"Things have changed in the last 10 years or so. A lot of it was just building on what I’d received from Bhante and other Order Members and other people… over the years. But I think, for me, it feels as if those three years with all that time to completely focus on the Dharma did sort of liberate things or bring to fruition a lot of seeds that had been planted by Bhante and other people over a long period of time."
When Vessantara first stumbled through the doors of Pundarika Buddhist Centre in 1972, he encountered the germinal beginnings of the Triratna Buddhist Community. With Sangharakshita on a year long sabbatical in Cornwall, the then Friend son the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO) was less than 5 years old and being run by young, energetic, yet inexperienced members of the Order.
Over the 40+ years of his involvement Vessantara has had a rich and inspiring spiritual journey. From early experiences of absorption as a young boy, to the depths of meditation and visualization practice during a three-year solitary retreat, Vessantara speaks openly and honestly in this moving interview with Satyalila for the 50 Years, 50 Voices project.
