged his appreciation by thanking every one who helped, took part and joined via Zoom to make this year's interfaith celebration a success.

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. Former head of the London Buddhist Vihara late Most Ven. Dr. Medagama Vajiragnaana Nayaka Thera was a founder member of the Interfaith Network UK.

Each year Inter Faith Week in the UK begins on Remembrance Sunday, and runs until the following Sunday. Remembrance Sunday was chosen as a start day to encourage people to remember together the contributions of all faiths and none, and to consider how best to create a just, peaceful, and harmonious world.