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New podcast episode with Vessantara

From Windhorse Publications on Wed, 29 Mar, 2023 - 10:00

New podcast episode with Vessantara

From Windhorse Publications on Wed, 29 Mar, 2023 - 10:00

We’re delighted to announce the latest edition of the Windhorse Publications podcast: Learning to Live in a Free Way, with Vessantara.

Thirty years after the first publication of Meeting the Buddhas, Dhammamegha speaks with Vessantara about the new edition of this classic Dharma text. After learning how the book came to be, the discussion turns to the qualities of the enlightened mind, and the nature and power of these Buddha and Bodhisattva figures, and a whole path to living in freedom.

Please note:...
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Vidyamala

Day 6: Summoning the World to Buddhahood

From Adhisthana on Thu, 23 Mar, 2023 - 20:44

Day 6: Summoning the World to Buddhahood

From Adhisthana on Thu, 23 Mar, 2023 - 20:44

Today we arrive at Chapter 9 – The Perfection of Understanding. This is the penultimate chapter covering the final paramita of Wisdom.

The first verse lays out the central importance of this as the culmination of all that has come previously in the Bodhicaryavatara:

It is for the sake of understanding that the Sage taught this entire collection of preparations. Therefore, in the desire to put an end to suffering, one should develop understanding.

‘Understanding’ here of course means the profoundest wisdom that sees into the...
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Vidyamala

Day 5: Summoning the World to Buddhahood

From Adhisthana on Thu, 23 Mar, 2023 - 09:42

Day 5: Summoning the World to Buddhahood

From Adhisthana on Thu, 23 Mar, 2023 - 09:42

Today we moved on to Chapter 8 – The Perfection of Meditative Absorption. This is the longest chapter in the Bodhicaryavatara and has two main themes:

  • The importance of renunciation of craving and attachment if one is to achieve any sense of calm and stability in meditation
  • The exchange of self and other as a profound meditation to overcome self-clinging and cultivate the Awakening Mind

After hearing the verses (where Santideva doesn’t disappoint in his direct, challenging, even shocking language), we heard a wonderful talk from...
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Vidyamala

Day 4: Summoning the World to Buddhahood

From Adhisthana on Tue, 21 Mar, 2023 - 22:06

Day 4: Summoning the World to Buddhahood

From Adhisthana on Tue, 21 Mar, 2023 - 22:06

After hearing all about patient forbearance yesterday, today’s theme is vigour (Virya-paramita). This is variously translated by different scholars as: Energy in the Pursuit of the Good (Bhante), Vigour, Strength and Enthusiasm.

Today Saddhaloka gave a wonderful commentary on this chapter after we’d listened to all the verses read aloud. In his quiet, deep way he embodied the vigour that we all need to bring to our practice. He’s had a twinkle about him all week and his talk contained both twinkle...
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bethbuddhafield

Buddhafield Base Community Share Offer

From Buddhafield on Tue, 21 Mar, 2023 - 11:59

Buddhafield Base Community Share Offer

From Buddhafield on Tue, 21 Mar, 2023 - 11:59

The next stage in Buddhafield’s evolution

Have you heard about Buddhafield’s latest project? 

After more than 25-years of running a geographically scattered operation, it’s time to consolidate our resources and put down some roots so that we can continue our offerings as well as provide even more opportunities for authentic community, meaningful work, care for land and ecology and celebration of the potential of imagination. 


The Buddhafield Base Project is about creating a home for Buddhafield – expanding our...
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Vidyamala

Day 3: Summoning the World to Buddhahood

From Adhisthana on Mon, 20 Mar, 2023 - 22:55

Day 3: Summoning the World to Buddhahood

From Adhisthana on Mon, 20 Mar, 2023 - 22:55

Day 3

Day three brings us to chapter 6: The Perfection of Forbearance.

After introducing the perfections of Generosity (Dana) and Ethics (Sila) yesterday in chapter 5, today we moved onto the Perfection of Forbearance (Ksanti).

Following our daily format, we listened to the text at 10.30 before Saddhanandi gave an excellent and clear commentary drawing on Shantideva’s words, Bhante’s teaching and her own experience of this aspect of practice.

She unpacked how Shantideva looks at forbearance in three main ways: forbearance towards suffering (verses 11-21), forbearance as...
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Vidyamala

Day 2: Summoning the World to Buddhahood

From Adhisthana on Sun, 19 Mar, 2023 - 21:59

Day 2: Summoning the World to Buddhahood

From Adhisthana on Sun, 19 Mar, 2023 - 21:59

Today we moved to chapter 5: The Guarding of Awareness.

At 10.30 we listened to all 109 verses of this chapter on mindfulness before hearing a commentary from Nagabodhi.

There is something remarkable about listening to Dharma being read out loud. When I lived at Taraloka in the 90s we sometimes recited texts all night! I learned then that there is an art to listening to Dharma texts. The mind goes through many phases as the words relentlessly go on and on - and...
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Vidyamala

Day 1: Summoning the World to Buddhahood

From Adhisthana on Sat, 18 Mar, 2023 - 20:43

Day 1: Summoning the World to Buddhahood

From Adhisthana on Sat, 18 Mar, 2023 - 20:43

It is beautiful to have the privilege to practice with this wonderful group on the ‘Summoning the World to Buddhahood’ retreat at Adhisthana. We gathered for the first session last night in the shrine room with others joining us online. We went around and introduced ourselves and it was powerful to hear everyone’s connection with the Bodhicaryavatara – for many a much loved and seminal text.

I recalled my first encounter with the text in 1987 when Nagabodhi led a weekend on...

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