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Ratnagarbha

The Dharma of Fantasy

From Urthona - A Journal of Buddhism and the Arts on Mon, 1 Jul, 2024 - 11:25
  • Kvothe the musician in Rothfuss's 'the Name of the Wind'
  • Here be dragons... (By Stable Diffusion)

The Dharma of Fantasy

From Urthona - A Journal of Buddhism and the Arts on Mon, 1 Jul, 2024 - 11:25

The Dharma of Fantasy

With great power comes great responsibility

Some of the greatest modern fantasy novel series are unfinished. The Game of Thrones series by George Martin has five novels published, the final two have been awaited eagerly since 2011. Similarly for Patrick Rothfuss’ unfinished Kingkiller trilogy.

Here at Urthona we cannot speed up these authors but we can ask why they have been so successful, making fantasy novels by far the best selling literary genre. And more importantly, we can ask what such writing...
Centre Team's picture
Centre Team

Retracing Our Steps (Dharmabytes Podcast)

From Free Buddhist Audio on Mon, 1 Jul, 2024 - 11:00

A moving, often beautiful evocation of the great Indian teacher Atisha, whose work had a profound influence on the development of Buddhism in Tibet. Sangharakshita presents Atisha’s life as both a challenge and an inspiration to all who wish to practice the Dharma and discover its relevance in the world today. Excerpt from the talk entitled A Life for the Dharma, part of the series Three Lectures to the Friends of...
Centre Team's picture
Centre Team

A Vision of Communication (FBA Podcast)

From Free Buddhist Audio on Sat, 29 Jun, 2024 - 11:00

What does it take to create a context which allows people to experience meaning? Saddhanandi looks at how sangha is created through meaningful, authentic friendships and communication. The talk includes references to her interviews about poetry with Sangharakshita. This talk was given at Cardiff Buddhist Centre, 2023.

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A...
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prakashamitra

The Tibetan Book of the Dead (2023) OM

From Adhisthana on Sat, 29 Jun, 2024 - 10:42

The Tibetan Book of the Dead (2023) - Online Retreat Resource

Link: The Tibetan Book of the Dead (2023)

Password: thodol

If you find this resource helpful, please consider donating to allow us to continue producing quality Dharma content

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The Bardo Thodol translates as ‘the Great Liberation through Hearing in the Bardo’. As well as exposition, discussion, and meditation, during the retreat there will be readings of the text together with ritual dramatization, allowing the imaginative myth and symbolism of the teaching to enter into our being on a non-cognitive level.

The...

File NameSize
tibetanbookofthedead.jpeg215.58 KB
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Vajracchedika

The teaching of the Four Sunyatas

From Shabda Articles on Fri, 28 Jun, 2024 - 09:23

Aparimana recently contacted me about a discussion topic that was set for the MiG Group he is a part of, the which topic was the Four Sunyatas.  As part of my conversation with him, I revisited an old Shabda Article I had written, and wrote some additional notes.  I attach both the old article and the more recent notes here. 

At the actual discussion on Zoom, Tejananda spoke on the topic and made some notes too, which I hope have been made...

File NameSize
Old article on the Four Sunyatas161.3 KB
New notes in addition, on the Four Sunyatas3.83 MB
Centre Team's picture
Centre Team

Taking Friendship Seriously (Dharmabytes Podcast)

From Free Buddhist Audio on Thu, 27 Jun, 2024 - 11:00

“I believe that it is possible to be friends with any other human being…” In this talk, Maitreyi explores the unique emphasis of friendship with quotes from Sangharakshita. Excerpted from the talk A Celebration of Friendship given at Glasgow Buddhist Centre, 2020.

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Dassini

Death of Abhayakirti

From Order Connection on Wed, 26 Jun, 2024 - 10:56

Death of Abhayakirti

From Order Connection on Wed, 26 Jun, 2024 - 10:56

Dear Dharmacharis and Dharmacharinis, 


I’m writing to let you know that our brother Abhayakirti, “he who is renowned for fearlessness,” has passed away. He died at 11:20pm on Tuesday 25th, in the St Barnabas House hospice on the edge of Worthing, on the south coast of England. He was 69 and had been hoping to reach his 70th birthday but the end of September proved to be too far off. 


He was ordained at Guhyaloka in June 1990 His private preceptor...
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Free Buddhist Audio

2 Slogan Talks

From Sheffield Buddhist Centre on Wed, 26 Jun, 2024 - 00:00
Sanghagita & Bodhinaga will be giving two short talks about two slogans. Sanghagita will be exploring the 'Drive all blames into one.' slogan....but what does 'the one' mean? Traditionally 'the one' is the ‘evil spirit of ego-clinging ‘ – how do we apply this as 21st Bodhisattvas? Bodhinaga will be exploring the 'Always have the support of a cheerful mind' slogan –The state of mind that we dwell in has a powerful effect on our experience. Bodhinaga will be explaining the benefits of maintaining a cheerful mind and how we go about developing one. How would we act in every ordinary moment if we were Enlightened? How can we act to be more Enlightened? In this series we will be exploring a powerful, pithy teaching that tells us how to do just that.
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Centre Team

An Honest Exploration of Truth (Dharmabytes Podcast)

From Free Buddhist Audio on Mon, 24 Jun, 2024 - 11:00

Padmavajra explores what it means to come together in a Buddhist centre to practice the Dharma and why we need such places in which to practice together. He touches on the importance of learning the Dharma, inspiration, friendship and the ‘bodying forth’ of the Buddha’s teachings in our lives. Excerpted from the talk entitled The Wondrous House of the Dharma given at the London Buddhist Centre, 2023.

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Subhanaya

Join the Operations Team at Dhanakosa - closing date 30th June

From Jobs, Volunteering & Communities on Mon, 24 Jun, 2024 - 08:41

Join the Operations Team at Dhanakosa - closing date 30th June

From Jobs, Volunteering & Communities on Mon, 24 Jun, 2024 - 08:41

We are recruiting to the Operations Team at Dhanakosa, could that be you? 

We are looking for people who are inspired by Dhanakosa and would like to work practically in maintenance and gardening to help look after this special place. 

We are recruiting to two roles over the next 3-9 months:

- Maintenance Manager – lead responsibility for maintenance of the site

- Gardens, grounds and maintenance – gardening, groundswork and supporting the maintenance manager 

You’ll be working as part of the House and Grounds team, alongside a Retreat Centre...

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