Aldershot Buddhist Centre facts for kids
The Aldershot Buddhist Centre is a special place for people who follow Buddhism in Aldershot, Hampshire, and nearby areas. It's a Buddhist temple and a community hub. It opened in 2015 and was the first Buddhist community centre in the United Kingdom. It's also known as the Buddhist Community Centre UK or BCCUK.
A New Home for Buddhists
Aldershot has become home to many Nepalis in recent years. Because of this, the area of Rushmoor now has the largest Buddhist community in the United Kingdom. This growth meant there was a clear need for a place where Buddhists could gather. They needed a temple for spiritual practices and a community centre for other activities.
The Buddhist Community Centre UK was started in 2007. It was founded by Mr Kaji Sherpa, who is also its Chairman. They found an empty building on the High Street. This building used to be a Labour Exchange and later a social club. It was bought and changed into the centre we see today.
The Grand Opening
The centre and its monastery were officially opened on June 29, 2015. The special guest for the opening was the 14th Dalai Lama. He is a very important spiritual leader in Buddhism and is also the centre's Patron.
When the Dalai Lama visited Aldershot, many people came to see him. During his visit, he gave a speech. He spoke about the importance of different religions getting along. After the opening ceremony, he went to the Aldershot Town football stadium. A large crowd gathered there to hear him speak about Buddhism in the 21st century.
Important Visitors
Many other respected Buddhist teachers, known as Rinpoche, have also visited the centre. These include:
- Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi
- Phakchok Rinpoche
- Sogyal Rinpoche
- Chime Rinpoche
- Lopön Tenzin Namdak
- Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche
Images for kids
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The temple area
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Inside the temple
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Prayer Wheels in the courtyard
