Supporting St Lukes Hospice – £1000 raised

We are delighted to inform our members and the local community about our consolidated efforts to raise over £1000 pounds in support of our local charity, St Lukes Hospice. St Luke’s Hospice is the local hospice for Plymouth. They care for people whose illnesses are no longer curable, enabling them to achieve the best possible quality of life during the final stages of their illness. They care for patients through their in-patient unit, out-patient clinics, and day care unit, as well as in patients own homes through their community and home care teams.

We are very grateful to all our members to make this possible due to our collective efforts as a community and continued generosity. Our special thanks to Mr Jayanti Bhagwanji for contributing substantially towards the final amount.

St Lukes Hospice Community Fundraiser Wayne Marshall said, “It was a real pleasure to meet Professor Jha and members of the South Asian Society at our Turnchapel hospice today. Their support and this generous donation really means a lot to us, our patients and their families. On behalf of St Luke’s I would like to say a big thank you from all of us”.

Buddhism and Meditation workshop

The Vidyadhara Acharya Mahayogi Sridhar Rana Rinpoche was born in Kathmandu, Nepal in 1949, the eldest child of Nara Narayan Shumsher Junga Bahadur Rana — a former Deputy Inspector General of Police and the grandson of the penultimate ruler of the Rana Dynasty, Maharaja Padma Shumsher Junga Bahadur Rana — and  Shanti Rana, the daughter of Raja Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh, the humanist King of Bhajang.

The Vidyadhara began his spiritual pursuits early in life, and soon after graduating from St. Xavier’s High School — a Jesuit boarding school in Kathmandu — he began exploring Hindu Tantra under the guidance of his granduncle, Dhana Shumsher Junga Bahadur Rana. However, after failing to find spiritual fulfilment even after nine years of intense practice, he began to practise under the famous Vedantic master, Khaptad Baba. However, here too he failed to find the answers to his questions, and this led him to seek them in the Buddhadharma.

In 1979 he began practising Zen under the guidance of Roshi Nanrei Kobori — the Abbot of Ryokoin, a sub-temple of the Daitokuji of Kyoto — and the Korean Master, Seung Sahn, and his student, Zen Master Wu Bong (Jacob Perl). However, the difficulties in communicating with his teachers from Nepal led him to seek for qualified teachers within the Tibetan Buddhist community in Nepal, and in 1987 he met his first Vajrayana teacher, the Venerable Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, considered by many to be among the greatest modern Dzogchen masters.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche further introduced him to various other masters, and from them he received numerous empowerments (Abhishekas/Wangs) and practice instructions. In April 1996, under the guidance of His Eminence (HE) the late Chobgay Trichen Rinpoche — the then head of the Tsarpa subdivision of the Sakya School — and His Holiness (HH) Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, he entered retreat at his residence in Bishalnagar, Kathmandu.

After completing six and half years of retreat, Chobgay Trichen Rinpoche bestowed upon him the title of “Rinpoche”, and in 2006, at the end of his tenth year in retreat, he again bestowed upon him the tile of “Mahayogi” (Great Yogi). On 25 May, 2013, at the end of his seventeenth year in retreat, HE the Fourth Karma Thinley Rinpoche honoured him with the title of “Vidyadhara” (Wisdom Holder). Called Rigdzin in Tibetan, the title refers to one who constantly abides in the pure essence of the nature of mind and who has special knowledge of the use of different Vidyadharanis (Wisdom Mantras), their principles, origins, uses, etc. It was used in the past to address such accomplished Tantric masters as Mahasiddha Vimalamitra, Guru Padmasambhava, Mahasiddha Virupada, etc.

Now in his twenty-second year of retreat, the Vidyadhara is committed to extending it to the rest of his life in the Tse Tsam style of the Tibetan tradition as practised by the great yogi,  Lama Shyabkar. This type of practice allows for the retreat to be held in multiple places with short breaks. As such, in March 2017 he embarked on his first teaching tour with a visit to Thailand; with visits to the US, the UK, and Australia scheduled for later in the year.

Although he is under a strict practice schedule in retreat, the Vidyadhara has always found time to disseminate his teachings, primarily in the form of written discourses, which are translated from the original English into Nepali and read out by his chief disciple, Narayan Prasad Rijal, during monthly gatherings of the growing Sangha. Four volumes of these teachings, entitled “Bodhipushpanjali” (The Flower Garland of Wisdom) have so far been compiled and published. In addition, the Vidyadhara has written prolifically, primarily in English, on various aspects of Buddhism, including defences of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, and his visions for Buddhism in the modern age.

While his Hindu background has facilitated his teachings and interactions in Nepal, his wide knowledge of western philosophy and psychology makes his style especially suited for western and western-oriented Sangha members. In addition to traditional Vajrayana teachings, including those based on his termas, he also conducts healing and therapeutic workshops, and advocates integrating various psychotherapeutic and psychological practices with Buddhist meditation techniques in order to expedite mind transformation and enable his disciples to advance rapidly along the path.

Besides the Vajrayana tradition of Tibet and Nepal, the Vidyadhara is also a scholar of Chan and Zen Buddhism; Jodo Shinshu; and the Abhidharma  of the Mahayana, Vaibhashika and Theravada traditions. He also maintains a keen interest in both Zen and Theravada practices, and one of his aims is to make available all aspects of the Buddhadharma to those interested in studying and practising it. As such, he promotes a non-sectarian and universal Buddhist tradition, where all lineages and traditions of Buddhist practices are respected.

SAaS Annual Cultural Evening 2017

This year we are preparing a dynamic mix of performance to highlight various facets of the south asian culture. The performances will comprise of a variety of music, dance and instrumentals involving diverse members of the community. Dinner will be included constituting of delicious Indian sub-continental cuisine. All the members and members of local Devon and Cornwall communities are welcome or rather encouraged to attend. Please contact one of our trustees for more information or participating in cultural events.

Tickets can be purchased online or through one of the trusteesFrom 28th Oct Adult Ticket Price will be £20 so buy early to save.

We are offering 1 year free membership to everyone who will be attending the event this year.

Venue: Devonport High School for Girls, Lyndhurst Rd, Plymouth, PL2 3DL

Date: 11/11/2017

Time: 6pm-11:30pm

Buy tickets for South Asian Society Annual Cultural Event 2017

AGM 2017

Dear SAaS Members

1 The newly elected trustees met on 11th July 2017 and unanimously elected the new office bearers of the Society as follows.

Prof Awadhesh Jha – Chairperson
Dr Arunangsu Chatterjee – Secretary
Mr Jayanti Bhagwanji & Dr Bharat Shrestha – Treasurers

2 Following the recommendations made during the AGM, It was decided that membership fees will be included in the Annual Function ticket price similar to last year

3- The annual Function has been fixed for 11th of November 2017.

4- Details of Venue and Tickets for the function will be available soon.

5- To participate in the cultural Program please liaise with the cultural committee comprising of Girish, Mahrukh, Arunima and Achin.

We are seeking participation from everyone.

Thanks very much

Prof Awadhesh Jha

Chairperson

South Asian Society

South Asian Society Annual Cultural Event 2016

There will be variety of Music, Dance and delicious Asian cuisine. All the members and non-members are welcome to participate in evening cultural events. Please contact one of our trustees for more information or participating in cultural events.

Venue: Devonport High School for Girls, Lyndhurst Rd, Plymouth, PL2 3DL

Date: 29/10/2016

Time: 6pm-11:30pm

Tickets can be purchased online only.

Buy tickets for South Asian Society Annual Cultural Event 2016

Burrator Reservoir Walk/Picnic

Dear All

A family Picnic with the intention walking around the Burrator Reservoir (2- 3 miles walk) is planned weather permitting on Sunday 17th of July.

Please come prepared with comfortable shoes. Bring your own food for yourself and family and plenty of Drinks- weather is supposed to be hot on that day.

Meeting place Burrator Reservoir – Near Stone Bridge

Time between 10.00 – 11.00 AM ( Meeting Time at Reservoir)

Best Wishes

Bharat

Music Masti 2016

Dear Friends,

Please see below for the details of programme

Endeavour Charity Musical Masti Night
On 2 July 2016
Trinity URC Church Hall, Torr Lane, Plymouth PL3 5NY

Programme

19: 00 – 21: 30 Food

19: 25 – Welcome by Somaiah Aroori

19: 30 – 19: 35 Prayer by Swetha Pandy & Saahithya Aroori

19: 35 – 19: 40 Skit by Ayyali Naresh & Bhumika Sinha

19: 40 – 19:55 Singing by Torbay Music Masti Group

19: 55 : 20:05 Singing by M Mirza & Ashutosh Kulkarni

20: 05: 20: 10 Singing by Rashmi Jain

20: 10 – 20: 40 Music Masti by Sreevidya Aroori, Rachna & Himanshu Sharma, Ashutosh Kulkarni

20:40 – 20: 55 Break Time / Presentation by Somaiah Aroori

20: 55 – 21:05 Singing by Suparna and Somnath Bagchi

21:05 – 21:10 Heavy Metal Guitar Song by Sam Braganza

21: 15 – 21: 20 Singing by Ganga Srinivasan

21: 20 – 21:25 Singing by Naveen Arora

21: 25 – 21:35 Singing by Arunima & Sayanima Kisku

21: 35- 22:05 Music Masti by Sreevidya Aroori, Rachna & Himanshu Sharma , and Ashutosh Kulkarni

22: 05- 22: 10 Singing by Sheela Raghu

22: 10 – 22: 15 Raffle Prizes by Raja Srinivasan

22: 15- 22: 20 Vote of Thanks by Raj Srinivasan

22:20 -23:00 Singing and Dancing

Food is provided by VR Catering from 1830 on wards for a reasonable price

Tea/Coffee/Lassi/Squash are complimentary and will be available through out the programme.

There is plenty of free parking in the church premises and nearby Venn Grove and Venn Crescent.

On behalf of

Raj, Ashutosh, Himanshu & Somaiah

Rest in Peace Dr Peter Kapoor

We are very sad to inform members and well wishers about lose of one of our valued member and a former trustee of the South Asian Society, Dr Peter Kapoor. Those who knew Peter, would remember him as a very loving and caring person and always wanted to do the right thing. He started his career in Merchant Navy and then worked as a lecturer in Plymouth University. He was employed by the United Nations and worked in a number of countries. He was an entrepreneur and started his own business but due to health issues could not continue. He joined South Asian Society as a proactive PK Oct 2005Trustee and wanted to do more for the society but his health could not allow him to do so therefore he had to gradually step back. In the last few years he was diagnosed with IPF and as a result his health deteriorated over the course of time and Peter left us on 19th of June at his home with his wife and daughter beside him. May God bless his soul and rest in peace after fighting with ill health and we will always remember him as a true, gentle and hardworking man.

The funeral will be held on 30th June at Weston Mill at 1430, everybody is welcome.