Mon, 26 May, 2014 - 19:32So, last day… and sunshine has poured down on us, and on the extraordinarily green and beautiful Herefordshire countryside around us. The mud is drying, but remains deep - and lethally slippery - in the dining tent.
The morning’s big events on the retreat “fringe”: a loud crash as the main crockery table sank into the mud, shedding its load, which all had to be rewashed; and a “wellie amnesty”, where everyone who’d lost their boots, or picked up...
Sun, 25 May, 2014 - 22:54There’s a choice of workshops each afternoon. Since there’s a huge range of experience among us here, they range from introductory talks on Buddhism and meditation all the way to in-depth study of teachings by Atisha.
Vajradaka is running a series of meditation workshops. Yesterday he concentrated on the need for commitment to notice and change our unhelpful habits. “Where will I be in 10 years’ time if I leave this tendency unchecked?” is a good question to ask...
Mon, 26 May, 2014 - 22:40One of the study groups began with a bit of reporting-in.
“I’m very loved-up. I’m loving the loveliness - and I’m exhausted!” “Fantastic event. I never thought I could enjoy myself in such ghastly mud, but it just goes to show…” “I woke up and could hear various kinds of snoring from the tents all round me. I thought, We’re like pigs, in the mud. I felt everything was just right.” “This must be the happiest place in the...
Four people share their experience of the retreat so far. We hear from Sally from Glasgow, Jane from London, Ivan from Cambridge (via Mexico) and Suvajra who currently lives at Adhisthana.
Vaddhaka inspires Triratna Buddhists to learn more about economics and challenge the Neo-liberal economists’ notion that individual greed will lead to everyone benefiting. He encourages us to embrace Sangharakshita’s vision of a New Society as an alternative way of being for the world. Hear some responses to the talk.
Sun, 25 May, 2014 - 15:58As the mud deepened, so did our investigation of the topic of compassion in action in the world, through workshops, study groups and talks. And then the sun finally arrived.
Before each day’s main talk Nandavajra’s been giving out practical notices and then there’s been a short presentation related to social action: on Saturday we heard from four women on a Karuna fundraising appeal; on Sunday Danasamudra talked about Dr Ambedkar’s Dhamma Revolution in India and the continuing oppression...
In the second of our puja evenings Vidyatara led a Dhammapada Puja with a two part Shakyamuni mantra and the Indian Shakyamuni mantra. Here they are, along with the shrine salutation and the Refuges and Precepts.
