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May Grace Abound and Victory

The next study seminar coming up this Saturday for men training for Ordination within Europe.

Urgyen Sangharakshita once said that the chanting of the Pali Tiratana Vandana – the Salutation to the Three Jewels – is the morning puja of the Triratna Community.

We will be live streaming from the Shrine Room at 7am every morning (including the first one), so you can join the Padmaloka community in the chanting of the Tiratana Vandana and for meditation. There will also be a live streamed puja from the Padmaloka Shrine Room on the second evening.

"What is so special about me?" - Shantideva's Perfection of Meditation

In the penultimate talk in his series devoted to the Bodhicaryavatara, Padmavajra explores chapter eight, the Perfection of Meditation (dhyana paramita). In this chapter, Shantideva tells us that in order to go deeply into meditation, we need to go into the solitude of body and mind, renouncing all worldly attachments and the usual way in which we relate to others. Having doing that, he shows how to develop an entirely new mind and heart, with a completely different way of being with others.

An Update on Retreats at Padmaloka

I am very sorry to say that we have decided as a community here at Padmaloka to extend the period of retreat cancellation by another two months, meaning that retreats in July and August are now cancelled. 

Despite the fact that the lockdown periods are starting to ease in many countries, as a retreat centre we are going to be amongst one of the last to be able to re-open;this is because social distancing would be near impossible to maintain here, and we feel a great responsibility to the men who come on retreat here to ensure their health and wellbeing. 

The Perfection of Vigour - Bodhicaryavatara Chapter 7

"Like someone hankering for the pleasure and fruit of love-play"

Padmavajra's seventh talk on Shantideva's Bodhicarayvatara is an exploration of chapter seven, the Perfection of Vigour (virya paramita). In this chapter Shantideva, makes it very clear that without virya there is no Enlightenment.

He tells us what virya is, as well as what opposes virya, which include, sloth, laziness and self-contempt. He explains that virya is developed through the application of six powers: desire; pride; delight; letting go; dedication; and self-mastery.

"The More They Beat Us, The Louder We Sang" -The Perfection of Patience- Bodhicaryavatara Chapter 6

'Serenity, freedom from disease, joy and long life, the happiness of an emperor, prosperity; these the patient person receives while continuing in cyclic existence.'

Padmavajra's sixth talk on the Bodhicaryavatara explores Shantideva's thorough exploration of the perfection of patience. In this chapter, Shantideva brings our attention to the seriousness of the faults of hatred and anger.

Vigilance with Regard to the Bodhicitta - Bodhicaryavatara Chapter 4

"The defilements do not dwell in objects, nor in the collection of the senses, nor in the space in between. There is nowhere else for them to dwell and yet they churn up the entire universe." 

In his fourth talk on the Bodhicaryavatara, given on the weekly Padmaloka retreat, Padmavajra explores Shantideva's discussion of vigilance (apramada) in relation to the cultivation of the Bodhicitta.