Buddhist Action Month 2017
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BAM 2017
Mokshini's picture
Mokshini

Metta for Merida

Posted by Mokshini on Sun, 6 Aug, 2017 - 10:18

Metta for Merida

Posted by Mokshini on Sun, 6 Aug, 2017 - 10:18

Dear friends, Vajranatha, and the Triratna Sangha in Venezuela, needs our help! 

At the recent European chairs meeting Vajrnatha, the only order member in Venezuela, spoke movingly about the situation in Venezuela, and Merida, where he lives. 

In the video he says  ”I really need help…. what’s happening in Venezuela is a humanitarian crisis. I would like Triratna to be able to respond to this crisis.”

Please watch this video and share it with your sangha friends. What can we do to help the situation? Can...
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jvalamalini's picture
jvalamalini

Only Connect

Posted by jvalamalini on Sun, 9 Jul, 2017 - 22:59

One of our talks for BAM in Bristol. From communist to Buddhist…. Vimalavajri talks of her personal involvement in the spheres of politics, feminism and Buddhism.  Using Indra’s net as a classic Buddhist image of interconnectedness, the talk explores what the dharma might have to say about social or political action, and asks what helps when we feel overwhelmed or stuck in ill-will.  If we really see Indra’s net, we will connect more deeply with life at all levels and...

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Steph Delany

BAM at the London Buddhist Centre with Transforming Self and World

Posted by Steph Delany on Wed, 5 Jul, 2017 - 21:50
  • Life Stories from the 'Material Lives Project'
  • Textile Artwork created by the women involved in the Material Lives Project

BAM at the London Buddhist Centre with Transforming Self and World

Posted by Steph Delany on Wed, 5 Jul, 2017 - 21:50

June has been a particularly turbulent month in the city of London.  The violent attacks and tragic incidents the city has experienced have given us much to pause and reflect upon.  It can feel as though the forces that govern our country and the wider world base their values on greed, fear, hatred and misinformation; the very poisons we try to work against in Buddhist practice.  More than ever it seems critical for each and every one of us and...
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sarah thorne

BAM in Bristol

Posted by sarah thorne on Mon, 3 Jul, 2017 - 19:27

BAM in Bristol

Posted by sarah thorne on Mon, 3 Jul, 2017 - 19:27

On Friday evening, we held a beautiful mantra evening to conclude BAM and dedicate our efforts and merits throughout the month for the benefit of all beings.

Our events during the month included a jumble sale to raise money for a local charity supporting the city’s refugees and asylum seekers, an evening exploring veganism, taking part in an Incredible Edible community food growing work party, a full moon puja dedicated to the Buddha’s vision of interconnection, an evening exploring peace and...
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Responses

Vajracaksu's picture
Vajracaksu — Mon, 3 Jul, 2017 - 22:43

Sadhu to the Bristol sangha for planning and doing all this good work, sounds like a varied & rich set of events. I’m interested to know more about the talks on ‘engaged Buddhism’ to stimulate and perhaps expand my own practice in this field. Do you have links to share or maybe 1 or 2 things you learnt or realised from those talks Sarah?

Kind wishes from Istanbul to Bristol

Vajracaksu

jvalamalini's picture
jvalamalini — Sun, 9 Jul, 2017 - 22:55

Hi Vajracaksu, the engaged Buddhism talk is here http://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/audio/details?num=LOC3132

Vajracaksu's picture
Vajracaksu — Tue, 18 Jul, 2017 - 17:05

Thank you Jvalamalini. Just listened to Vimalavajri’s talk, “ONLY CONNECT.” Very good, clear, a breath of humane sanity. One little story that stays in my mind is the one of the Dalai Lama switching off all lights that aren’t being used!

Kind wishes

Vajracaksu

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dharmamodini

Four weeks on from Thursday 1st June

Posted by dharmamodini on Thu, 29 Jun, 2017 - 12:32

Four weeks on from Thursday 1st June

Posted by dharmamodini on Thu, 29 Jun, 2017 - 12:32

When BAM began, I made a commitment to do a weekly post on this site, to be a part of the wonderful sharing of all the creative activity happening in Triratna communities around the world. Here in Adelaide we are holding our finale event tomorrow night, rejoicing in everyone’s efforts to bring BAM to Adelaide for the first time. It happens also to be our birthday, four years on from when we began offering weekly sangha nights in this city. We...
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Elaine Jackson

Metta in Action

Posted by Elaine Jackson on Thu, 29 Jun, 2017 - 11:06

Metta in Action

Posted by Elaine Jackson on Thu, 29 Jun, 2017 - 11:06

As a community we had reflected on the theme of BAM and made 5 pledges each that we would do throughout June. A lot of the community went vegan, others picked up litter whenever they saw it, and some took on a reflective element bringing people to mind that they feel gratitude for.

After a month of cultivating this positive energy in the community, we wanted to do something to extend that out to the rest of the world. Sarah is...
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akashadevi

West London BAM Finale

Posted by akashadevi on Wed, 28 Jun, 2017 - 22:10

West London BAM Finale

Posted by akashadevi on Wed, 28 Jun, 2017 - 22:10

WLBC Shrine Queen Tarakarunya pulled out all the stops for our BAM Finale Sangha Night dedicated to Green Tara yesterday evening, creating an exquisite mini-indoor forest. We meditated, explored our attitudes to giving of our money, time and energy in the light of the Buddha’s teachings around generosity, then ended with a ritual and some chanting, which was a new experience for several people present. I hope some people will feel inspired to take up the ancient practice of tithing...
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Prajnaketu

Street Meditation in Oxford, UK

Posted by Prajnaketu on Wed, 28 Jun, 2017 - 11:21
  • Street Meditation in Oxford

Street Meditation in Oxford, UK

Posted by Prajnaketu on Wed, 28 Jun, 2017 - 11:21

This week as part of BAM! our drop-in meditation took place at the foot of Carfax Tower in the heart of central Oxford. Though the weather was inclement, even by English summer standards, our spirits were not dampened (unlike our meditation gear…!) and there was quite a lot of interest - and photography - from the local population. Personally, I found it exhilarating to be...
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Responses

florabotsford@yahoo.co.uk's picture
florabotsford@y... — Wed, 28 Jun, 2017 - 17:33

It was a great experience - thanks to all who participated and helped to organise it. 

vidyakaya's picture
vidyakaya — Tue, 4 Jul, 2017 - 13:49

Sadhu guys, meditating for rain. Dhamma on the streets, a great example

Christine's picture
Christine

BAM survey > your feedback is important

Posted by Christine on Tue, 27 Jun, 2017 - 11:01

BAM survey > your feedback is important

Posted by Christine on Tue, 27 Jun, 2017 - 11:01

Well, it’s the final week of Buddhist Action Month and I am soooOoooOOOO inspired by you lovely lot!!! WELL DONE to each and EVERY ONE of you for the various ways you have engaged with the MAGICAL SPACE between INNER and OUTER worlds!!! Now for some help: we’d be very GRATEFUL if you would take 5 minutes to fill in our brief survey. The results will help us to build...
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Sadayasihi

BAM in the Dublin Buddhist Centre - a short report

Posted by Sadayasihi on Mon, 26 Jun, 2017 - 19:10
  • The Sangha hike in the Wicklow mountains - at the finish in Glendalough
  • The Sangha Cycle in the Phoenix park with the background of deer grazing very close by
  • Tree climbing during the Sangha cycle!
  • Reflective time amongst the trees during the Nature Walk and Write event

BAM in the Dublin Buddhist Centre - a short report

Posted by Sadayasihi on Mon, 26 Jun, 2017 - 19:10

It was a busy month in Dublin!

In addition to our BAM programme we asked our Sangha to sign up to one of three challenges: going vegan for the month, exploring how to divest from fossil fuels or taking the plastic challenge.  Quite a few people took up one (or even two!) of these challenges, with the plastic challenge being by far the most popular.  I look forward to hearing how people got on with their pledges for the month.

Here is a...
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Responses

Christine's picture
Christine — Mon, 26 Jun, 2017 - 20:35

Wow, what a jam-packed schedule, of what sounds like a wonderful balance of inspiring and challenging, vigorous and tender. Well done, Dublin!!

Prajnagita's picture
Prajnagita — Mon, 26 Jun, 2017 - 22:04
Well done Sadayasihi and the rest of the BAM Team in Dublin, as well as everyone who led a BAM event. Sadhu! xxx Prajnagita
Tejopala's picture
Tejopala — Mon, 26 Jun, 2017 - 23:07

Wonderful! Very encouraging.

Vajracaksu's picture
Vajracaksu — Tue, 27 Jun, 2017 - 15:38

Sounds like a positive, rich & varied BAM, well done guys. I was especially struck by the event on the 17th June ‘Another World is Possible’. I loved the sound of this exercise:

“We were encouraged to make a list of all possible actions that could be taken, then circle the ones we are already doing (realising that we are doing more than we think!), crossing off those things we currently aren’t willing or able to do right now, and then looking at those that are remaining and seeing if we could now act on them.” 

I’ll bare it in mind.

Respect!

Vajracaksu