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Closing the home retreat - Turning Arrows into Flowers

By kusaladevi on Fri, 22 May, 2020 - 12:57

Closing the home retreat - Turning Arrows into Flowers

By kusaladevi on Fri, 22 May, 2020 - 12:57

We’ve come to the end of this home retreat, “Turning Arrows into Flowers”. Find the Post retreat resources here

However you have used the resources this week, we really hope that Training your Mind and having a sense of community online have benefited your Dharma practice at this time. Let us know here how you have found the week, we’d love to hear from you.

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Post Retreat Resources - Turning Arrows into Flowers

By Sadayasihi on Fri, 22 May, 2020 - 08:23

Post Retreat Resources - Turning Arrows into Flowers

By Sadayasihi on Fri, 22 May, 2020 - 08:23

We hope you have enjoyed Turning Arrows into Flowers with us this week! 🏹 🌸🌺🌼

A big thanks to Yashobodhi, for providing us with the inspiring Dharma talks and for the live Q+A on Sunday (recording to follow soon!). If you haven’t already had a listen, do check out the podcast where she talks about the Seven Point Mind Training - and beautifully makes a connection between them and the myth of Rumpelstiltskin!

Thanks also to the group of...

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Transference of Merit and Self Surrender- Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 7

By kusaladevi on Thu, 21 May, 2020 - 15:40

Transference of Merit and Self Surrender- Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 7

By kusaladevi on Thu, 21 May, 2020 - 15:40

Coming to the end of the ‘Transforming Arrows into Flowers’ Home retreat, it is always useful to dwell on any benefits you have received from the week. Perhaps you would like to make a few changes to your life – such as less time checking your emails; or ‘doing nothing’ for ten minutes each day. You may wish to write these down and keep them by your bed or on your fridge as a reminder. Telling other people can also...

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Guides to what actually works - Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 7

By kusaladevi on Thu, 21 May, 2020 - 08:53

Guides to what actually works - Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 7

By kusaladevi on Thu, 21 May, 2020 - 08:53

We’ve come to the end of our week together looking at training the mind to greater happiness using new ways of engaging with our experience in the world. To gather the threads of the practice together Yashobodhi reflects on some key, pithy lojong reminders that capture the great efficacy and delight of this work – and which we can carry with us well beyond these days with confidence. 

“Set your goal – make use of every day and night to achieve it!”

Yashobodhi here...

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Sevenfold Puja - Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 6

By Sadayasihi on Wed, 20 May, 2020 - 18:08

Sevenfold Puja - Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 6

By Sadayasihi on Wed, 20 May, 2020 - 18:08

During this home retreat we have been exploring the bodhicitta - the deep, heartfelt desire for all beings to be free from suffering and to be happy and free. Remembering that we can dedicate our practice to all living beings you may wish to finish your day with a ritual of Transference of Merit and Self-Surrender (the last section in the Sevenfold Puja).

Download the text of the Sevenfold Puja

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Reflections from Akasajoti and Varadhi - Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 6

By Sadayasihi on Wed, 20 May, 2020 - 11:01

Reflections from Akasajoti and Varadhi - Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 6

By Sadayasihi on Wed, 20 May, 2020 - 11:01

Here’s a delightful conversation between friends: Akasajoti, based in London, UK and the recently ordained Varadhi, in Melbourne, Australia!

Akasajoti and Varadhi explore their favourite mind-training slogans – ‘of the two witnesses, hold the principal one’ and ‘liberate yourself by examining and analysing’ – looking at how empowering it can be to bring greater honesty and self-awareness into their lives.

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What Are We Committed To? - Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 6

By Sadayasihi on Wed, 20 May, 2020 - 08:19

What Are We Committed To? - Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 6

By Sadayasihi on Wed, 20 May, 2020 - 08:19

The big questions keep coming as we move deep into our week of shared practice around the seven point mind-training. What are we “bonded” to? How do we see our ethical path? How do we envision making commitments to ourselves and the promises we make? Yashobodhi offers some lojong (“teaching slogans”) that can help us clarify what it is, exactly, we are up to!

Watch Yashobodhi’s talk What Are We Committed to?

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Prajnahridaya's Reflections on the slogan “All Dharma agrees at one point” - Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 5

By kusaladevi on Tue, 19 May, 2020 - 11:28

Prajnahridaya's Reflections on the slogan “All Dharma agrees at one point” - Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 5

By kusaladevi on Tue, 19 May, 2020 - 11:28

Prajnahridaya, living at Padmaloka retreat centre in Norfolk, UK, shares his reflections around this slogan, reflecting on the essence of the Mind Training teachings - a release from Ego Clinging.

⁣⁣⁣He reflects on the dangers of trying to get rid of something and focuses instead on the freedom, inspiration and beauty that can arise when we let go of clinging.

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How do we know this is working? Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 5

By kusaladevi on Tue, 19 May, 2020 - 08:20

How do we know this is working? Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 5

By kusaladevi on Tue, 19 May, 2020 - 08:20

Day 5 revolves around evaluating the mind-training practice we’ve been engaged in all week. This is essential on any spiritual path, with any kind of method or doctrine, and Yashobodhi provides a clear set of questions to ask ourselves in checking out that the things we’re doing are actually helping! The sense of agency and confidence we can gain from owning the practice in this way is a strong alternative for the routine, everyday kind of ego-clinging that can so...

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Refuges and Precepts - Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 4

By Sadayasihi on Mon, 18 May, 2020 - 17:01

Refuges and Precepts - Turning Arrows into Flowers: Day 4

By Sadayasihi on Mon, 18 May, 2020 - 17:01

Today you could try and do more meditation – perhaps an extra sit (even if for a few minutes) – but also focus on bringing your practice off the cushions. This could involve chanting the Refuges and Precepts at the beginning of your day and being more conscious to behave ethically throughout your day, introducing a mindfulness bell (a random bell you set on your phone that you use to remind yourself to come back to your intention for the week), be more...

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