Tag: Fifty Years Fifty Voices

Buddhist Voices

Fifty Years, Fifty Voices: Sobhanandi (Highlights)

By Zac on Thu, 15 Sep, 2022 - 11:58

You come to a bridge. You look down. You see fish swimming in the water. But the fish don’t know you’re there, because that’s not their world. So the fish, their world is the water… You are conscious of the fish, seeing them, but it’s not your world. If you put the fish on the bridge, they’ll die. If you’re in the water, they die. That’s the world you live in, but it’s not the only world, because for the
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Fifty Years, Fifty Voices: Jyotipala (Highlights)

By Zac on Fri, 26 Aug, 2022 - 08:54

I must say, a couple of years before that, I’d actually – in one of my sober moments – not alcoholically, but… emotionally. I’d realised what an idiot I’d been in resigning.

Jyotipala’s Annals

In 1968 I was married and living in Brighton, working as a house painter.

In 1978 I left my wife, got ordained, and moved into the Aryatara community in Purley (not in that order).

In 1988 I was in India as an Anagarika [in robes], where I had been since 1981. I spent most...

Buddhist Voices

Fifty Years, Fifty Voices: Samasuri (Highlights)

By Zac on Wed, 24 Aug, 2022 - 15:48

It’s the wounded healer myth. I guess part of me wanting to be Doctor is my psyche trying to sort all that suffering out… Helping others like I’ve been helped or am being helped.

Samasuri’s Annals:

In 1968 I was not born yet!

In 1978 I was 4 years old, so probably at a play group and living in South Devon with my parents.

In 1988 I was 14 years old. Living with parents and younger brother in South Devon still. At private girls’ school in Exeter.

In 1998...

Buddhist Voices

Fifty Years, Fifty Voices: Manjuvajra (Highlights)

By Zac on Wed, 10 Aug, 2022 - 09:55

What’s happened over the years is I’ve got more and more confident in the existence of the Buddha, the effectiveness of the Dharma and the joy of the Sangha.

Manjuvajra’s Annals:

In 1968 I was 21 years old, living in London, enjoying the ‘Swinging 60’s’, studying physics at Imperial College, exploring sex and drugs, dabbling in religion and psychology, and spending the summer hitch-hiking with my future wife across Europe to Yugoslavia and Turkey.

In 1978 I was doing research connected with...

Buddhist Voices

Fifty Years, Fifty Voices: Maitripala (highlights)

By Zac on Thu, 4 Aug, 2022 - 12:45

I don’t need to go away from samsara to be really going for refuge. I can be right in the middle of it.

Maitripala Annals:

In 1968, I was 12 years old. I was living with my parents and siblings in suburban Reservoir, Melbourne Australia.
I was second eldest (first daughter) of five children. We had moved up to the city from an idyllic country life in Gippsland to have closer access to secondary schools. My early life...

Buddhist Voices

Fifty Years, Fifty Voices: Dhammadinna (highlights)

By Zac on Tue, 2 Aug, 2022 - 15:22

I want people to have the freedom to do what they need to do to grow as individuals AND I want the movement to have that very strong collective dimension. That can be a source of tension for me.

Dhammadinna Annals:

In 1968 I was 22, and recently graduated from Imperial College of Science and Technology, with a Biology degree. I was a hippy, living with my partner in the Notting Hill area, temping and making clothes, and exploring...

Buddhist Voices

Fifty Years, Fifty Voices: Suryaka (Highlights)

By Zac on Wed, 27 Jul, 2022 - 12:26

I need some sort of channel in my life, so that my energy can flow into it, really strongly.

Suryaka Annals

In 1968 I was 4 years old and lived in a small farming village in South Yorkshire in the UK. I lived with my parents and older sister. My grandma lived across the road and aunty, uncle and cousins also lived in the village. It was a safe place to grow up, everyone knew everyone else.
...

Buddhist Voices

Fifty Years, Fifty Voices: Rijumayi (Highlights)

By Zac on Wed, 20 Jul, 2022 - 15:21

No-one was ‘sugar-coating’ things, or trying to give me priorities I didn’t subscribe to. I think there’s a real framework for transformation in the direction that I was looking for.

Rijumayi’s Annals:

In 1968 I was not yet born.

In 1978 I was not yet born.

In 1988 I was short. Tearing around on a bike, going to primary school, playing sport and generally surviving childhood.

In 1998 I was...

Buddhist Voices

Fifty Years, Fifty Voices: Jayadevi (Highlights)

By Zac on Wed, 6 Jul, 2022 - 12:28

I’d be a bitter, burned-out trade unionist, I think, if I wasn’t a Buddhist…

Jayadevi’s Annals

In 1968 - I was living in Hackney, at St Paul’s Church of England Primary School. Winning the school scripture prize, attending Girl Guides, Church (C of E) and Sunday School.

In 1978 - I was a student in Liverpool studying English Lit and Psychology with Divinity. In a long term relationship with a boyfriend. The nearest I have ever come to being married!

In 1988 - A full-on GFR Mitra...

Buddhist Voices

Fifty Years Fifty Voices: Atula (Highlights)

By Zac on Thu, 30 Jun, 2022 - 14:35

I had to come into relationship with what was happening to me. I couldn’t run away any longer.

Atula Annals:

In 1968 I was in my hometown, Whitstable, Kent, struggling as a self-employed carpenter. Getting myself into terrible debt.

In 1978 I was living and working on-site as the foreman and worker (mainly worker!) in the Sukhavati/Old Fire Station/LBC building project. It was the last phase. I’d been involved with the ‘Friends’ for 7-8 years and ordained 2 years. Some time...

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