The Eight Lifetime Precepts & Dhamma Teachers Certificates

The Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) (BGKT) and Ketumati Buddhist Vihara have been jointly involved in the development of the Eight Precepts and lay Buddhist Dhamma and meditation teaching in the West. Details are given in Jacquetta Gomes’s article ‘The Development and Use of the Eight Precepts for lay practitioners, Upasakas and Upasikas in Theravada Buddhism in the West’, Contemporary Buddhism Volume 5(1) (May, 2004) 47-63 (ISSN 1463-9947) (available on-line at www.journalsonlinetandf.co.uk). This article was mentioned by the respected Indian publishers, Motilal Banarsidass, in their MLBD Newsletter: A Monthly Indological Bibliography, XXVII (6) (June, 2005)14.

Wesak celebrations were held at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Oldham on 14th May 2006. Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa made presentations to senior members of BGKT. Cream sashes were presented in order of seniority to those who have taken Ajivatthamaka Sila (Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth) for life: Upasakas Sumedha, Mahinda and Punna (with Venerable Piyatissa as Preceptor) and Upasika Jayasili (who took the Bodhicari Precepts with Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya as Preceptor). These sashes must be worn when they administer the Panca Sila (Five Precepts) in a meeting, in the absence of a Bhikkhu (Monk) or Ayya (Nun).

Sangha authorised Dhamma Teacher badges were presented in order of seniority to Titus Gomes (authorised at the London Buddhist Vihara in 1980), Upasika Jayasili, Upasaka Sumedha and Upasaka Mahinda. (As far as we are aware this is the first time such presentations have been made in the UK.)

Upasika Panna received the Eight Lifetime Precepts (an expansion of the Ajivatthamaka Sila) from Venerable Henepola Gunaratana, at Gaia House in June 2007. Venerable Piyatissa presented Upasika Panna with a sash at BGKT in June 2007.

Ketumati Buddhist Vihara and BGKT jointly wrote a booklet, Requirements and Ceremonies for The Five Precepts (Panca Sila), The Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth (Ajivatthamaka Sila), Dhamma Teachers Certificate, which was issued as part of the Wesak Celebrations in May 2006. This was published for international distribution with Introducing Buddhism by The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation in Taiwan, in 2007. (The book’s code is EN074) (www.budaedu.org).