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Padmavajra

I have lived at Padmaloka since August 1990. I came here to join the team of order members that help men to prepare for ordination into the Western Buddhist Order. In those days we all lived in caravans and used the buildings for our retreat activites. The caravans went some time ago and now facilities are much improved for everyone.

The personnel of the resident community has changed a lot too, only Surata and myself in the present community are from those times, but there is a sense of continuity. Padmaloka has gone through and will continue to go through many changes, but there is a spirit that remains constant.

That spirit, I feel, is the desire to manifest the bodhicitta - the urge to awakening for the benefit of all. What I like about Padmaloka is that spirit. Practically, what this comes down to is maintaining and developing our own individual spiritual practice and doing what we can to help all those who live at Padmaloka and who come and stay with us to do the same. Crucial to this is the spirit of friendliness that pervades Padmaloka. There is something inherently challenging in all this, it's not all 'sweetness and light', but the challenge is well worth rising to. I have found that living here these last fifteen years has brought forth qualities that I did not know I had - I have seen that happening in others as well. In fact, one of the greatest delights of life at Padmaloka is seeing people grow and flourish before one's eyes, rather like the Padmaloka gardens in spring time.

I have many and varied interests, but the overriding 'interest' is to contribute to the growth and development of the Dharma. I don't mean by that the growth of an institution or a 'movement', but the flourishing of those who fare along the path. I want Padmaloka to be a place where that flourishing can take place without any other distractions. It's name means, after all, 'The Lotus Ream'.

I have no plans for the future, other than continuing to contribute to the life of Padmaloka, for the benefit of those I live with and for the benefit of those who come and stay with us. It is my sincere wish that what we do here will benefit people far and wide.

To listen to talks given by Padmavajra please see his page on the free buddhist audio website

Along with Buddhism, Padmavjra also has a keen interest in Sufism. Click here to download an article he wrote looking at links between Buddhism and Sufism.

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