A MAN is opening a Buddhist centre in Brynmawr because he says the Welsh town it is similar to Tibet.

John Beard, 60, chairman of the Sherabling Foundation UK, is transforming the Calvary Chapel into the Palpung Changchub Dargye Ling, due to what he calls “high demand” in the community for such centres.

The foundation bought the disused baptist chapel as congregations dwindled and it became too costly to run.

Calvary Chapel is an evangelical association of Christian churches and Brynmawr became a site for worship in the 19th century to meet the spiritual needs of English speakers, who had moved to the area as it industrialised.

Mr Beard previously rented a building in Cardiff for practising Buddhists, but has chosen to open one in Brynmawr as he believes its valley location is similar to the Asian plateau region, north of the Himalayas.

He also said that Tibetan and Welsh cultures are somewhat alike.

“If you look at the early struggles of Plaid Cymru you could draw similarities with the disputed territory of Tibet,” he said.

Mr Beard, a practising Tibetan Buddhist himself for 40 years, turned to Buddhism in his teenage years while living in Manchester.

“The way I was living my life was the way the Mahayana Buddhists live. The Buddha taught that it’s not about being popular that matters it’s about being practical every day” he said.

Born in Tibet, Lama Rabsang first studied to become a monk aged 11, guided by his uncle.

He then joined the Sherabling monastery Foundation in northern India to complete his studies and later became a discipline master on a retreat.

The centre is expected to welcome up to 50 people a week through its doors, with several hundred on special occasions.

Buddhist rimpches will also come from all over the world to give talks in Brynmawr and according to Mr Beard, these atrract a country wide following.

The lama, who works on a voluntary basis, will also be organising meditation classes and ‘drop in’ sessions, for people who may want to learn more about the ancient teachings.

Buddhists believe that people can practice the religion alongside their own faith.

It dates back to the historical founder, Siddhartha Gautama, who is more commonly known as the Buddha. He was born as a prince in Nepal in 623 BC but the religion came relatively late to Tibet, in the seventh century.

It teaches about four noble truths linked to the existence of suffering and Buddhists believe in karma, meaning people are reborn in different situations, possibly thousands of times.

Cllr Keith Brown said that the Buddhist centre could be a "refreshing change" for Brynmawr and that he has heard no negative comments about it.

"People sometimes like something a bit different. I welcome the new use of the building and I think a few community members are excited about it," he said.

Mr Brown stated his ethos was to support the local community and that he welcomes anyone who wants to participate in it.