Sangharakshita's Diary, July 2011

Vidyaruchi writes with news of some of the highlights of Sangharakshita's diary during the past month, saying -

“The last month has seen Bhante engage in a number of encounters that are somewhat unusual. The first was with Maitrivir-Nargarjuna, an Indian Dhammachari based in Hyderabad, who came to England for a month or so. Over three days he interviewed Bhante for 'Lord Buddha TV', a Buddhist cable channel in Maharashtra, on various topics, such as his impressions of Dr Ambedkar, Buddhist art and iconography, and the challenge of effectively communicating the Dhamma in modern India. The interview is a significant one, not least because when it is eventually broadcast it may potentially be seen by several million people. 

"On another occasion Bhante fielded questions in a context with perhaps less far-reaching implications, though it was nonetheless appreciated by the participants. I refer to a Q&A he conducted with the students of the Triratna Training Course, then in its penultimate week. Topics ranged from the meaning of anatta and transcendental insight, through the relationship between time and pratitya samutpada, to sex and relationships. 

"Bhante has met with some luminaries from the wider Buddhist world. About a dozen members of Byoma Kusuma came to visit, including Ven. Narayan Prasad Rijal, one of their senior teachers. Byoma Kusuma is a Nepal-based Buddhist group, some English members of which visited Bhante last year. This time, he first met with the whole group, and spoke a little about the structure of the Sevenfold Puja, and then he and Ven. Narayan were left to discuss together alone, while Paramartha and I served tea and chatted with the other members of the party. Their teacher, Ven. Ratnashri, has written many essays, a few of which I read to Bhante, who was impressed by the clarity about the Dharma that they evince. To celebrate Ven. Ratnashri's birthday Byoma Kusuma are planning to produce a magazine, and they have asked Bhante's permission to publish one of his articles in it. He has, of course, given his permission, and the article they have chosen is 'The 'Problem' of Ahimsa' from Crossing the Stream. It will be translated into Nepali by Ven. Narayan himself. 

"Then there was David Loy, who came to Madhyamaloka for a visit. His main objective in doing so was to meet with Bhante, though he also spent time with the students on the course, talking about Buddhism and the modern world. Bhante has been recommending David's book, Money Sex War Karma, after having had it read to him last year.

“Other than these interesting and pleasant diversions, and the usual round of visitors and daily walks, Bhante has continued his current piece of writing, 'Reveries and Reminiscences' - the second installment of which appears in the July issue of Shabda - with help from Nityabandhu, whose knowledge and recollection of certain details has been called upon several times. 

!Bhante has found time to enjoy some audio books, including Marlborough, England's Greatest General by Richard Holmes; and a CD of Philip Larkin reading his own verse. He has also had me read to him from a number of sources, including Sulak Sivaraksha's new book (a gift from the same) The Wisdom of Sustainability; a special issue of Contemporary Buddhism, focusing on U Dhammaloka, one of the first Westerners to ordain as a Buddhist, whose life demonstrates a different kind of Western monk to the scholarly types, such as Ananda Metteya, previously thought to be the earliest Western converts to Buddhism; and some chapters from God: Being an Introduction to the Science of Metabiology by John Middleton Murry, which is interesting to Bhante insofar as it touches on ideas similar to his 'Evolution, Higher and Lower'.

Vidyaruchi.

News from the Sangharakshita Land Project - and the 'Wise Building' at CAT

Mokshapriya writes:

As part of my research for the Sangharakshita Land Project I was recently shown around the brand new 'Wise Building' at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, Wales. When I think of us engaging in sustainable responsible and creative new build I would be truly delighted if we were able to follow a similar path to this complex.

The building is constructed out of low embodied energy materials such as hemp and lime, rammed earth and sustainably sourced timber. At 7.2 metres, the circular walls of the auditorium are the highest rammed earth walls in the UK and were my favourite element in the whole building. To make rammed earth walls, loose, moist subsoil is compacted in thin layers between shuttering or formwork. Mechanical compaction forces clay molecules to bond with the aggregate (a physical rather than a chemical bond), giving the wall its strength. The rammed earth provides structural support for the roof, but does not form the external walls – these are timber-framed glazing (on the south side) and hemp and lime. There is a corridor around the auditorium, between the rammed earth and the external walls. The rammed earth wall has a delicious texture and acts as a passive heat store as well as providing substantial sound insulation.

Apart from the 180-seat theatre the building holds seminar rooms, workshops, restaurant, outdoor spaces and 24 en suite twin bedrooms. It's  heated by solar panels, biomass and passive solar. Basically it's a showcase building in sustainable technology and as well as being 'worthy' it's well designed. I've just read that the Daily Telegraph has awarded it the 'Top Building of 2010' and although I wouldn't agree that it's 'ravishingly beautiful' it is a building we can learn from and perhaps, with the right architects, even go beyond….

See also sangharakshitalandproject.co.uk

I never expected to be visiting Dorset (news from the Sangharakshita Land Project search)

Mokshapriya writes:

For the past little while we’ve been investigating a property and site as far south as Dorset. Hardly central I know and far from ideal given that the journey time for central and northern UK centres is the same as to Padmaloka.

I could list it’s other faults but despite them all it does offer something we’ve not come across before - enough accommodation for 300 as well as a few other useful buildings which means we could be up and running in some sort of shape very quickly. Oh it also features a large and beautiful stone Grade I listed manor house dating from the early 17th century which has been beautifully maintained and could possibly accommodate the Dharma Training Centre and Sangharakshita Library. At the entrance are two huge 20th century imitation cottages which serve as lodges.

It’s last function was as a christian retreat centre. Let me share their blurb with you:

“Driving up the winding wooded lane to Chantmarle, you enter a world where historic charm, peace, spiritual inspiration and contemporary convenience blend beautifully together to offer all the needs a Christian Residential Resource Centre could possibly have. The Centre is nestled in 100 acres of beautiful Dorset countryside. Thomas Hardy country, and whether you are a family or a group of up to 222, we have the facilities to cater for your every need. If you are looking for a beautiful retreat centre to hold seminars, meetings, courses or just be together, then we have accommodation to suit every need.”

For many years Chantmarle was the Dorset Police Training College and in the fifties they built some remarkably inappropriate buildings to provide the accommodation, sporting and training facilities they needed. So, if we bought it, we’d have a beautiful mansion house, listed gardens, at least 100 acres and facilities to run large events. The obvious questions include: Why on earth would we want to take on the maintenance and running costs of a grade 1 listed mansion? Aren’t the other buildings horrible and in need of replacement? How do we make a place like that our own? Isn’t it just too far South? What about the ecological costs of running such a poorly insulated site? And so on.

So do we dismiss it and move on? Well we feel the need to carefully consider the pros and cons as with everything we come across that has some potential. At the moment we are costing the replacement of the entire oil fired heating systems and considering other immediate cost implications. If it still seems at least considering further we’ll arrange to book more people on site to get other perspectives. Otherwise we’ll put it down and move on a little wiser and better informed than before. Maybe we’ll find another gravel quarry next....

See also sangharakshitalandproject.co.uk

Sangharakshita's Diary, May 2011

Vidyaruchi, Sangharakshita's secretary, writes with his monthly update on Bhante's activities, saying -

"There is little to say this month, for, aside from a visit to the acupuncturist, there have been few disruptions to Bhante's usual routine of visitors and walks in the garden. Even the audio books have been largely unheeded, as most of Bhante's attention has been occupied with his current writing project, called 'Reveries and Reminiscences', the first instalment of which appears in this month's Shabda, and the dictating, typing, and editing of which generally takes much of our morning session.

"As well as progress with a new literary project, the last month has seen previous publications receiving attention from outside of Bhante's typical readership. The novelist Robert Irwin published in the Guardian his list of 'top 10 quest narratives', which included The Thousand Petalled Lotus at number 8 (as well as Lama Anagarika Govinda's The Way of the White Clouds). In praise of the book, Irwin says 'since Sangharakshita has a razor-sharp mind, this book can be read with profit even by those who have no interest at all in religion'. Unfortunately, now that the book has been conflated with Learning to Walk, and is published as The Rainbow Road, interested readers may not know how to obtain copies themselves.

"Fame may also be looming for What is the Dharma, which is due to play a key role in the plot of a Hollywood Film. The Fourth Noble Truth will star Harry Hamlin as a wayward movie star and Kristen Kerr as the meditation teacher assigned to rein in his excesses. What is the Dharma will be a gift from teacher to student, and an inner change in Hamlin's character will be reflected in his changing responses to the book. We hope such exposure of Bhante's books will help them become better known, and thereby further their purpose and message.

"With metta, Vidyaruchi."

A new piece of writing by Sangharakshita, 'Reveries and Reminiscences', has recently been completed and will be posted on his website - www.sangharakshita.org.

Sangharakshita's Diary, April 2011

The gardens at Madhyamaloka, where Sangharakshita lives

Vidyaruci, Sangharakshita’s secretary, writes with news of Bhante’s activities over the past month., saying - “The search for a property to house the Sangharakshita Library and Study Centre continues, which leaves Bhante not knowing how long he will live at Madhyamaloka, or where he will move to when he goes. But go he will, and perhaps it is therefore natural that his latest literary project is a series of reveries whose starting point is some memories of Madhyamaloka that he will carry with him to his new home. He has not long started the piece, but it will be interesting to see how it develops, and it certainly gives him something to ponder as he takes his daily walk.

“Amid the flow of daily visitors was the indefatigable Subhuti, who again had a number of discussions with Bhante, this time about the social implications of the Dharma. I am sure many people look forward to seeing what results. There has also been a contingent from Nottingham, led by Paraga, who were treated to tea and cake in the Madhyamaloka cafeteria. Bhante's audio book listening has mainly been Martin Amis' memoir Experience, which was quite long, and which Bhante found sometimes interesting and sometimes a bit boring. Much of it was about the author's father, the novelist and poet Kingsley Amis.

“Bhante and I finished Sulak Sivaraksa's autobiography Loyalty Demands Dissent, and Bhante wrote to Sulak expressing appreciation for the book, and noting a few parallels between the lives of the two men. I have also read to Bhante articles by David Loy and Philip Larkin, and an essay by Lama Anagarika Govinda called 'Teilhard de Chardin in the Mirror of Eastern Thought', which Bhante admitted to finding a little disappointing.

“There’s no health news to report, except that Bhante went to the hospital for a vision check, and will go again next month”.

Sangharakshita's memories of Madhyamaloka will appear in due course on his website www.sangharakshita.org, which already contains links to most of his writings including material not published elsewhere.

Sangharakshita's Diary, March 2011

Vidyaruci, Sangharakshita's secretary, writes with his monthly portrait of Sangharakshita's life and activity in Birmingham, UK.  He says - "As was mentioned in the last diary, Nityabandhu, along with a friend from the Polish Sangha, came to stay with Bhante for a few days in February. He visited again a few weeks later - this time for a longer stay, and with six friends. As well as spending time with Nityabandhu, Bhante met with the whole group for a couple of question-and-answer sessions, and at the end of one of these one of the men asked for ordination, making him the second member of the Krakow Sangha to have taken this step.

In the last week of February, Bhante attended a talk and book-launch by Vishvapani at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre. Bhante is very happy that Vishvapani's book Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One, has been published. Its appearance is timely, it seems, given the renewed emphasis in the Movement on the importance of a familiarity with, and feeling for, the historical Buddha, and Bhante hopes that Order members and mitras will read the book.  [more information about the book is available on its dedicated website, www.gautamabuddha.info - ed]

Bhante's correspondence with Claire Jordan, the granddaughter of his old friend the Kazini, has continued, and has remained interesting and illuminating for both parties. With the help of Triratna's Clear Vision photo archive, Bhante has been able to send Claire some photographs of the Kazini. By the way, I would like to make a slight correction: Last month I described Claire as a published poet and professional witch; but actually, though she has won prizes for poetry, she has not published; and she describes being a witch in terms that suggest a vocation rather than a profession.

Audio books that Bhante has enjoyed have included: Charles: Victim or Villain? by Penny Junor, which Bhante described as 'a well researched and objective account of Prince Charles's difficult life'; and Pack My Bag: A Self Portrait by Henry Green, which he thought 'a sensitive and thoughtful account of the first twenty five years of the author's life'. Incidentally, Henry Green, known mainly as a novelist, was the younger brother of Gerald York, who was responsible for the publication of The Thousand Petalled Lotus.

As well as making steady progress with the Gandhavhuya, I have read to Bhante another two essays from The Future of New Religious Movements, this time about ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), who are interesting insofar as their situation as a movement in some ways reflects our own. 

Also, we are coming to the end of Sulak Sivaraksa's eventful autobiography, Loyalty Demands Dissent. Sulak is a well known Buddhist peace activist, and a founding figure in the International Network of Engaged Buddhists. Bhante and Sulak have corresponded, and Sulak has read several volumes of Bhante's memoirs.

And, of course, Bhante's daily routine continues, including seeing people almost every day, and walking round the garden, which must be more enjoyable now that spring is on the way, and the snow drops are out.

Sangharakshita Land Project - your questions answered

Mokshapriya writes from the Sangharakshita Land Project Development Team: 

"I thought it might be helpful to attempt to answer some suggested questions in a list. No doubt some of my answers are inadequate. There are certainly elements of this project that are clearly ‘work in progress’ and only as more and more people get involved to help develop the vision and help work through the countless challenges will more answers be found. Personally I do not believe we should try to have this project all neatly sewn up before we even have a site. It is a new venture with new obstacles to be overcome as it unfolds. Having said that we need to be confident that it is achievable and exploring searching questions are essential. Other questions, other answers and fresh ideas are always very welcome. I hope this helps you engage more deeply with the project."

The following questions (and more) are answered in a recent posting at www.sangharakshitalandproject.co.uk

Will the Sangharakshita Land Project 'join up' the movement in the way that people wish? From some points of view it just seems like another retreat centre which will bite into the income of the existing retreat centres and not really give more focus to the Triratna Community.

Are Bhante’s wish to house his library in a rural setting, and Subhuti’s desire for a new study centre the main things driving this project?

Dharmapala College has not been attracting large numbers of people to seminars exploring key elements of Bhante’s teaching – why will the new Dharma Training Centre be any different?

Is this another way of centralising things? 

Is it wise to invest a large amount of resources in these at the present time?

How would it be funded? There are already so many projects looking for funding in the movement.

Will the project start off as a 'mixed project' and then become a men's project?

With so many different activities planned for the land, will it really be possible to create self-contained single-sex contexts? 

Does the Sangharakshita Land Project have widespread support in the movement and Order?

FBA on UK Tour in Search of 500 Supporting Friends

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Viriyalila's UK Centre Tour in Search of 500 Supporting Friends

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We offer fba freely to all, but we are dependent on our donors to keep it all going. If you use the site and appreciate it, please support it. We've worked out that if we can find just 500 Friends to give £10/€12/$15 each month, then together we will secure the future of free buddhist audio. This is an average – some people will give less, some more – but any amount is most welcomed. As of the start of this year, we have 125 'Supporting Friends' out of the 500 we need to continue our work effectively.

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News from the Sangharakshita Land Project

Following Wednesday’s post on Buddhafield’s new Forest Garden project, Moksapriya writes with an update on Triratna’s major Sangharakshita Land Project, where the search for land in the UK continues - a 300-acre centre for Triratna for decades to come, including a new home for Sangharakshita and a complex of retreat centres, communities, solitary retreat facilities and more. Pointing people to the Sangharakshita Land Project blog, he says -

“I thought it might be helpful to attempt to answer some suggested questions in a list. No doubt some of my answers are inadequate. There are certainly elements of this project that are clearly ‘work in progress’ and only as more and more people get involved to help develop the vision and help work through the countless challenges will more answers be found.

"Personally I do not believe we should try to have this project all neatly sewn up before we even have a site. It is a new venture with new obstacles to be overcome as it unfolds. Having said that we need to be confident that it is achievable and exploring searching questions are essential. Other questions, other answers and fresh ideas are always very welcome. I hope this helps you engage more deeply with the project.

Another entry on the SLP blog, entitled ‘We_were_getting_close_but...’, recounts their recently-abandoned pursuit of a property in Staffordshire, where after a couple of months excitement, lack of cooperation from local planners led them to conclude it was best to move on and look elsewhere.

Finally he recounts some conversations with Sangharakshita exploring their vision for the accommodation and gardens they seek to create. He says - “I had the great pleasure of meeting with Bhante today. I wanted to clarify what he himself wanted in terms of accommodation and explained that we were determined that his move would be a stress free and seamless as was humanly possible. In fact I thought we might recreate his exact current floor plan in the new location to make life easier for him. However he made it clear that this was not necessary. He asked for his rooms to be all on the ground floor and wondered whether he might have a kitchen space big enough to eat in rather than have to eat in his sitting room as at present.

“But most interestingly he said that he did not want to take many of the things in the flat with him as he wants a simpler life. He wants to be free of the clutter and a move to a new abode will enable him to have a space free of clutter and a simpler environment. As he's not writing now he doesn't want most of his books around him and many of his Buddhist images can be rehoused in the 'library'.

“There are many reasons why we need the Sangharakshita Land Project but perhaps creating an abode for Bhante that really suits him for this phase of his life would be reason enough.

Creating A Garden for Bhante

Sangharakshita in the Madhyamaloka gardens

“One of the finest aspects of Madhyamaloka is the beautiful garden masterfully created by Sanghadeva over many years. It is enjoyed by all who visit but particularly by Bhante as he takes his daily walks amongst the delightful flower gardens.

“Now it occurs to me that if we do find land this year and if we hope to create a new abode for Bhante and his support community next year we will also need to create his garden. We will want to create a garden at least as big as the current Madhyamaloka garden so that Bhante will have a beautiful space to explore as he takes his exercise.

“Plants cost money, especially well developed specimens, so here's an idea. I want as many folk as possible to contribute plants for Bhante's garden. Perhaps you could start growing plants now especially for him - as many as you like. Then when the time comes we'll collect all the plants and have a grand time laying out the gardens and planting them up. We'll need a lot of plants so no need to be cautious and we'll be looking for big bushes and trees as well as small plants. We'll hope for some plants that are particularly good for partially sighted folk given Bhante's eyesight difficulties.

“Perhaps you could let me know if you plan to contribute in some way so that when the time approaches I can let Sanghadeva have some idea of what plants he might be working with.

Would you like to work on the project?
“Finding the land might take years or we might find it next week. Once we have it we will want to get moving. Over the last few months a number of people have made contact with me expressing an interest or offering their skills. That has been a fantastic boost and has helped the vision take shape.

“Now I want to start creating a number of lists of interested people with particular skills and experience as well as people who might be unskilled but keen to work on the project. So, bearing in mind that this is just in case we do find land in the next few months, if you might be interested in helping and fit into one of the categories below please email me with some details (facts and figures about yourself as well as contact details). I will then keep you in touch with developments by e-mail and you'll at least have the option of getting practically involved if you so wish when the time comes. Please pass this request on to others in the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community that you think might be interested.

“We’re looking for - Architects, Landscape Architects, Designers, Structural Engineers, Land Managers, Building Trades, Alternative Energy Engineers, Sustainability Project, Designers, Artists, Gardeners, Outdoor Event Managers, Self-funded able-bodied Workers, Able-bodied Workers - and more!”

Moksapriya

Sangharakshita's Diary, January 2010

Vidyaruci, Sangharakshita’s secretary, writes with his latest news, saying - “A quiet month for Bhante, especially as the snow kept him housebound at Madhyamaloka in Birmingham for a couple of weeks or so.

Madhyamaloka's garden in the snow

"He did not mind this, however, as the beautiful view from his window of the snow covered garden was a sufficient compensation for the loss of his daily walk. Christmas was particularly quiet, as for a few days running he received no visitors, and was also without a secretary, who was away with family. Bhante's own celebrations extended no further than a meal with a few members of the Madhyamaloka community, and one or two guests.

“Bhante has continued writing the sketches on themes from his early childhood. The first four are now available to read on Sangharakshita's website. He has nearly finished the fifth, and there may be another one on the way.

"The audio book service has provided interest and entertainment in the form of the following: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, which Bhante described as brilliantly witty, but with a serious moral concern; Journey to the Middle Kingdom by Christopher West, which he thought a fascinating account of China old and new; Asquith, by Roy Jenkins, was an austere political biography of an important British Prime Minister; and John Lennon - The Life by Philip Norman, about which Bhante commented that on the whole Lennon seemed not a very attractive character, and that Yoko comes out rather better. I have continued reading to Bhante from the Gandavyuha Sutra, as well as, for the second time, Subhuti's new paper 'Re-imagining the Buddha'. He has also enjoyed listening to 'The Genius of Mozart', a celebration of Mozart's music on Radio 3.

"Bhante has been to the hospital for an eye test, and is now not due to go again until March - a longer interval than previously, which one hopes is a good sign.

Vidyaruci.

Sangharakshita's Diary

Vidyaruci, Sangharakshita's secretary, writes with his monthly update of Sangharakshita's news.  He says -

"The recent cold weather disrupted Bhante's routine only to the extent of precluding his usual walk round the garden, the paths in which became perilously icy, for a week or so. During that period he was without his usual secretarial support, as I was on solitary retreat, but the visitors continued nonetheless, including Nityabandhu and Santaka from Poland, who came for a weekend.

"The most unusual event of the last month was a fundraiser at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre, at which Bhante was guest of honour. The event was called 'Tea with Bhante', and consisted firstly of a performance which included recitations and musical settings of some of Bhante's poems, then songs that were popular in his youth; and secondly the serving of tea and a vast selection of cakes and biscuits, during which Bhante chatted with various members of the local sangha.

"Other than this, Bhante's many visitors have included various groups from around the Movement, including Dharmavajri and three friends who had been celebrating a Kalyana Mitra ceremony together here in Birmingham; a group of ladies from Sweden; and men from Shrewsbury, accompanied by Akasharaja. He also had dinner with the public preceptors while they were at Madhyamaloka for their meeting, as well as seeing a number of them individually.

Sangharakshita as a boy

"Bhante's literary work has continued, and he has completed three of the short sketches in which he recalls incidents of various kinds from his early childhood, to which he has given the collective title of My First Eight Years: A Mosaic of Memories. They will go up on his website (www.sangharakshita.org) at some point, so look out for them. He has listened to audio books of, among other things, The Simple Soul and Other Short Stories by Catherine Cookson, which Bhante thought good but not great, though he appreciated the fact that the stories exemplified strong ethical values; and Ted Hughes by Elaine Feinstein which he found interesting and informative. I have continued to read to him from the Gandhavhuya, and we have read some of the contributions to Buddhist Warfare, a selection of essays edited by Michael K. Jerryson and Mark Juergensmeyer, which Bhante thought did not sufficiently distinguish between 'Buddhism' and the Dharma. I also read him Subhuti's new paper Re-imagining the Buddha, which is based on conversations the two of them had around the subject of the Imagination.

"Bhante has been for his usual acupuncture session, and will have had another by the time you read this. Other than this there is no health news, and Bhante seems quite well, despite the cold weather.

"Vidyaruci".

Re-imagining the Buddha - a new paper by Sangharakshita and Subhuti

Subhuti has just released a new paper entitled 'Re-imagining the Buddha'. Co-authored with Sangharakshita, and based on a series of conversations they had together this Autumn, it's an important clarification and extension of Sangharashita's thinking on the subject of ‘The Imagination’ - and of especial interest to both Western and Indian Buddhists.

The paper continues from where Subhuti's last joint paper, ‘Revering and relying upon the Dharma’, and has been widely anticipated across the Triratna community. At the recent Combined European Order Weekend Sangharakshita briefly touched on the subject:

'I feel it is also important to have this, so to speak, magical element, not just in our lives generally but especially in our spiritual lives. And it is symbol, myth, ritual which help give life this magical element - you might say also imaginative element.'

In the paper Subhuti covers the importance of Imagination, gives a potted history of it in the West, then discusses three areas where it touches on our spiritual lives. Those areas are; imaginative empathy with living beings, aesthetic appreciation as a path to higher states, and imagining the Buddha. The last area is probably the most significant for members of the Triratna Buddhist Community in which we see Sangharakshita presenting a vision of how to find the Buddha in the modern world - whilst being ever more grounded in the historical reality of the Buddha.  These ideas have always been present within Sangharakshita’s teaching, so this is not new – but a further clarification.

Now it is published and available as a PDF here - or, courtesy of  FreeBuddhistAudio, in it's pre-publication form of a series of talks by Subhuti exploring the theme.

Give the Gift of the Dharma with Free Buddhist Audio

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At Free Buddhist Audio our mission is to provide opportunities for people all over the world to receive the gift of the Dharma and connect with the Triratna Buddhist Community. As we bring our Seven Days of FBA to a close, we want to thank you for listening to our stories, meeting members of our community and celebrating our accomplishments with us.

Our team is passionate about providing free access to the Buddha's teachings and we rely on people's generosity in order to accomplish this goal. There are many people in the world, in our own community, who do not have the financial resources to obtain materials and resources for their Dharma study. In the words of Bhante Sangharakshita, "The spirit of giving permeates all aspects of life ... when you are giving in some form everyday, it does change our mind... we get into the habit of sharing, of thinking a little bit more about other people." Sangharakshita is so happy with our work he took the time out to send us some encouragement! Here's what he had to say about the vital importance of supporting Free Buddhist Audio:

Please consider Giving the Gift of the Dharma today by making a contribution to Free Buddhist Audio. Your gift will make a difference to so many people whose lives are changed through daily contact with the Buddha's teaching. Your gift will help more local Triratna Buddhist communities around the world share their own talks online, and allow us to continue translating our site into multiple languages. We will continue to be there for practitioners like you, providing our free Dharma service to thousands of people from all walks of life.

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Sangharakshita's Diary, December 2010

Vidyaruci, Sangharakshita's secretary, writes with his monthly update on Bhante's health, literary pursuits, and other activities. He says -

"For the last month Bhante has continued to be engrossed in his literary work. He finished the third of his 'Looking Back' trilogy - about his search for traces of his Lingwood ancestry.  This appears in this month's Shabda, entitled 'Reflections'; and now has begun set down some memories from his early childhood, memories which he has not written about hitherto. As well as new literary projects, he has also had the surprise pleasure of revisiting an old one. Maitreyabandhu dug up, in the British Library, a copy of an article written by a certain Dennis Lingwood, when but nineteen years of age, on the poetry of Sarojini Naidu, one of the first Indians successfully to write poems in the English language. The article is still very readable - more so than Bhante had expected - despite the style being very different from that of his later writings. I have typed it up, and you can find it on Bhante's website www.sangharakshita.org.

"Among the many subscribers to the afternoon slot for receiving visitors, Bhante has enjoyed tea and biscuits in the company of a group of young women from Sheffield, who have recently formed a new community; and a men's Chapter from Cambridge. Yesterday Paramartha accompanied him to Cannon Hill Park, to enjoy some Autumn sunshine.

"Audio books that Bhante has enjoyed have included: Susan's Story by Susan Hampshire, the famous actress's account of how dyslexia affected her life and career; and Vanessa Bell by Frances Spalding, a very readable biography of an artist who was at the centre of the Bloomsbury group. He and I finally finished the Lalitavistara - the highly elaborated and imaginatively rich account of the Buddha's birth, and life up to and including his first communication of the Dharma - which took us a couple of months of twice weekly bed-time reading. Staying with the theme of Mahayana Sutras, we have now embarked upon the Gandhavyuha.

"Bhante had his annual blood test, the results of which were satisfactory. Apart from that there is no news regarding his health, except that he is, as he said in a recent letter, 'in good health, and even better spirits.'"

Vidyaruci.

Sangharakshita's Diary

Vidyaruci, Sangharakshita’s secretary, writes with some news of his past month. He says -

“Autumn is upon us, and its rich scent and changing colours are enhancing Bhante's daily walks round the Madhyamaloka garden. Impermanence is on my mind in other ways, having heard this morning that my grandmother died last night. I am thus writing this piece in rather more of a rush than I would prefer, as I will soon be heading off to Norfolk to see my family.

“The last month has in any case been uneventful, as Bhante has been concentrating on writing about his search for traces of his Lingwood ancestors, and the discoveries he made thereby. The second instalment can be found in this month's Shabda. Among Bhante's many visitors a few are of particular interest. Firstly, Olivia Moore, a postulant mitra from Manchester, who is a violinist, came to Madhyamaloka, and, with a local tabla player named Mohinder Singh, gave a performance of Indian classical music for Bhante and others in the Madhyamaloka community, which Bhante enjoyed and appreciated very much. Then came four members of Byoma Kusuma Buddhadharma Sangha, a Buddhist movement whose principal teacher Mahayogi Shridhar Rana Rinpoche, or Ratnashri, lives in long term retreat in Nepal, which is the native country of three of the four visitors. Bhante found their discussion interesting, and photographs were taken. They are very appreciative of Bhante's writing, and sympathetic to Triratna; and Bhante, in his turn was favourably impressed with what I read him of Ratnashri's writings, which I obtained from the organization's website.

“Audio book highlights include The Condition of the English Working Class, by Friedrich Engels, which Bhante described as 'a vivid account of the terrible human cost of the Industrial Revolution'; Measuring the World by Daniel Kehlmann, 'a fascinating double biography of the great explorer Mumbolt and the great mathematician Gaus'; and finally Yet Being Someone Other, by Laurens Van der Post. Bhante commented that the book was very interesting in parts, but rather prolix.

“Vidyaruci.

Sangharakshita Land Project take Bhante on location

Triratna News last reported on the Sangharakshita Land Project back in August.  It’s a major initiative that will see a move of some of Triratna’s central institutions - and Sangharakshita himself - away from the Birmingham suburbs to a new and large piece of land and property somewhere in the British countryside. The search has not been easy - Sangharakshita has specifically specified that he wants elemental and sublime landscape rather than pastoral - a place that uplifts, inspires and supports meditation, a mythic environment which is, in itself, a place people will want to be and can make their own.

However the team has been busy and a recent post on their blog gives a hint of what’s been happening - plus a tantalising video of what may be on the way! Moksapriya writes -

“There’s a site in Staffordshire, north of Birmingham, that we’ve been seriously interested in for the last few weeks/months. We haven’t made an offer on it (yet) so I can’t say too much about it right now. It’s possible that we might eventually decide against it but for now we are preparing a feasibility study. Sangharakshita was interested to see the site for himself and we were keen to gauge his response so he joined us for a visit on a dry autumnal morning..."

To see the video , visit their blog and click on the picture... www.sangharakshitalandproject.co.uk

New painting of Sangharakshita - introduced on video

Today’s story features a video interview with Lokeshvara, chairman of Triratna’s Padmaloka retreat centre. He’s introducing a remarkable new painting of Sangharakshita they’ve recently taken delivery of. Painted by Aloka, it’s enigmatically entitled ‘Sangharakshita as Mythophanic Psychopomp’ and features as the centre-fold in their new 2011 programme - out now. 

“What’s mythophanic?”, you might ask. “What’s a psychopomp?” You’ll have to listen and find out!

 Suffice to say Lokeshvara sees the painting as showing an aspect of Sangharakshita whereby he introduces us to the realm of ‘undefined meaning’, and thereby helps us bring that dimension into relationship with our ordinary daily lives...

Click on the embedded player below to watch it, or find it directly on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcNthYyGy18

Sangharakshita's Diary

Vidyaruci, Sangharakshita's secretary, writes with news of his recent activities.

He says - “Two months have sidled by since last I wrote of Bhante's doings, and in this time, as you will know, our Teacher reached the ripe old age of 85. The day itself was spent quietly, a meal with the Madhyamaloka community in the evening being the only indication that it was significant, except for the hundreds of cards and messages that Bhante received. The main celebration of the event took place at the European Order Weekend a few days earlier.

“On that occasion Bhante was driven across to Norfolk on the Friday by Paramartha, arriving at Padmaloka, where he was to stay, in the afternoon, and meeting with Dharmapriya in the evening. He travelled to Wymondham College on Saturday morning, where he heard the four talks, one on each of the Four Gifts in his poem, and the rejoicing in his merits given by three friends. Bhante then gave his own talk, 'Looking Back, and Forward', in the course of which he spoke of the need for the Order to move into various fields. He then took lunch with the morning's speakers, plus Prajnagupta, before retiring for his afternoon rest. The afternoon saw him cut his birthday cake in the presence of hundreds of Order members who sang Happy Birthday. He then attended Priyananda's launch of the first batch of Windhorse Publications’ new series of ‘Sangharakshita Classics’, and Subhuti's stirring talk.

“Next morning Bhante met with various people, and then was driven back to Birmingham by me, stopping on the way at my parent's house, which is about 15 miles from Padmaloka, for afternoon tea and cake. My parents were very glad to see him, and I was happy that I could show Bhante a place that is not only beautiful - deeply embedded as it is in rural Norfolk, including the orchard and meadowland of the family home, and the adjacent water-meadow leading down to the river - but also significant to me, being where I grew up from the age of ten. The journey back to Birmingham was the longest I had ever driven Bhante, but the journey went smoothly, and we arrived just a little late for dinner.

“Hard upon this weekend of activity came several days of meetings with Subhuti, this time to discuss Bhante's thinking around the area of myth, imagination, art, beauty and symbolism. I had the privilege of typing up some of the transcripts, and having done so I can well understand Subhuti's excitement and satisfaction with the material, and eagerly await the result.

“Since then Bhante has returned to his usual routine, though he has seen fewer people in order to concentrate on correspondence, as well as writing about his search for traces of his Lingwood ancestors, as mentioned in the last Diary, which he has greatly enjoyed.

“Bhante has also been involved in the literary endeavours of others. Kalyanaprabha continues with her work of editing correspondence between Bhante and Dinoo Dubash, a Bombay friend he had known since the fifties, which requires a visit every week or so - not so difficult now that she is happily ensconced just a few doors down from Madhyamaloka. Also, a woman named Liz Corcoran is writing a biography of Bhante's old friend the Kazini, about whom he has written in Precious Teachers. Liz visited from London, and they had a long talk about his memories of that interesting lady. Nityabandhu visited Bhante for a weekend, bringing with him Wojtek, the Krakov centre's first mitra, who has now requested ordination into the Triratna Buddhist Order.

“Bhante's exploration of the world of audio books has included Two Men Were Acquitted by Percy Hoskins, the horrifying story of how malicious gossip and sensational newspaper reporting nearly sent an innocent man to the gallows. Bhante commented that careless talk indeed costs lives, in more ways than one! Also Middlemarch (abridged) by George Eliot; J.B. Priestly by Vincent Brome, which Bhante found fascinating; and Down Under by Bill Bryson, on which he commented that it gave an excellent impression of the sheer size of Australia and the extent of its uninhabited desert areas. I have been reading the Lalitavistara Sutra to Bhante, which fitted in well with the subject of his most recent interviews with Subhuti. He has also been listening to the Proms on Radio 3 from time to time.

“Bhante's health has been stable, and I am glad to say that he has even noticed a slight improvement in his vision, which must facilitate his literary work. He has had two acupuncture sessions, and has been to the hospital for a vision check.

“Vidyaruci.

grattis på födelsedagen! happy birthday bhante!

Today - August 26th - marks Sangharakshita’s 85th birthday - and we’d like to say Happy Birthday Bhante! Or “Grattis på Födelsedagen” as they’d say in Sweden...

Sangharakshita’s Facebook page has been busy today with well-wishers from around the Triratna world - Sangharakshita himself is at home in Birmingham, having attended the recent Order Weekend at Wymondham College in Norfolk UK.

Meanwhile, tonight at the London Buddhist Centre - and at many other Triratna Centres around the world - they’ll be celebrating the eighth in a series of 108 annual pujas to mark Sangharakshita's life and work. This annual event was launched at the 2003 Order Convention, where participating Centres took possession of special boxes each containing fine cloths, 108 sticks of incense, candles which will burn for 108 hours, a signed photograph of Bhante and a log book with 108 pages to record those present each year. The items in the boxes were blessed by Bhante, who also signed a photograph for each. Each Centre has a precious supply of incense and other ritual items that have a direct spiritual and physical connection with Bhante himself.

Mokshapriya, who launched the event in 2003, comments - “This particular living thread may well be increasingly treasured by each Centre's sangha through the years. We should not underestimate how important it is to find links between the future members of the sangha and Bhante. It has been our great fortune to live in his time and have had some direct connection with him but perhaps we have a responsibility to think of those to come who won't have any such direct connection and imagine how we might enrich their spiritual lives through our forethought and the establishment of such a special festival as this one. It will also provide a thread of continuity in each Centre's sangha whilst the log book will bear witness to impermanence and change.”

We’re also produced new video of members of the Triratna Buddhist Order chanting the White Tara mantra for Sangharakshita’s long life, recorded during the 2009 Order convention. You’ll find it in the embedded player below or on-line at www.youtube.com/watch?v=M82Wv10l7UU

Update on the Sangharakshita Land Project

Triratna News first reported on the Sangharakshita Land Project back in April. It will see a major move of some of the FWBO’s central institutions - and Sangharakshita himself - away from the Birmingham suburbs to a new and large piece of land and property somewhere in the British countryside.

This will serve as the basis for multitude of new developments - a permanent home for Sangharakshita’s ‘library’ - perhaps better described as a veritable treasury embodying the Triratna Buddhist Order’s spiritual history; a Dharma Training Centre focusing on Bhante’s teachings with study, exploration and practice - primarily though not exclusively aimed at the Order; space for single sex communities, guests, and ‘retired’ Order Members - and of course for whatever may come from the land itself. Sangharakshita has specifically specified that he wants elemental and sublime landscape rather than pastoral - a place that uplifts, inspires and supports meditation, a mythic environment which is, in itself, a place people will want to be and can make their own.

Much has happened since April: the project’s objectives have been clarified; the sale of the Birmingham properties has begun; the property search has taken Vajrasadhu and Mokshapriya across the length and breadth of Britain - and their blog has expanded dramatically, most recently with a call to interested parties to come forwards and begin building the team that will be needed to fully realise the project.

To find out more, check some of their blog posts -

Would you like to work on the Project?

Creating a garden for Bhante

Bhante’s Abode

Vajrasadhu on the road

The Gardens

Raising the cash

The Search Begins....

Meeting the Padmaloka Community

Visiting Retreat Centres.

How big is 300 acres?

Pilgrimage

Working out the essentials

A little background

The blog itself is at www.sangharakshitalandproject.co.uk