My personal pledge for Buddhist Action Month this June is to take on the UK’s Maritime Conservation Society’s Plastic Challenge: the plan is to give up single-use plastics as much as I possibly can for a month! As you will know, plastics are among the most persistent synthetic materials in existence persist in the environment for hundreds to thousands of years! And they are now a major marine pollutant….
The first few days of this challenge were easy because...
I recently received an e-mail letter from Vidyasuri telling me of her decision to leave the Order. She has consulted her Private Preceptor Ratnasuri who is naturally sad to hear of Vidyasuri’s decision. Ratnasuri and I have spoken on the phone since. Vidyasuri has written quite a full letter to the Order explaining clearly what lies behind her decision.
Together with Ratnasuri, I accept her resignation from the Order in my capacity as...
We are pleased to announce the following women celebrated their Public Ordinations at Akashavana Retreat Centre in Spain.
Public Preceptor Parami:
Monika Podgorska becomes Upeksanandi (dot under the ‘s’, long ‘i’) Sanskrit / Pali name meaning: She who delights in equanimity Westernised spelling: Upekshanandi Private Preceptor: Dharmavasini
Mairead Keane becomes Prajnamayi (tilde above the ‘n’, long ‘i’) Sanskrit name meaning: She who is filled with...
In this fourth talk on the Wheel of Life Bhadra describes the outer rim illustrating the nature of conditionality and the point of freedom through which the power of the spinning wheel is diminished and eventually broken.
In this concluding talk on the Wheel of Life Bhadra states that the goal of practice is to transform the mental poisons illustrated by the six realms into the wisdoms of the Buddha mandala through attending to the gap.
In this short talk, Prajnamati describes how a range of dharma practices can be seen as a finding of the point of freedom where a more creative option becomes apparent as an alternative to the more familiar reactive choices. In ethical practice this is developing a sensitivity to the wholesome quality of skilful intentions, in meditation finding a way of relaxing in to the practice and in sangha engaging in a free association of individuals, as an individual, from one's point of freedom.
These very helpful notes, compiled by Maitreyabandhu, are a guide for people running an eight week course based on his excellent book ‘The Journey and the Guide’
