Posted by ratnadharini on Sat, 23 Sep, 2017 - 13:05
The FWBO/Triratna was formed to alleviate the suffering of the world through practising and sharing the Dharma, the teaching of the Buddha, and that remains at our heart. Over 50 years we have created an Order and Movement that have touched and transformed the lives of thousands of people around the world. The journey has been inspiring and challenging, and not without difficulties. We deeply regret where anyone’s involvement with our Order and Movement has led to suffering and...
On this retreat Ratnaguna will guide us on a journey into Amitābha’s Pure Land, Sukhāvati – a mythical realm where the ground is golden, trees are made of jewels, heavenly musical instruments play ravishing music, and magical birds sing the Dharma. It is...
Posted by Ratnagarbha on Mon, 28 Aug, 2017 - 11:50
2018 ISSUEOFURTHONAONTHETHEMEOFSCIENCEFICTIONANDFANTASY Please let us know if you have any thoughts about a Buddhist perspective on this kind of literature, or any author recommendations – apart from the obvious ones.
Science Fiction and Fantasy allow unfettered licence to the imagination. This can be liberating but also it has drawbacks. Many books in these genres lack emotional depth,...
I would like to suggest a couple of names not in your list, but probably being considered i.e. to somewhat state the obvious, Michael Moorcock and J.G. Ballard.
Sorry can’t help you with contemporary writers, though I have read some good SF in recent years. Many female writers nowadays and co-writing of SF novels. Often the term Speculative Fiction is used, which is sometimes preferable to SF, as it doesn’t always include “science”.
I borrow books from the local library, and enjoy a lot of what I read, but unfortunately I tend to forget the authors names quickly. If I read anything soon worth mentioning I’ll make a point of noting the names!
metta,
Abhayasiddhi
candradasa — Wed, 30 Aug, 2017 - 16:42
Hi Ratnagarbha,
Last spring and summer I recorded a two-part podcast (over 2 hours in total) with Suvajra on his history with sci-fi, fantasy and speculative fiction. We are planning to use it as part of our next round of feature-length episodes of Buddhist Voices. Be great to tie in with this somehow!
We’ll also soon be starting an Arts blog here on The Buddhist Centre Online. We’ll set things up so anyone following it sees your posts from Urthona (even if they aren’t following this dedicated Urthona space). Just add the tag “Arts” to any posts and the system will pick it up and do the rest!
love, Candradasa
Sarvatajnana — Wed, 30 Aug, 2017 - 19:27
Hi Ratnagarbha, one of my favourites regarding moral and imaginative integrity is R. Lee Smith, especially the “Lords of Arcadia” series (fantasy) and “The Hour of Gann” (scifi).
Ratnagarbha — Thu, 31 Aug, 2017 - 07:20
Many thanks for the recommendations everyone. And yes I do hope we can tie in with the interview with Suvajra, which is a timely coincidence as it turns out.
mischa — Sun, 3 Sep, 2017 - 13:27
Ursula K. LeGuin (Earthsea, The Dispossed) immediately comes to my mind and then there are several novels by Doris Lessing (like The Marriages between the Zones …) which may fit. Also, I am wondering about Stanislav Lem’s rather philosophical SciFi stories & novels. Anyway, I am really looking forward to 2018 issue now that I know it’ll be about SF (and maybe that’ll inspire me to write something about related issues, too) :-))) with metta, mischa
Posted by Free Buddhist Audio on Sun, 27 Aug, 2017 - 00:00
Dhammamegha speaks about Sangha as Dharma practice and how spiritual community and friendship with the admirable are part of our heritage in Triratna.
A talk given on the Triratna International Gathering at Adhisthana, 27 August 2017
Posted by Liz_Bassett on Wed, 16 Aug, 2017 - 15:43
Money often substitutes for other things we want. But how to tell the difference? Amalavajra, a banker-turned-Buddhist fundraiser, explores how his relationship with money has changed.
In May 1999, at the age of twenty-five, I was a bond dealer at JP Morgan, a major US investment bank just off Fleet Street. I had always wanted to be, yes, a ‘millionaire’, and was now well...
Posted by dhivan thomas jones on Mon, 21 Aug, 2017 - 11:36
We are pleased to present a review ofa new book from Windhorse Publications on the therapeutic use of mettā or kindness by Paramabandhu and Jed Shamel – reviewed by Paul Wielgus, himself a mindfulness teacher.
The first thing that struck me about Mindful Emotion – the book as well as the support on the accompanying website – was its simplicity and sheer accessibility. The book is well-structured and...
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...
Posted by Liz_Bassett on Thu, 10 Aug, 2017 - 16:58
Q. There’s no shortage of Dharma materials available online, right? So why is the buddhistcentre.com so important?
Used by 60,000 people every month, free of charge, thebuddhistcentre.com is for everyone.
It brings us together. Regardless of where we live we can share a wealth of news, video, talks and led meditations. It’s an online space where we can communicate, learn, and support each other in our practice - even attend a mitra ceremony!
Inspired to Give to FutureDharma and support thebuddhistcentre.com and our other amazing projects?
Responses (view all)
Hi Ratnagharba,
I would like to suggest a couple of names not in your list, but probably being considered i.e. to somewhat state the obvious, Michael Moorcock and J.G. Ballard.
Sorry can’t help you with contemporary writers, though I have read some good SF in recent years. Many female writers nowadays and co-writing of SF novels. Often the term Speculative Fiction is used, which is sometimes preferable to SF, as it doesn’t always include “science”.
I borrow books from the local library, and enjoy a lot of what I read, but unfortunately I tend to forget the authors names quickly. If I read anything soon worth mentioning I’ll make a point of noting the names!
metta,
Abhayasiddhi
Hi Ratnagarbha,
Last spring and summer I recorded a two-part podcast (over 2 hours in total) with Suvajra on his history with sci-fi, fantasy and speculative fiction. We are planning to use it as part of our next round of feature-length episodes of Buddhist Voices. Be great to tie in with this somehow!
We’ll also soon be starting an Arts blog here on The Buddhist Centre Online. We’ll set things up so anyone following it sees your posts from Urthona (even if they aren’t following this dedicated Urthona space). Just add the tag “Arts” to any posts and the system will pick it up and do the rest!
love, Candradasa
Hi Ratnagarbha, one of my favourites regarding moral and imaginative integrity is R. Lee Smith, especially the “Lords of Arcadia” series (fantasy) and “The Hour of Gann” (scifi).
Many thanks for the recommendations everyone. And yes I do hope we can tie in with the interview with Suvajra, which is a timely coincidence as it turns out.
Ursula K. LeGuin (Earthsea, The Dispossed) immediately comes to my mind and then there are several novels by Doris Lessing (like The Marriages between the Zones …) which may fit. Also, I am wondering about Stanislav Lem’s rather philosophical SciFi stories & novels. Anyway, I am really looking forward to 2018 issue now that I know it’ll be about SF (and maybe that’ll inspire me to write something about related issues, too) :-))) with metta, mischa