During our first Great Gathering weekend of 2018, around 70 men gathered in the Shrine Room to hear Surata speak about the essential and central topic of Going for Refuge. If you didn't join us for the weekend you can listen to the talk here:
https://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/audio/details.php?num=LOC3357
The May Area Order weekend will be devoted to the Rainbow-Bodied One, the Greatly Precious Guru Padmasambhava.
Recently, Bhante reminded us how important Padmasambhava has been for him. He also reminded us that Padmasambhava continues to be very much alive in his own life, as well as in the life of the Order.
During the weekend we will be invoking Padmasambhava and exploring what he means for us.
Alokavira writes:
'For those of us not travelling to India for the convention Yashodeva and I of the Midlands Region are pleased to lead this weekend on the practice of the Metta Bhavana. The theme of metta and its importance, its ethical dimension and its possibility for very real and significant transformation will tie in with the re-launch of the Order Metta that will happen on the Order convention at Bodh Gaya.
There will be a good amount of shrine room practice supported by practice-based talks, study, puja and time to meet with friends.'
The Bodhisattva Ideal retreat is now fully booked and we eagerly await Subhuti's visit next April.
All of our other 2018 retreats still have spaces but some are filling up. To book on a retreat next year just follow the link below:
'Only the spiritual friend can help you to go further, beyond the worlds of the devas and the brahmās, beyond all that is conditioned, to Nirvana. For, as the Buddha told Ānanda, if a man had a spiritual friend it was to be expected that he would develop and cultivate the Perfect Eightfold Path.' - Sangharakshita
For those of you who weren't able to join us for the recent Great Gathering, you can listen to the inspiring talks given by Vadanya and Padmavajra here:
https://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/audio/details?num=LOC3236
https://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/audio/details.php?num=LOC3237
The 2018 programme has arrived at Padmaloka.
Over the next few days we will be busy packing them up and delivering them directly to you and to your local Triratna Centre.
We really hope you enjoy the programme when it arrives. Everyone at Padmaloka is very excited about the year ahead not least because it is the 50th anniversary of the Order. The pages are infused with the Bodhisattva Ideal from first page to last. Aloka’s art, writings from the Ordination Team and quotes from our teachers all serve to bring the ideal to life.
'To live without looking up to anyone represents an impoverishment of one’s emotional life and, indeed, an impairment of one’s very humanity.' - Sangharakshita
This week we have announced the theme for our Ordination Training weekend in September - The Garava Sutta. It promises to be a rich and inspiring weekend and the quote above comes from a recent article by Sangharakshita on 'garava'. To read more about the weekend and book your place follow the link below:
The upcoming Mythic Context retreat is now fully booked.
We're delighted to announce that during this retreat, 5 men will be ordained and there will be a Public Ordination held on the 30th of September.
If you would like to attend the Public Ordination, please contact us at info@padmaloka.org.uk
(image -detail of painting at Padmaloka by Dh. Garava)
When people come to Padmaloka in the summer one of the things they comment on the most is how beautiful the gardens are. Over the last 4 months, David Elliot has tirelessly cut, chopped, pruned, fed the local mosquitoes and worked directly with the impermanence of nature. Yesterday we waved him off as he sped back to Wales on his motorbike. It has been a real pleasure to have David as part of the community this summer, a big thanks to him for all his hard work and dedication, we wish him well and look forward to seeing him again.
