The Buddhist Community Centre

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Reviews

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  prem pradhan

  20-05-2023
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  J Grg

  Peaceful, and gives all the vibes of holiness soon stepped inside the Gumba - an apt place for meditation in the centre of Aldershot town. The ongoing building of meditation hall once completed will be icing on top for the Monestry. Sadly, the previous parking has been scraped but alternate parking is available at nearby football club. The staff are very helpful and are as smooth as butter... such a kind hearted pure souls.

  27-04-2023
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  Martine Sakulku

  Feeling very welcome and at peace

  27-03-2023
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  Sherpa girl

  Peaceful 🙏🙏

  27-02-2023
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  Naresh Khapangi

  A well kept Buddhist monastery by Nepali community in the UK. Never thought it has been immaculately decorated inside and regular service by Buddhist monks gives a homelike feelings to community.

  27-08-2022
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  Babu Ram Bhusal Shil

  27-07-2022
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  Nilam Rai

  Very Welcoming. Very peaceful

  27-07-2022
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  Joseph Goodridge

  Wonderful experience, beautiful building with lovely people.

  27-05-2022
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  T M

  My family's involvement with the BCCUK was borne of my father's passing. We made the sentimental decision to observe his 49 days of prayers here and I trust this feedback will be helpful to other families planning to pay to hold life events here. The 2-star rating relates to the two areas in which the gumba met our expectations. The shrine room, statues and stupa are beautiful and authentic. Secondly, one of the lamas in particular was very warm and committed to engaging the family in the process of offering prayers to help our father navigate his way from death to rebirth (samsara). However, beyond these positives, the lack of professionalism with which the gumba is run, seriously undermines the work of the lamas and the very reasons that families attend. The family, along with guests, attended on eight occasions since last month. It was agreed, as is customary, that our ceremony would take place at the same time each week. This enabled us to make arrangements and extend invitations. As the weeks went on, the ceremony would actually start at arbitrary times, up to an hour late, with us waiting around outside with no forthcoming information. There was an occasion on which our prayers were moved three hours later than agreed with no consultation whatsoever. It turned out that we had been bumped for a bigger, more important event. We managed to negotiate an earlier time but still had to amend all sorts of arrangements due to the last minute change. We were then abruptly told, at the end of the rushed and clumsy service, that the puja was over; "please leave the gumba". Along with management's struggles with timekeeping and communication, there was the utter disrespect of staff mobile phones going off during the prayers, and worse, being answered and us struggling to hear the prayers above the audacious phone conversation ensuing! This happened on several occasions and was so distinct one time, that it was talked about by the whole congregation and upset my grieving mother. We informed staff at the end of the service but there was an unwillingness to acknowledge what had happened. Disturbance during our paid-for sessions was a common theme, with party-outsiders strewn in the corners of the room, having loud conversations and unwieldy clattering around to set up for subsequent bookings. There was no effort to request quiet from large groups congregating outside the doors. On one occasion, family members had to intervene to avoid prayers for my father being entirely drowned out by the din. During one ceremony, some members of an earlier group remained in the room after the start of our service, including a child being allowed to run around pulling down parts of the shrine room. The most galling of all issues was the late running of the final and most important 49th day prayer. Having grown accustomed to the haphazard running-style, we approached management ahead of time, to request that the final day run to schedule as we had food arranged for 40 people. It was agreed and an underlined note was made in their diary. The lady we spoke to was however, more concerned that we were planning to serve food at the gumba and reminded us of some other rules. We informed her that this was not the case and that a restaurant had been booked. If only there was such attention to rules-adherence for staff/ committee members! Alas, the final ceremony started an hour late, even with polite prompts from us. There appeared to be no rush or regret whatsoever, let alone respect for our plans. I asked before the ceremony began, what time it might finish, and was told 6pm at the latest. It actually finished at 6.30pm, by which time the restaurant had been calling and I had missed important rites in my father's final ceremony by excusing myself to negotiate a later and as yet, undeterminable arrival time. I missed the final rituals along with some guests, who I took with me to the restaurant to preserve the booking. I was deeply disappointed that this was how it all ended, especially as it was entirely avoidable.

  27-05-2022
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  paul masters

  Quiet frendly a great air of peace around it I dont go as much as I would like but I travel 340 miles to do so when I can very welcoming it's like coming home

  27-05-2020