new Dharma talks now on-line: India, Poetry, Sangharakshita...

A multitude of new Dharma talks are now on-line following the celebrations of Sangharakshita’s  85^th birthday on the recent Triratna European Order Weekend at Wymondham College in Norfolk .  Mahamati, Triratna’s International Order Convenor,  writes to say - “There were more than 400 Order Members present, and the sun shined for the most of the weekend (the rain kindly keeping itself to night-times).  Links in the text below are to VideoSangha; they are also available in audio-only form over at FreeBuddhistAudio.

“The Order Weekend was introduced and led by Vajragita from Amsterdam together with Vajranatha from Valencia.  On Saturday morning we enjoyed a symposium of four talks based on Bhante's poem "Four Gifts"  - Jnanakumara, Kavyasiddhi, Jayagita, and Abhaya taking a verse each, with a half hour reply by Sangharakshita himself.

Four Gifts

I come to you with four gifts.

The first gift is a lotus-flower.

Do you understand?

My second gift is a golden net.

Can you recognize it?

My third gift is a shepherds’ round-dance.

Do your feet know how to dance?

My fourth gift is a garden planted in a wilderness.

Could you work there?

I come to you with four gifts.

Dare you accept them?

“This was followed by a celebration of Sangharakshita's 85th Birthday, with three ‘rejoicings’ by three European Order Members - Paramachitta from spain; Lalitaratna from Germany; and Akasasuri from Holland.   

“In the afternoon Subhuti reflected on his recent conversations with Bhante which gave rise to his recent article: "Revering and Relying upon the Dharma: Sangharakshita's approach to Right View".

“Sunday saw the launch of the India Dharma Trust with a great talk by Lokeshvara, followed by the Order Metta practice and collective shrine-room practice including the 1,000-armed Avalokitesvara Sadhana and the Guru Yoga.  

Other features included a second talk by Subhuti on 'The Order in North India'  with his account of the recent North Indian Order Convention (held at the Osho Cactus Nursery near Delhi!), an Art Exhibition, and of course the usual delight and magic of seeing friends, the newly ordained and meeting in large numbers!

“If you were not present here's a chance to watch or listen to the talks - or if you were there you may like to do so again.

Best wishes, Mahamati and the Triratna Order Office team