We are delighted to announce that Bodhidasa's new book, Approaching Enlightenment: A Guidebook for Buddhist Ritual, is now available. Combining research in psychology and cultural studies, and the author’s own practice, in this book Bodhidasa draws out the liberatory potential of Buddhist ritual.

Ritual is the area of Buddhist practice that receives the least amount of attention. This book is for both sceptical and enquiring practitioners. The Sevenfold Puja or Seven-Limbed practice is the focus of the book, and through it many other ritual activities, symbols and implements are explained.

More than a book ‘about’ Buddhist ritual, this is a personal guide to assist the reader move more deeply ‘into’ its practice and benefit from its fruits.

About the Author

Bodhidasa studied English literature and performance studies, and teaches in Sydney, Australia. A member of the Triratna Buddhist order, he leads retreats, classes, and courses at the Sydney Buddhist Centre, emphasizing the role of devotion in the spiritual life. Bodhidasa lives with his partner, and they share their love of the Dharma, film, pop culture, and music with their incredibly old goldfish Ammy.

Praise for ‘Approaching Enlightenment’

'Bodhidasa invites us to awaken our imaginations and to see the world as a magician might in this delightfully unpretentious book. He skilfully shows us how, far from being extraneous to the Buddhist path, ritual lies at its heart – because it lies at the heart of human life itself.' – Subhadramati, member of the ordination team at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre and author of Not About Being Good

‘Bodhidasa has given us a beautiful guide to understanding ritual, bringing in its magical and mysterious nature, as well as giving down-to-earth practical suggestions. He takes us in a refreshing and engaging way through Triratna’s Sevenfold Puja. I recommend this book to anyone practising the Dharma, the experienced and convinced, as well as the more sceptical. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down.’ – Khemasiri, co-founder of the Triratna Buddhist Centre in Amsterdam

‘In a world where the word “ritual” is usually prefaced by “meaningless”, it's a joy to read this insightful and accessible exploration of the power of puja. Bodhidasa explains with clarity – for the sceptic as well as those drawn to puja – what Buddhist ritual is really about, and how puja can transform our minds and imbue our lives with meaning and significance.’ – Maitrisiddhi, Buddhist teacher, Taraloka Buddhist Retreat Centre

Podcast Discussion

In this episode, Bodhidasa discusses his rich and varied interests, from magic and games to popular culture and literature, and how these elements are intricately woven into his Buddhist practice and the essence of his new book. Bodhidasa shares how ritual, archetypes, and myth play a pivotal role in connecting with transpersonal and enlightened qualities, opening doors to deeper potentials within ourselves.