Oxford Buddha Vihara Tree Planting Project

With your support, we aim to plant 70 healthy, long-lived trees within the grounds of the Oxford Buddha Vihara's Park Farm Retreat Centre and to establish the foundations for an inspiring Buddha Garden. We wish to commemorate the 70th birthday of Venerable Dhammajiva Thero, and contribute to the development of the recently-established Park Farm Retreat Centre in the Forest of Dean. We also hope that this project will have a positive impact on the environment. It's inspired by the sense of friendship and inclusiveness promoted by Ven. Dhammasami Thero, founder and abbot of the Oxford Buddha Vihara (OBV). Find out more on our website 

 

 

The Kalyana UK group conceived the project, a small community of Sri Lankan lay Buddhist practitioners to both celebrate their appreciation for the teachings of Ven. Dhammajiva Thero on his 70th birthday, as well as contribute their support to the wider Buddhist community here in the UK. Ven. Dhammajiva is the group's main 'meditation advisor' (Kammattanacharya). To celebrate the occasion, the Satipasala Horticultural Society in Sri Lanka organised a tree planting project in different parts of the country, and likewise, the Kalyana UK group felt moved to mirror this with a project based in the UK.

 

 

This project is a symbol of mutual support and friendship within the Buddhist community, and continues a long tradition. There are already many examples to inspire us. Many years ago, Ven. Dhammasami warmly welcomed Ven. Dhammajiva to stay at the newly-founded Oxford Buddha Vihara during his visit to the UK. Many of the Burmese monks at the Oxford Buddha Vihara have studied in Sri Lanka. Ven. Dhammajiva trained extensively under Sayadaw U Pandita in Burma before returning to Nissarana Vanaya in the forests of Sri Lanka.