{"id":510,"date":"2018-11-02T16:47:22","date_gmt":"2018-11-02T16:47:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/?post_type=project&#038;p=510"},"modified":"2022-05-18T23:04:43","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T22:04:43","slug":"vajratara-early-experiences-around-suffering-and-personal-responsibility","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/project\/vajratara-early-experiences-around-suffering-and-personal-responsibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Vajratara: Early experiences around suffering and personal responsibility"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; disabled_on=&#8221;on||&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_post_title author=&#8221;off&#8221; date=&#8221;off&#8221; comments=&#8221;off&#8221; featured_image=&#8221;off&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Quote Title (Desktop)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; title_text_color=&#8221;#ee7600&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Order Name (Desktop)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<a href=\"#annals\">Read speaker annals<\/a><br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Talk Description (Desktop)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<em>(Interview recorded in 2012)<\/em><br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;Audio (Desktop)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.2&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"300\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" allow=\"autoplay\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/481176402&#038;color=%23ff5500&#038;auto_play=false&#038;hide_related=false&#038;show_comments=true&#038;show_user=true&#038;show_reposts=false&#038;show_teaser=true&#038;visual=true\"><\/iframe>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_divider color=&#8221;#f4a732&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Divider (Desktop)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; height=&#8221;0px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_id=&#8221;annals&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;2_3,1_3&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Annals Title (Desktop)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font=&#8221;|||on|||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]VAJRATARA&#8217;S ANNALS:<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;OM Annals (Desktop)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<strong>In 1968<\/strong> I was\u00a0not born. My parents were working in London on Vogue magazine where my father was features editor and my mother worked in fashion. Apparently my father was so shy to ask my mother out that he went into her office, an office of only young women, and said \u201cI have some theatre tickets, does anyone want to come?\u201d Everyone knew they were meant for her. They got married the next year.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In 1978<\/strong> I was\u00a0born. I was born in February in the London Hospital, just near where the LBC is now. I was about 2 months premature and they had thought I hadn\u2019t made it. After announcing the time of death, one nurse said \u201clets give her one more go\u201d. They managed to get a heartbeat and I survived, as did my mother who was very ill.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In 1988<\/strong> I was\u00a010 years old. I lived in a big house in Tooting with my parents and 2 elder brothers along with various lodgers. That year was significant for me. I went to India for the first time and saw visible poverty alongside such beauty I knew my life would never be the same again. I was also very effected by the Zubrugger disaster where so many people died.\u00a0I realised my life had to take into account the suffering of others.\u00a0I made a vow to my grandfather that I would become a nun!<\/p>\n<p><strong>In 1998<\/strong> I was\u00a020 years old. I lived in Leeds and was at the University doing a degree in \u2018Philosophy and Religious Studies\u2019.\u00a0I had become a Buddhist 3 years before at the South London Buddhist Centre.\u00a0At University I ran the \u2018Buddhist Meditation Society\u2019, which is where all my friends were.\u00a0I was very involved with the Leeds Buddhist Centre, setting up classes and organising retreats. At one point I thought about giving up my degree, but my friend in the Order encouraged me that \u2018the Order needs people who can think\u2019.\u00a0I asked for Ordination that year.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In 2008<\/strong> I was\u00a030.\u00a0I was living in Sheffield working as a mitra convenor for women.\u00a0I lived in a flat in a high-rise tower block looking over the city and into the hills. On my 30th birthday I was leading a puja at the Centre and they surprised me with a huge bunch of flowers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In 2018<\/strong> I am 40. I live at Tiratanaloka retreat centre for women and work on the Ordination Team. I am a Private Preceptor and Chair of the India Dhamma Trust. What does that mean to me sitting here on a sunny spring day in a garden filled with daffodils and the sound of the activity of birds? Just that I have spent over half my life practising the Dhamma and that the effects of Dhamma practice continue to reverberate in my being in unexplained ways, leading me onwards to a life I never imagined.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image align_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; align_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Supplementary Photos (Desktop)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; align_phone=&#8221;center&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; disabled_on=&#8221;|on|on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;-40px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_post_title author=&#8221;off&#8221; date=&#8221;off&#8221; comments=&#8221;off&#8221; featured_image=&#8221;off&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Quote Title (Mobile)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; title_text_color=&#8221;#ee7600&#8243; title_font_size=&#8221;30px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-10px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;Audio (Mobile)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.2&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"300\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" allow=\"autoplay\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/481176402&#038;color=%23ff5500&#038;auto_play=false&#038;hide_related=false&#038;show_comments=true&#038;show_user=true&#038;show_reposts=false&#038;show_teaser=true&#038;visual=true\"><\/iframe>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Talk Description (Mobile)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<em>(Interview recorded in 2012)<\/em><br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;-40px||-40px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_divider color=&#8221;#f4a732&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Divider (Mobile)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; height=&#8221;0px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_id=&#8221;annals&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;2_3,1_3&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Annals Title (Mobile)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font=&#8221;|||on|||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]VAJRATARA&#8217;S ANNALS:<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;OM Annals (Mobile)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<strong>In 1968<\/strong> I was\u00a0not born. My parents were working in London on Vogue magazine where my father was features editor and my mother worked in fashion. Apparently my father was so shy to ask my mother out that he went into her office, an office of only young women, and said \u201cI have some theatre tickets, does anyone want to come?\u201d Everyone knew they were meant for her. They got married the next year.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In 1978<\/strong> I was\u00a0born. I was born in February in the London Hospital, just near where the LBC is now. I was about 2 months premature and they had thought I hadn\u2019t made it. After announcing the time of death, one nurse said \u201clets give her one more go\u201d. They managed to get a heartbeat and I survived, as did my mother who was very ill.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In 1988<\/strong> I was\u00a010 years old. I lived in a big house in Tooting with my parents and 2 elder brothers along with various lodgers. That year was significant for me. I went to India for the first time and saw visible poverty alongside such beauty I knew my life would never be the same again. I was also very effected by the Zubrugger disaster where so many people died.\u00a0I realised my life had to take into account the suffering of others.\u00a0I made a vow to my grandfather that I would become a nun!<\/p>\n<p><strong>In 1998<\/strong> I was\u00a020 years old. I lived in Leeds and was at the University doing a degree in \u2018Philosophy and Religious Studies\u2019.\u00a0I had become a Buddhist 3 years before at the South London Buddhist Centre.\u00a0At University I ran the \u2018Buddhist Meditation Society\u2019, which is where all my friends were.\u00a0I was very involved with the Leeds Buddhist Centre, setting up classes and organising retreats. At one point I thought about giving up my degree, but my friend in the Order encouraged me that \u2018the Order needs people who can think\u2019.\u00a0I asked for Ordination that year.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In 2008<\/strong> I was\u00a030.\u00a0I was living in Sheffield working as a mitra convenor for women.\u00a0I lived in a flat in a high-rise tower block looking over the city and into the hills. On my 30th birthday I was leading a puja at the Centre and they surprised me with a huge bunch of flowers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In 2018<\/strong> I am 40. I live at Tiratanaloka retreat centre for women and work on the Ordination Team. I am a Private Preceptor and Chair of the India Dhamma Trust. What does that mean to me sitting here on a sunny spring day in a garden filled with daffodils and the sound of the activity of birds? Just that I have spent over half my life practising the Dhamma and that the effects of Dhamma practice continue to reverberate in my being in unexplained ways, leading me onwards to a life I never imagined.<br \/>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image align_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; align_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Supplementary Photos (Mobile)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; align_phone=&#8221;center&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Read speaker annals (Interview recorded in 2012) VAJRATARA&#8217;S ANNALS: In 1968 I was\u00a0not born. My parents were working in London on Vogue magazine where my father was features editor and my mother worked in fashion. Apparently my father was so shy to ask my mother out that he went into her office, an office of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":55,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"project_category":[91],"project_tag":[],"class_list":["post-510","project","type-project","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","project_category-early-days"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/project"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=510"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1038,"href":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/510\/revisions\/1038"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"project_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project_category?post=510"},{"taxonomy":"project_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuddhistcentre.com\/stories\/50voices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project_tag?post=510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}