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The Community Toolkit for Uncertain Times

Ironic Points of Light (The Dharma Toolkit Daily, Episode 25)

By Centre Team on Sat, 9 May, 2020 - 00:21

Shimmering images, and no less shimmering experiences. Today’s episode begins a series on beauty, poetry, myth, art and symbol as a response to crisis.

Taking our cue from W.H. Auden’s poem, September 1st, 1939, and his recognition of the need to “love one another or die”, we ask how, in the midst of fear – even of death – we can exercise our agency as human beings.

Poetry leads the way in and out of the questioning. Joining Auden in the...

Community Highlights
The Community Toolkit for Uncertain Times

Painting Into Reality (The Dharma Toolkit Daily, Episode 14)

By Centre Team on Sun, 12 Apr, 2020 - 01:05

Abhayavajra loves painting. He loves paint itself. And sees himself more like an archaeologist, revealing something urgent and crucial about the human condition by adding rather than scraping away layers. 

A totally delightful conversation about the quest to integrate and unite Dharma practice with the steady, disciplined practice of an art form. We discuss how appreciating beauty itself is like a healing force at times of stress; and how art itself can be a properly adequate response to suffering in the kind...

Free Buddhist Audio
Free Buddhist Audio

Dharmabyte: A Perfected Universe, A Perfected Self

By Sadayasihi on Mon, 16 Mar, 2020 - 13:00

A very interesting introduction to the mandala here from Garava - the idea, the myth, the image, the symbol, the experience. His own practice as an artist affords him a respectful and generous perspective, from which we are able to simply sit back and learn.

Excerpted from the talk Entering the Mandala given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2001.

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Portsmouth Buddhist Center
Portsmouth Buddhist Center

Art + Reflection for Buddha Day

By viriyalila on Sat, 25 May, 2019 - 19:35

Art + Reflection for Buddha Day

By viriyalila on Sat, 25 May, 2019 - 19:35

We celebrated the Buddha’s Enlightenment this year with the Aryaloka Sangha on their Tuesday Night Friends’ Gathering. To celebrate, we engaged in a practice of Arts and Reflection: Entering the Mountain by meeting in silence while gazing upon the beautiful woodblock prints of Matt Brown, currently on display at ...

Triratna News
Triratna News

Dharma-Rama art exhibition in Wellington, New Zealand

By Sadayasihi on Tue, 19 Feb, 2019 - 11:40

Dharma-Rama art exhibition in Wellington, New Zealand

By Sadayasihi on Tue, 19 Feb, 2019 - 11:40

Five friends and artists who all go to the Wellington Buddhist Centre in New Zealand have just been having their second exhibition together. The artists are: Kathleen Beeler, Amalaratna, David Litchfield, Anne Munz and Achalamuni (Donald Woolford).

The name they have used for their exhibition, Dharma-Rama, is a made up one. 

Achalamuni explains the origin of the name and the significance of working together: “‘Dharma’ is obvious, but the ‘Rama’ part comes not from Pali or Sanskrit but from words such as...

Sangharakshita Memorial Space
Sangharakshita Memorial Space

An impromptu 'Indexer's Obituary'

By Satyalila on Sun, 4 Nov, 2018 - 12:59

An impromptu 'Indexer's Obituary'

By Satyalila on Sun, 4 Nov, 2018 - 12:59

I’ve been working on the index for Volume 13 of Bhante’s Complete Works for the last few weeks and finished it on Friday morning, having worked late into the night before.  It has felt like its own kind of vigil for Bhante to be doing this.  A great privilege to tend his ‘Dharma body’, or one physical manifestation of it, at least.  I’m not a professional indexer but a (supported) amateur - tho’ as Vidyadevi kindly reminded me, the etymology of...

Community Highlights
Community Highlights

Understanding Blake: A Triratna Blake Reader

By Sadayasihi on Wed, 2 May, 2018 - 17:35

Understanding Blake: A Triratna Blake Reader

By Sadayasihi on Wed, 2 May, 2018 - 17:35

Satyalila and Prajnamati have put together A Triratna Blake Reader, offering a friendly way in to understanding Blake and the light he can shed on Bhante’s presentation of the Dharma.

It begins with Bhante’s essay ‘Buddhism and William Blake’ first published in the heyday of the ‘Blake era’ around the London Buddhist Centre. Blake was ‘in the air’ just as he’s been around ‘in the DNA’ of Bhante’s approach to the Dharma.

The second piece is Satyalila’s talk from the last Blake retreat at...

Community Highlights
Triratna International Council

Meditating In The Caves At Bhaja

By Centre Team on Mon, 19 Feb, 2018 - 17:24

Meditating In The Caves At Bhaja

By Centre Team on Mon, 19 Feb, 2018 - 17:24

We got up early today to meditate in the early Buddhist caves at Bhaja, which are over 2000 years old! 

For more pictures and stories from around Triratna, follow us on Instagram or Twitter or Facebook...

Buddhist Centre Features
Buddhist Centre Features

Abhaya On Beauty and The Imagination as Ways to Liberation - New Podcast

By Centre Team on Wed, 24 Jan, 2018 - 14:51

A deep-dive of a conversation between Abhaya and Satyalila, framing the practice of the Dharma as a path towards beauty, letting go, and liberation of the heart and mind. 

Abhaya speaks frankly about the very early days of the FWBO (now Triratna) and how his understanding of Urgyen Sangharakshita’s systematic approach has evolved alongside his personal connection to his teacher and friend. We also hear how his early inspiration around the Tibetan text translated as ‘Self Liberation Through Seeing with Naked...

London Buddhist Centre
London Buddhist Centre

LBC in cinemas nationwide this Friday!

By Singhamanas on Wed, 27 Sep, 2017 - 09:59

LBC in cinemas nationwide this Friday!

By Singhamanas on Wed, 27 Sep, 2017 - 09:59

The main shrine room at the London Buddhist Centre is playing a lead supporting role in this new film - Daphne - written by local Mitra Nico Mensinga.

The film features a Mitra ceremony, as well as acting debuts from Jnanavaca (two words), Prajnamanas (one mantra) & Subhadramati (no speaking part this time).

Here are some reviews: guardian, hollywood reporter, indiwire

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