Live Events
A KOAN FOR OUR TIMES
WITH MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE OF PUBLIC PRECEPTORS
APRIL – OCTOBER 2024
![Banner 6 Viveka and Paramananda](https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2024/08/Banner-6.jpg)
What does a Buddhist Order have to offer the world in times of conflict, violence and environmental destruction? How is the creation of spiritual community relevant to wider society? What would a genuine, adequate and radical response to the cries of the world look like? How do we ground a burning aspiration for liberation from suffering in a tangible path of practice?
The Buddha’s teachings have both profound and pragmatic implications for living our life, addressing the root causes of suffering and calling for a transformation of self as a way to a corresponding transformation of world.
Through exploring the practice of the six paramitas, or transcendental virtues, we will approach this sublime and challenging ideal of the Bodhisattva, who is dedicated to awakening for all beings, in a series of talks from a line-up of experienced practitioners within our tradition.
Though the many beings are numberless, I vow to save them.
Though greed, hatred and ignorance rise endlessly, I vow to cut them off.
Though the Dharma is vast and fathomless, I vow to understand it.
Though the Buddha’s way is beyond attainment, I vow to embody it fully.
![Speakers 400 Tejananda](https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2024/03/Speakers-400.jpg)
There are no tickets for this event. We’ll share Zoom links for each event here on the day!
Generosity (Dana) with Nagaketu (Part of Triratna Day)
Ethics (Sila) with Vajratara
Forbearance (Ksanti) with Jnanavaca
🖥️ Watch the talk
Energy (Virya) with Parami
🖥️ Watch the talk
Meditation (Samadhi) with Amala
🖥️ Watch the talk
Saturday October 19: Wisdom (Prajna) with Mahamati
(90 mins) USA PST 02:00 | Mexico 03:00 | USA EST 05:00 | IE & UK 10:00 | Europe 11:00 CET | India 14:30 | Australia AEDT 20:00 | New Zealand NZDT 22:00
THE HEART OF IMAGINATION
CONNECTING TO CREATIVITY AND THE IMAGINATION THROUGH ART, MINDFULNESS AND NATURE
WITH VISHVAPANI AND AMITAJYOTI
13 – 19 SEPTEMBER 2024
![Golden Earth Light Phone Viveka and Paramananda](https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2024/04/Golden-Earth-Light-Eventbrite-2.jpg)
A home retreat to inspire and enrich your imagination
The mind liberated from the pressure of the will is unfolded in symbols
W.B. Yeats
Following last year’s successful Mindfulness and Imagination retreat, The Heart of Imagination offers a week of meditation and creative practice, drawing inspiration from poetry, art, nature and Buddhist symbols.
The focus of the retreat will be on cultivating awareness as a gateway into more expanded and enriched states of mind. We will reflect on what the imagination is, what it means to us individually and what it can serve in our lives. There will be an emphasis on meditation and mindfulness with periods of creative exploration – drawing and writing. You’ll receive a rich body of resources to stimulate your imagination and help you access images/themes of significance to you. We will also explore the transformative power of the imagination to enrich our lives and open our mind to new ways of seeing and being.
To deepen our understanding of the transformative power of the imagination we’ll draw on a body of teachings called the ‘System of Spiritual Practice’ that outlines a naturally unfolding process, as awareness deepens through dedicated practice. This can help us to navigate our unique way, with more confidence and freedom. We’ll explore:
- Integration, meaning embodied awareness
- Positive emotion: an open, loving and empathic heart
- Spiritual Death: releasing limiting attitudes, and finding a more authentic way of being
- Spiritual Rebirth: the realm of imagination that brings an expanded experience of ourselves and opening to a sense of mystery
- Spiritual Receptivity: resting in the freedom of open, spacious awareness and creative flow
These are doorways to a more creative experience that we can access whatever our circumstances.
Enlightenment is the state of irreversible creativity
Urgyen Sangharakshita
Friday September 13 – Thursday September 19, 2024
First daily session (2 hrs): USA PDT 2:00 am | México CST 3:00 am | USA EDT 5:00 am | IE & UK BST 10:00 am | Europe CEST 11:00 am | India IST 2:30 pm | Australia AEST 7:00 pm | New Zealand NZST 9:00 pm
Second daily session (1.5 hrs): USA PDT 7:30 am | México CST 8:30 am | USA EDT 10:30 am | IE & UK BST 3:30 pm | Europe CEST 4:30 pm | India IST 8:00 pm | Australia AEST 12:30 am (next day) | New Zealand NZST 2:30 am (next day)
Third daily session (1.5 hrs): USA PDT 11:30 am | México CST 12:30 pm | USA EDT 2:30 pm | IE & UK BST 7:30 pm | Europe CEST 8:30 pm | India IST 12:00 midnight | Australia AEST 4:30 am (next day) | New Zealand NZST 6:30 am (next day)
![Vishvapani and Amitajyoti Viveka and Paramananda](https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2024/04/Vishvapani-and-Amitajyoti.jpg)
Vishvapani is a writer, broadcaster and mindfulness teacher based in Cardiff with over four decades’ years experience of Buddhist practice.As a writer, he’s best known for Gautama Buddha: the Life and Teachings of the Awakened One and as the Buddhist contributor to Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4. He’s a prominent figure in the UK’s mindfulness world and has taught over 150 mindfulness courses.
He loves to explore poetry, myth and imagination, along with Buddhism, in his writing, teaching and practice.
www.vishvapani.org
www.mindfulnessinaction.co.uk
Amitajyoti is a full-time artist, tutor and freelance teacher/trainer living and working in London. She received BA (Hons) Fine Art in 1998, and in 2003 studied drawing, to MA level, at the Royal Drawing School. Her work is held in private collections across the UK, Europe and America.
ENTERING THE BURNING HOUSE
COURSE FOR DHARMAFARERS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CLIMATE
WITH SHANTIGARBHA
STARTS TUESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2024
![Entering The Burning House - live banner mobile Viveka and Paramananda](https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2024/08/Entering-The-Burning-House-live-banner.jpg)
This eight-week online course follows Shantigarbha’s book The Burning House: A Buddhist Response to the Climate and Ecological Emergency (Windhorse Publications) and explores the most pressing questions of our times.
Buddhists give great importance to mindfulness, wisdom, compassion and interconnectedness, qualities that often make them deeply concerned about the environment and climate change. So what does Buddhism have to say about the climate emergency? How can we see it for what it really is, a crisis of empathy?
This is a course for Dharmafarers concerned about the climate, Triratna Earth Sangha members, and eco-activists wishing to ground their work in a spiritual context. The sessions follow the Buddhist path from self-development to social change, inspired by the profound principle of nonviolence or love.
Tuesdays 24 September; 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 October; 5, 12 November 2024.
Sessions (2 hrs 15 mins, with break): USA PST 11:00 am | México CST 12:00 noon | USA EST 2:00 pm | IE & UK BST 7:00 pm | Europe CEST 8:00 pm | India IST 11:30 pm | Australia AEST 4:00 am (next day) | New Zealand NZST 6:00 am (next day)
![Entering The Burning House - Shantigarbha Viveka and Paramananda](https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2024/08/Entering-The-Burning-House-Shantigarbha.jpg)
Shantigarbha is a Buddhist author, activist and mediator. He is an experienced teacher of both Buddhism and Nonviolent Communication (NVC). Ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order in 1996, he was given the name Shantigarbha, which means ‘Seed or Womb of Peace’. Through his practice of Buddhism, he came across NVC and has been sharing it as a certified trainer since 2004. Within the Triratna Buddhist Community, he has held responsibilities as an Order Convenor, member of the International Council, trustee of the International Order Office and supporting restorative practices. He currently co-convenes the Triratna Earth Sangha. Find out more about Shantigarbha.
UNCONTRIVED MINDFULNESS
A MEDITATION DAY RETREAT IN AID OF TIRATANALOKA [UN]LIMITED
WITH VAJRADEVI
SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2024
![Uncontrived Mindfulness - live website banner - mobile Viveka and Paramananda](https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2024/07/Uncontrived-Mindfulness-live-website-banner-desktop.jpg)
Sangharakshita has said we should be aware of our minds at all times – but how do we do this? How do we really engage with mindfulness in a way that doesn’t feel contrived and ‘added on’, leaving us feeling stiff and unnatural? How can we connect with awareness that is completely natural, unfabricated and uncontrived?
During the 2 sessions of the day retreat we will introduce mindfulness as a path to wisdom. There will be input sessions and led meditations to work with awareness and right view to ‘watch the mind’ through all five physical senses as well as the mind sense. The focus will be on how we use mindfulness as a support to see more clearly, kindly and wisely.
We will look at the role of receptivity in mindfulness and the ‘wise’ or ‘unwise’ attention we bring to every aspect of our experience. And explore how continuity of mindfulness can touch and transform our experience through simple presence and intelligent awareness. This allows us to develop both steadiness of mind and heart and insight into the nature of all things.
Sunday 29 September
First session (3 hrs with a break): USA PST 06:00 | México CST 07:00 | USA EST 09:00 | IE & UK BST 14:00 | Europe CEST 15:00 | India IST 18:30 | Australia AEST 23:00 | New Zealand NZDT 02:00 (next day)
Second session (2 hrs): USA PST 11:00 | México CST 12:00 | USA EST 14:00 | IE & UK BST 19:00 | Europe CEST 20:00 | India IST 23:30 | Australia AEST 04:00 (next day) | New Zealand NZDT 07:00 (next day)
![Vajradevi headshot Viveka and Paramananda](https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2024/07/Vajradevi-headshot.jpg)
Vajradevi has been meditating since 1985 and has been ordained for almost 30 years. She has been practising and teaching mindfulness with a strong insight dimension for over 20 years. To further her practice she has been on a number of long retreats with specialists on Satipatthana, in Myanmar and the US.
She has spent much of her adult life working in Triratna Right Livelihood settings and between 2000-2007 she helped set up Akashavana, our women’s ordination retreat centre, in Spain.
You can read her meditation blog at www.uncontrivedmindfulness.net
Vajradevi’s book ‘Uncontrived Mindfulness: ending suffering through attention, curiousity and wisdom’ is available from Windhorse Publications https://www.windhorsepublications.com/product-category/authors/vajradevi/
![2 Viveka and Paramananda](https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2024/07/2.png)
All the dana raised through this event will go to Tiratanaloka Unlimited.
THE THREE BODIES OF BELONGING
A HOME RETREAT WITH BALAJIT, SINGHASHRI AND VIVEKA
OCTOBER 25 – 31, 2024
![Three Bodies of Belonging Phone Banner Viveka and Paramananda](https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2024/02/Three-Bodies-Eventbrite-1.jpg)
An embodied opportunity to explore meditation in community
Following on from last year’s successful Home Retreat ‘Forces for Good: Challenging Emotions as Portals to Liberation’, our friends Balajit, Singhashri and Viveka are back and joining forces again to offer another wonderful embodied opportunity to explore our system of meditation in depth and in community.
This year we’re all invited to draw inspiration from the Mahayana Trikaya (“three body”) teaching that points to who we actually are via three simultaneous dimensions of reality:
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Nirmanakaya: coming home to presence within this body, this world
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Sambhogakaya: befriending the dynamic flow of feeling and energy, and the relational dimension of being
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Dharmakaya: opening to the luminous, boundless dimension of awakened being
We will delve into poetic themes of “coming home” and “belonging” as an emotionally engaging and relational approach to insight that allows:
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Respect and appreciation of core human needs – belonging, safety and dignity
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Holding of the tension between our ideals and our current (often messy) experience
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Healing the illusion of separation and the habits of dualism
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Learning to feel sensations of belonging at the levels of self, community, place, world
and to express compassionately responsive activity -
Deepening of mindfulness and metta as practices capable of helping us see the true nature of reality
This retreat will include meditation, movement (somatics), music, chanting and ritual, exercises and discussions, teacher input and practice reviews.
If friendship in community is the whole of the spiritual life, here’s your chance to go deeper in your own practice in the supportive company of others.
“The Dharmakaya is… the embodiment, or the perfection of mind. Mind meaning here the deepest part of oneself, because it is with that deepest part of oneself…that one realises the ultimate. So Dharmakaya corresponds to mind, what in us is mind, in a Buddha is Dharmakaya.
In the same way Sambhogakaya corresponds to speech, what, in us is speech or communication, or communication principle, in a Buddha is Sambhogakaya. So in his Sambhogakaya form, in his ideal form, his archetypal form, he communicates with others on the same spiritual level, communicates with other Buddhas and with highly advanced Bodhisattvas.
And then Nirmanakaya corresponds with – it literally means ‘body of transformation’ – …what is Nirmanakaya in a Buddha in us is physical body. Our physical body determines where we are. The fact that we have a physical body means that we exist at a certain point in space and a certain point in time…”
Sangharakshita, Seminar on the Songs of Milarepa
Friday October 25 – Thursday October 31, 2024
The retreat will start at the time of the second session on October 25. This is to allow the full team to begin the retreat together. All other days will feature three sessions at the times shown on the booking page.
N.B. This retreat is for peole with at least six months’ meditation experience. Please get in touch if you have any questioins about attending: support@thebuddhistcentre.com
![Balajit, Singhashri, Viveka 3 Viveka and Paramananda](https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2023/02/Balajit-Singhashri-Viveka-3.jpg)
Balajit
Balajit (he/him) has been leading retreats and events across the UK for around 15 years. For several years he lived and worked at Vajraloka Retreat Centre in North Wales.
He is currently based in Birmingham, where he mixes Buddhist teaching responsibilities with work as a trauma therapist. He has studied the newly emerging psycho-biological approaches to trauma work- and is qualified in Somatic Experiencing, NARM therapy and SHEN Therapy.
In the past few years, Balajit has been exploring correspondences between these emerging approaches and the canonical Dharma, as aids to becoming more embodied and the arising of the bodhicitta.
Singhashri
Singhashri (she/her or they/them) is a queer, Latinx-American dharma teacher and writer. They teach mindfulness and compassion as means to awakening to love, beauty and truth and have committed their life to supporting collective liberation for all and the joy and freedom found there. They teach at various retreat and urban centres across the UK, Europe and the USA, and support a number of projects aimed at creating greater diversity and inclusion within Buddhist sanghas and the secular mindfulness field. They currently live in London with their partner.
Viveka
Viveka (she/they) has worked for social, racial, economic, environmental and gender justice and civil rights for 30 years as a consultant, facilitator, trainer, coach and somatic coach. She specializes in guiding leaders and organizations through transformational processes: race equity and liberation culture change and strategy, team building and coaching, vision and strategy, leading innovation and change and working with conflict, leadership transition, and alliance building.
Viveka was chair of the San Francisco Buddhist Center for 15 years, until 2015. She still serves on the board, and leads meditation and Dharma retreats in the Bay Area and around the world.
Daily Meditation
![Meditate Online Viveka and Paramananda](https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/toolkit/wp-content/uploads/sites/132/2023/08/Meditate-Online.jpg)
We offer two open meditation spaces Monday to Saturday every week.
Please be aware that there will be seasonal time changes for the US, India and Oceania in spring and autumn/fall.
First sit (45 mins):
USA (PST): 23:30 (previous day)
México: 00:30
USA (EST): 02:30
IE & UK: 07:30
Europe (CET): 08:30
India: 12:00
Australia (AEST): 16:30
New Zealand (NZST): 18:30
Second sit (45 mins):
USA (PST): 05:00
México: 06:00
USA (EST): 08:00
IE & UK: 13:00
Europe (CET): 14:00
India: 17:30
Australia (AEST): 22:00
New Zealand (NZST): 00:00 (next day)
Donations