In 1976 I formally committed myself to a course of action about which I had a whole jumble of ideas. None of these have really turned out to be of much use except their gradual abandonment has provided a path of debris offering the consolation that I have actually moved from where I started. In short, the practice of the Dharma or my attempted practice at least has not turned out to be remotely what I thought it might be like, I’m pleased to say.
Aloka – Navigating the Labyrinth of Literalism

Ordination is a distinctive moment in our spiritual lives, the point at which we commit to continually deepen our Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels. In the course of our preparation for ordination we develop an idea of what the spiritual life consists, how to practise it, and where it leads. But do we really know where we are heading and what it will look like? The spiritual life can precipitate moments when our limited conceptions of it fall short and we‘re not sure of the way forward, only that we cannot go back. So what do we do then? How do we steer a course towards a goal that is beyond thought?

On this Order weekend, we will be investigating the seemingly ‘hidden’ dynamics of the spiritual life, how to navigate the unfamiliar terrain in which we can find ourselves, and how we can continually enlarge and deepen our vision of the spiritual life and where it leads.

This weekend is directly followed by the Guru Yoga: The Blissful Path to Liberation Order retreat. Consider making the most of your journey to Padmaloka by booking onto both.

Banner and thumbnail image: cropped painting by Aloka ©

Details and Timings

The retreat starts with dinner on the first day at 6:30pm and finishes on the final day at around 2:30pm.