Buddhist Voices

Ratnashri from Mumbai and Vijaya from Nagpur talk to Dassini about their perspectives on the Triratna International Council; being outside of India for the first time, and being inspired by the example of Dr Ambedkar to see learning and developing skills as having no age limit. Vijaya shares her top 3 highlights from the meeting, the first being an approach to conflict resolution that builds confidence and supports individuals to see their own shortcomings in the light of the Buddha's kindness. Ratnashri ends the conversation by dedicating a song to the sangha, and both extraordinary ladies sing us out. For more: www.thebuddhistcentre.com/internationalcouncil #India #Mumbai #Nagpur #women #Dalit #Ambedkar #Buddhism #Buddhist #Dharma #Dhamma #Triratna

Vidyatara was one of the forces behind the development of the Triratna International Council after its foundation in 2011. We get a chance to catch up with her on her first return visit to the UK after moving back to Melbourne, Australia. She still carries a fierce passion for the vision of a genuinely international Buddhist movement and that comes through as we hear about aspects of her life and practice at home, back in national political work, carrying the torch of the Dharma. + Bonus: If you listen carefully, you might just hear her sing the Vegemite Song... For more, www.thebuddhistcentre.com/internationalcouncil #Buddhism #Buddhist #Buddha #Dharma #Sangha #community #internationality #Melbourne #Australia #Triratna

Satyalila interviews Kamalamani about a strong decision in her life as a Buddhist - to forego having children - and her subsequent decision to write a book about it. A great conversation between two good friends about a long, challenging, ultimately affirming personal process and choice. Get more information on Kamalamani's book and where to buy it: https://thebuddhistcentre.com/news/birth-book-choosing-childlessness #motherhood #children #child #kids #Buddhism #Buddhist #Dharma #compassion #love #parenting #parent

Dhammarati talks here about a new project on the system of training in Triratna. He is one of the most experienced members of the Triratna Community, having been chair of the College of Public Preceptors for a decade. He lives and works at Adhisthana, and is now the convenor of the International Council. Dhammarati reflects on what is essential in Buddhist practice: a growth of awareness which leads to positive and rich emotion and a move away from self-referential emotion. As joy and compassion arises, it allows for a deeper seeing into impermanent nature of all of your experience and a letting go. The reflex of this is to open up to something deeper; wisdom and spiritual rebirth. This moves you towards spontaneous action for the benefit of others; seeing that your own growth and the growth of others is integrally connected. Dhammarati introduces a new project by the name of Sikkha (with a long a at the end). This is a Pali word meaning spiritual training. The project is about becoming conscious of what

Parami interviews Kamalanandi and Padmavyuha about gender diversity in Triratna on the occasion of the first residential retreat for gender diverse people in our community. A timely and topical discussion about the issues raised in society generally by changes in awareness around gender – and in a particular Buddhist culture as it expands its sense of itself to be more inclusive and more forward thinking about a crucial area of personal identity. The implications for ideas of practice as a Buddhist are considerable and represent a great opportunity for deepening our sense both of individuality and of community. The conversation includes a wonderful Q & A session about issues general and specific around gender diversity awareness and its positive effects within contemporary society and within the Triratna Buddhist Community. Contact the group for Triratna Gender Diverse people and our allies: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/282677805189496/ The Buddhist Centre Online - contact us on communit

Satyalila reporting from an inspiring retreat at Adhisthana in the UK for a group of volunteers who came together to help Vidyadevi and Kalyanaprabha with editorial work on the first two of the twenty-seven volumes that will make up the entire Complete Works of Sangharakshita. And to to collectively dedicate their efforts - spiritual and practical. We hear about some of what's involved - from the intricacies of critical diacritics in Pali and Sanskrit terms, to the considerable detective work expended on tracking down even the most obscure of footnote references... Find out more the Complete Works: https://thebuddhistcentre.com/news/sangharakshita90 #Buddhism #Buddhist #literature #editing #editor #research #Dharma #Sangharakshita #Triratna

Members of the Triratna Buddhist Order on their Pan-American Convention join with women training for ordination to chant the Bodhichitta mantra for the benefit of all beings. The 'Bodhichitta' is sometimes rendered as the 'will to Enlightenment' or the 'heart-mind of Enlightenment' - signifying the complete dedication of our efforts to cultivate wisdom and compassion, in line with the Buddha's teachings, making no distinction between our own well-being and that of others. In that sense the development of Bodhichitta is a truly communal practice, and might even be said to arise on a collective basis. The mantra captures a flavor of what that might mean and the joy implied. Recorded at Chintamani Buddhist Retreat Centre in Mexico during the 2015 Pan-American Triratna Buddhist Order Convention. For more: thebuddhistcentre.com/features #mantra #chanting #chant #ritual #Buddhism #Buddhist #Enlightenment #Dharma #community #harmonies

Viriyalila in conversation with the wonderful Saddhajoti, whose vision of a Buddhist retreat centre rising out of barren sugar cane plantation land has been fully realized here at Chintamani, near Cuernavaca in Mexico. It's a truly extraordinary achievement, and the great beauty and elegance of the place has been hugely enjoyed by all lucky enough o be attending the Triratna Buddhist Order's 2015 Pan-American Convention. We hear how Chintamani - named after the mythical wish-fulfilling jewel which is a symbol for the Dharma offered for all beings - came into existence; and also how it forms part of a growing network of Triratna Buddhist Centres in Mexico and, more importantly, supports the community to go deeper into practice together. For more: thebuddhistcentre.com/tags/pan-american-2015 #Mexico #retreat #Buddhist #Buddhism #Budismo #Budista #Cuernavaca #community #Dharma

As part of a meditation evoking the path of friendship and lineage, members of the Triratna Buddhist Order chant the 'kalyana mitrata' mantra in a rainstorm at Chintamani Retreat Centre in Mexico. Recorded as part of the 2015 Triratna Buddhist Order Pan-American Convention: https://thebuddhistcentre.com/tags/pan-american-2015 #mantra #chanting #harmonies #friendship #chant #singing #Buddhist #Buddhism #rain

We continue to celebrate the diversity of those attending the 2015 Triratna Buddhist Order Pan-American Convention in Mexico with two close friends from San Francisco. The theme of the Convention is friendship itself as a whole path of practice, and this is a pleasing ramble with two Californians taking in topics as diverse as the tech boom in San Francisco, the nature of interpretative understanding, and how beautiful it is to sit in a garden as part of a Buddhist Order and feel so well met, so kindly welcomed by strangers thousands of miles from home. Mexico is in all our hearts here and this is lovely witnessing of it between two brothers in the Dharma... Recorded at Chintamani Retreat Centre, Cuernavaca, Mexico. For more: https://thebuddhistcentre.com/tags/pan-american-2015 #Buddhism #Budismo #Buddhist #Budista #amistad #friendship #consciousness #SanFrancisco #tech #community

As part of our Buddhist Voices series we're live at the 2015 Pan-American Triratna Buddhist Order Convention. Abhayagita - whose name means 'Song of Fearlessness' - tells us (in English y en español) about her project to take women on pilgrimage from Mexico to India in the footsteps of the Buddha. En route we hear about her home country's engagement with the Dharma, and end up in a fascinating space around Aztec and Mayan culture as fertile native soil for the Dharma to take root... Con la traducción española. For more from the Pan-American Convention: thebuddhistcentre.com/tags/pan-american-2015 #Mexico #India #pilgrimage #Aztec #Mayan #anthropology #Budismo #Buda #Budhista #Buddhism #Buddhist #Buddha #Dharma

Green Tara is the Buddhist figure associated with deep compassion in the face of the world's troubles. Something most mothers and fathers can relate to when it comes to their own kids! This weekend we're focussing on how to practice Buddhism and meditation as a parent with young children, and we're delighted to be able to bring you resources live from the Retreat for Mothers that's just started at Taraloka Retreat Centre for women in Wales. We hope mums and dads everywhere will get lots of helpful input through what emerges from the retreat - and from the other material we'll post to complement it. Feel free to join in with your comments - we'd love to hear your experience! View all posts from this weekend: www.thebuddhistcentre.com/features #Buddhism #Buddhist #parents #parenting #kids #children #mothers

An excellent conversation with Kalyanaprabha on what it's like to work with and edit Sangharakshita, as his latest book, 'A Moseley Miscellany' hits the bookshops and the project to publish his Complete Works gets underway. Words and their meanings, the transformative effect of literature in a life, writing as a gateway to spiritual insight - these are just some of the topics covered as we hear from someone whose passion for literary work is both inspiring and encouraging. Buy 'A Moseley Miscellany' - http://windhorsepublications.com/a_moseley_miscellany #books #book #literature #poetry #poems #Buddhist #Buddhism #Sangharakshita #Triratna #Arts

We're making a virtue of the long gap since Suvajra's autumn seasonal by switching to the southern hemisphere for our frame of reference! As colder weather settles over the realms of the south we hear about a Scotsman's adventures in India... This set of fascinating winter tales comes from the mid '80s when Suvajra travels to the east to conduct his first ordinations on behalf of his teacher, Urgyen Sangharakshita. There he encounters two important figures in the history of Triratna: Dr. Ambedkar and Dhardo Rimpoche. From massive Ambedkarite commemorations on a beach in Mumbai to retreat near the ancient caves of Bhaja to his first meeting with Dhardo in the chilly mountain climes of northern Kalimpong, Suvajra's travels take him into new territories in all senses and see him undertake the work that will eventually yield his classic book 'The Wheel And The Diamond'. Recorded at Adhisthana, UK, winter 2015. #India #Indian #winter #Triratna #Buddhist #Buddhism #Sangharakshita #Dhardo #Rimpoche #Nepa

The first in a new occasional series with Parami, one of the most experienced members of the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community. Over the coming months and years, Parami will be joining us for conversation and sharing her generous perspectives on what she encounters during her travels around a contemporary international Buddhist sangha. We'll be hearing from her at home in the UK, as well as on the road from Mexico, Australasia and the U.S. A true Dharma farer, still in love with the Buddha's teaching and the radical vision it represents, Parami introduces herself here by talking about her work and what still animates her in her own practice - a sense that while the world is on fire with suffering the Dharma is a beautiful solution we might all embrace. Recorded live at the Omega Institute, NY, at the International Western Dharma Teachers' Conference. Watch the archived live web talk and discussion with Parami: https://thebuddhistcentre.com/BAM/parami-radical-then-radical-now-history-triratnas-progres

Another excellent conversation with Kamalashila in our occasional series from West London, where we celebrate the opening of their incredibly impressive new Buddhist Centre. But first we touch on all things liminal in our ongoing exchanges about landscape - particularly, in this case, the "gonzo psychogeography" of London and its subterranean rivers. We also hear about new beginnings in the shape of a Welsh contemplative community project and Buddhafield as it re-emerges from some years of change. All in the good company of Kamalashila and also featuring our first very special guest - Yashobodhi. For more new Dharma content: thebuddhistcentre.com/features The talk referred to in this podcast can be heard at: http://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/audio/details?num=LOC2065 Hear more from Kamalashila's Quarterly: https://soundcloud.com/thebuddhistcentre/sets/kamalashilas-quarterly #London #West London #subterranean #rivers #gonzopsychogeography #contemplative #Buddhafield #Triratna #Buddhism #Buddhist

Sangharakshita, founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order, has long dreamed of starting a new library to house his collection of 11,000+ books on Buddhism, the Dharma and literature (including extensive reference and poetry collections). Vidyadevi, one of the people who helped make it happen, introduces the new library as it finally opens its doors. Her passion for this project and her love of books is both infectious and challenging as she talks with us about a library with its eyes as firmly on the future as on the past. #buddhism #buddhist #library #libraries #books #book #Dharma #Triratna #Sangharakshita For more like this, + follow thebuddhistcentre.com/features

How do you go from investment banker to full-time Buddhist practitioner? A fascinating account of a very rich life that takes Amalavajra from English boarding school and Cambridge University to J.P. Morgan as a pioneer of the now infamous asset-backed securities that became a prime factor in the credit collapse of 2008. His journey winds via improbably different worlds: from scuba diving on coral reefs to the Henley Regatta, from delivering pizzas around London at night to riding the Greyhound bus across America and selling books door to door in Tennessee! And all leading to a remarkable turnaround via meditation, Buddhism and the mountains of Nepal. A strong tale of determination and talent finding - finally- something truly worth investing in... For more, +follow thebuddhistcentre.com/features Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-buddhist-centre-online/id498033013 #banker #banks #banking #securities #credit #creditcrash #Buddhism #Buddhist #Buddha #Dharma

A wonderful conversation with Amitasuri who has overcome huge health difficulties to train and work as a Buddhist Chaplain in the UK. Her passion for the vocational side of chaplaincy is inspiring and infectious, and it's moving to hear how her own situation has allowed her to be present - truly present - with people suffering greatly, and to make a difference in that way. Find out more about Buddhist Chaplaincy in the UK: http://www.buddhist-chaplaincy-support-group.org.uk Find out more about Buddhist Chaplaincy in the US: http://www.buddhistchaplainsnetwork.org More like this: www.thebuddhistcentre.com/features #health #Buddhism #faith #Buddhist #compassion #suffering #chaplaincy