Triratna Highlights

Sangharakshita and the Shadow of the Past

On Mon, 27 February, 2017 - 19:06
Candradasa's picture
Candradasa

A strong, moving, nuanced set of perspectives from Vishvapani on areas of historical controversy in the FWBO/Triratna, especially those involving our founder, Sangharakshita. 

The talk spans Vishvapani’s long involvement with the community in both its light and “shadow” aspects - from first coming across the Dharma in Croydon, UK, at the age of 14 in the 1980s until the present day. It is in many ways a timely look at the past and the present, rooted in the Dharma itself as the most helpful context in which to try to meet and hold the inevitable complexities, while still attending adequately to clearly felt pains. 

We hear about his work in relation to the media, we consider communal history from the perspective of karma, we travel to Auschwitz as Vishvapani engages with a history of family sorrow that has much to offer anyone who finds there are no easy answers to suffering. Throughout we are invited to witness the past with a searching, admirable honesty, learning what we will learn and allowing space for a range of responses that might help give rise to a future where shadows are carried well as part of the Dharma shining on through.

Talk given in Cardiff, Wales, February 2017.

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Responses

Amala's picture

This talk is very helpful. I’d like to express gratitude to Vishvapani for it. The talk offers a way to talk about the challenges of Triratna history with everyone, from newcomers to old hands. Question: is it all right to share this talk with people outside the Order? It is posted on an Order space on tbc. Thank you. 

Please note that the final track is not playing through, but stalling a 4 seconds in. Can this be fixed? 

Amala

Centre Team's picture

Thanks, Amala. Yes it’s a public talk. There seems to be an issue with the Soundcloud version/service so we’ve switched this to the Free Buddhist Audio version and it plays as expected.