We recently had a enriching and inspiring online weekend on the symbolism of the jewel in Buddhism.  Forged deep in the ground under the influence of strong pressures, the jewel emerges as something of beauty and value. In the same way, under the influence of the Dharma, something of great beauty is created or, we could say, discovered. The nature of our own mind, luminous bright and with a sensitivity to life and a beautiful aspiration towards the truth. How...

Vajratara has been looking up some talks from Tiratanaloka to put online.  They come as part of a series. Though the others in the series were not necessarily recorded, the individual talks stand alone.  This one was given on a retreat at Tiratanaloka for women training for Ordination.  Vajratara gives an introduction to Spiritual death. Using poetry and drawing on her experience of the Sangha, she looks at what spiritual death is, what it isn’t and how to practice it.
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