Amalavajra and Jayaraja: Saying the unsayable and successful fundraising

(Interview recorded in 2018)
AMALAVAJRA’S ANNALS:
In 1968 I was not even a gleam in my Dad’s eye, because he wasn’t to meet my Mum for another two years, on a ferry to a twenty-something villa holiday in Sicily.

In 1978 I was five years old and had spent half my life in Cyprus and Egypt (where a dose of Hepatitis A freed me from ever needing the vaccine) whilst my Dad sold power tools to Arabs.

In 1988 I was 15 and preparing for GCSE exams at a grammar school in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. I loved rowing and INXS, and was desperate for clear skin and kisses.

In 1998 I was 25 and working as a bond dealer in the City of London. I had learned to meditate in Kathmandu three years earlier and the more I did it the less interested I was in coaxing money from the telephone.

In 2008 I was 35 and studying for a Masters in Charity Marketing and Fundraising at Cass Business School. Oh and I had been ordained for three years and working for Karuna Trust for nine!

In 2018 I live at Adhisthana and raise money for the movement through FutureDharma Fund. I love my work, but hate the criticism and the pressure of projects depending on me.

JAYARAJA’S ANNALS:
In 1968 I was 7 years old and living in Manchester

In 1978 I’d left the Catholic seminary and had become an aspiring entrepreneur doing my ‘A’ levels, using my student grant to buy silver and gold jewellery, which I then sold at a considerable profit. Playing football.

In 1988 I was in New Zealand being a ski bum though struggling with a lack of meaning; which led me to go into the mountains where I spent four days alone, fasting, and realised that there must be more to live; and began a spiritual search, realised I was a Buddhist, though felt sad as all the Buddhism I’d come across seemed so culturally bound. A short while after this realisation I heard of Triratna (then the FWBO) and determined to find out more.

In 1998 I was an Order member working for the Karuna trust and living with my Dharma brothers. We bought a house for the Karuna team in Stoke Newington, just before house prices rocketed.

In 2008 I was living in Cambridge in the Padmakula community and working as a freelance fundraiser whilst training in Gestalt Psychotherapy.

In 2018 I am the Chairman of Buddhafield living in Devon trying to buy a property to help create the conditions for the wellbeing of the Buddhafield project.

Amalavajra and Jayaraja: Saying the unsayable and successful fundraising

(Interview recorded in 2018)
AMALAVAJRA’S ANNALS:
In 1968 I was not even a gleam in my Dad’s eye, because he wasn’t to meet my Mum for another two years, on a ferry to a twenty-something villa holiday in Sicily.

In 1978 I was five years old and had spent half my life in Cyprus and Egypt (where a dose of Hepatitis A freed me from ever needing the vaccine) whilst my Dad sold power tools to Arabs.

In 1988 I was 15 and preparing for GCSE exams at a grammar school in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. I loved rowing and INXS, and was desperate for clear skin and kisses.

In 1998 I was 25 and working as a bond dealer in the City of London. I had learned to meditate in Kathmandu three years earlier and the more I did it the less interested I was in coaxing money from the telephone.

In 2008 I was 35 and studying for a Masters in Charity Marketing and Fundraising at Cass Business School. Oh and I had been ordained for three years and working for Karuna Trust for nine!

In 2018 I live at Adhisthana and raise money for the movement through FutureDharma Fund. I love my work, but hate the criticism and the pressure of projects depending on me.

JAYARAJA’S ANNALS:
In 1968 I was 7 years old and living in Manchester

In 1978 I’d left the Catholic seminary and had become an aspiring entrepreneur doing my ‘A’ levels, using my student grant to buy silver and gold jewellery, which I then sold at a considerable profit. Playing football.

In 1988 I was in New Zealand being a ski bum though struggling with a lack of meaning; which led me to go into the mountains where I spent four days alone, fasting, and realised that there must be more to live; and began a spiritual search, realised I was a Buddhist, though felt sad as all the Buddhism I’d come across seemed so culturally bound. A short while after this realisation I heard of Triratna (then the FWBO) and determined to find out more.

In 1998 I was an Order member working for the Karuna trust and living with my Dharma brothers. We bought a house for the Karuna team in Stoke Newington, just before house prices rocketed.

In 2008 I was living in Cambridge in the Padmakula community and working as a freelance fundraiser whilst training in Gestalt Psychotherapy.

In 2018 I am the Chairman of Buddhafield living in Devon trying to buy a property to help create the conditions for the wellbeing of the Buddhafield project.