By Rijupatha on Mon, 1 Oct, 2012 - 16:37Our Autumn 2012 issue of the Vajra Bell newsletter is here, with a whole host of fantastic articles and resources from our North American sangha members on Dharma topics, arts, and sangha news!
* Reinventing the Wheel – Bodhipaksa offers an alternate reading of the 12 nidanas * Four new Order members return from Akashavanda in Spain * Meditation Marathon a Stunning Success * Yoga at...
Listen to an extract from Sangharakshita’s newly remastered and tracked talk, at once both erudite and moving as recalls his long friendship in letters with Dinoo Dubash from Bombay.
This extract deals with The Towers of Silence - Parsee ‘air burials’; Parsee culture; meeting Dinoo at a lecture - ‘Inspiration Whence’; the Arts as a source of spiritual inspiration; Dinoo’s painted visions of Maitreya Buddha
By lokabandhu on Tue, 31 Jul, 2012 - 06:34We’ve continued to scour the internet for memories of the recent and wonderful Buddhafield Festival: here’s some highlights. You can see a home-movie video of the Closing Ceremony Parade; an extended interview with Paul Crosland aka the Freelender introducing his concept of ‘Gift Economics’ (much appreciated when applied to giving away multiple pairs of Wellington boots on site!); plus the first of several video talks from the Dharma Parlour - Jayaraja on ‘Love, Sex...
By lokabandhu on Sat, 9 Jun, 2012 - 06:29Maitreyabandhu writes from Triratna’s Poetry East project (based at London Buddhist Centre) with news of his latest work. He says - “Just to let you know that my pamphlet The Bond has been shortlisted for the ‘Michael Marks Awards for Poetry Pamphlets’. I’m delighted and a bit stunned! The award recognises “an outstanding work of poetry published in pamphlet form in the UK during 2011” and is organised by the Wordsworth Trust in association...
By lokabandhu on Fri, 25 May, 2012 - 16:50Jnanarakshita writes from Triratna’s Birmingham Buddhist Centre with news of an unusual opportunity for people at Triratna’s UK centres - and elsewhere. It’s a tour by Rich Batsford, a mitra training for ordination into the Triratna Buddhist Order, but also a very talented pianist and singer-songwriter, on which he’ll be promoting his latest album, Mindfulmess.
Jnanarakshita writes - “This will be an excellent opportunity for people in the UK to hear Rich play live. He...
By lokabandhu on Mon, 14 May, 2012 - 14:36Bodhinaga writes from Triratna’s Sheffield Buddhist Centre with news of their most handsome new Buddha rupa, made by Chintamani, who has for many years worked as a sculptor and painter at the London Buddhist Arts Centre, also a Triratna project.
He says - “On Buddha Day this year the Sheffield Sangha unveiled their new rupa. It is set on a beautifully crafted wooden plinth and has a spectacular backdrop, both made by members of the...
By lokabandhu on Thu, 8 Mar, 2012 - 05:58Here’s a poster - one of dozens produced around Triratna, all seeking to advertise one or another Buddhist event and, as they do so, to communicate something of the flavour of Triratna and how we practice the Dharma in the modern world. But the question arises - could we do it better? Could you “Design This Even Better”? That’s the title of an upcoming event for Triratna designers to be held at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre on Saturday 24th March...
By lokabandhu on Fri, 6 Jan, 2012 - 06:10Urthona is a Triratna magazine devoted to the exploration of Buddhism and the Arts. Issue 28 has just been published, on the theme of ‘psychogeography’, and their editor, Ratnagarbha, introduces it thus:
“Our focus is the somewhat mysterious theme of psychogeography. Here we explore the imaginative response to landscape, especially urban landscape - the interwoven textures of past and present on the streets, alleyways, river-shores, even the motorway verges, of the world that lies on our doorsteps...
By lokabandhu on Sun, 4 Dec, 2011 - 06:25Maitreyabandhu , a poet and Triratna Order Member from the London Buddhist Centre, writes with news of his latest article, published in Magma 51, a well-known poetry journal. He says “It’s called 13 Ways of Making Poetry a Spiritual Practice - so far the response has been very positive. So I thought I’d make it a bit known. Here’s the opening paragraph and first two points:
‘Spiritual life is primarily concerned with overcoming self-centredness, with committing ourselves...