3.1 SRI LANKAN BUDDHIST TEMPLES IN AND AROUND LONDON
3.1.1 The London Buddhist Vihara
Introduction
The London Buddhist Vihara was founded in 1926 by
Anagarika Dharmapala, who was one of the prominent leaders of the 19th
century Sinhala Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka. Although this temple was
officially declared open in 1926, the early roots go back to the latter part of
the 19th century, especially to the meeting of Anagarika Dharmapala
with Edwin Arnold, the author of “Light of Asia” and the editor of the Daily
Telegraph in 1893, returning after attending the World Parliament of Religions
in Chicago. At
this time, as London was considered the most important city in the world as the
capital of the British empire, Anagarika was determined to share the joy of ‘Dhamma’
with English people and especially with the citizens of London. This happened
in the context of the increased interest of Western intellectuals in Buddhism
in the 19th century.
At the beginning in 1926 a lady called Mrs. Mary
Foster was the main benefactor of the Vihara and she financed the setting up of
‘Foster House’ in Ealing, the first Theravada Monastery to be established
outside the Asian continent, the continent of its origin. This Vihara was very
soon shifted to a more convenient and central place in Gloucester Road and it remained there
until the outbreak of the 2nd World War. Then the monks went back to
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and again it was
reopened in 1954 at Ovington
Square, Knightsbridge, with the help of many
Sinhala people. In 1958, when the lease expired, the Anagarika Dharmapala
Trust, the custodians of the Vihara, bought a property at 5, Heathfield Gardens
in Chiswick for the functions of the Vihara. The Vihara was opened at these new
premises on April 24th, 1964. On May 21st, 1994 the
Vihara shifted to its present location, The Avenue, Chiswick, with more space
and convenience.
