Viriyalila writes from her home in New Hampshire, USA, from where she's been supporting the growing Triratna sangha a few hours south in New York City. She says - "This Autumn saw the New York Triratna sangha holding its first-ever residential women’s retreat. Eight women took part in the two-day event, and I was fortunate enough to be able to be there for the occasion. The retreat was devoted to the Seven Bodhyangas, and more specifically to the exploration of how faith can arise from suffering -- in the context of conditionality. Through study, talks, meditation, and ritual the women took a deep dive into their own experience of these teachings.

The retreat was held in a lovely cottage in a beautiful natural setting -- at the Grail in Cornwall-on-Hudson, a small village about 90 minutes outside of the city. The Grail, a property with several retreat buildings, is run by a women’s spiritual organization and has been a location of choice for a number of years for other Buddhist sanghas holding retreats in the area. We were made very welcome and the depth of practice at the site was tangible. We also enjoyed wondrous food prepared by Cori Viles, a professionally trained chef and Sangha member. Long strolls and a final outdoor ritual walking through a wooded labyrinth were high points of the experience.

Much joy, laughter and tears marked this humble yet historic event. Sadhu!"