The Buddhist Centre

Here’s a beautiful recording of the Karaniya Metta Sutta, the classic Buddhist source-text for Metta, or Loving-Kindness - and the theme of the upcoming Triratna Urban Retreat. It was chanted in Pali by Joe Richardson at the end of Triratna’s 2012 International Retreat, as the Buddhafield team gathered under canvas at the end of the retreat. We've remastered it here and are reposting the improved audio to mark the Urban Retreat and, well, because it's lovely! Join the retreat: www.thebuddhistcentre.com/urbanretreat Subscribe to our podcast: itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-budd…line/id498033013 #metta #Pali #Triratna #love #kindness #chanting #chant #compassion #Buddhism #Buddhist #scripture #sacred #sutta #sutra #Dhamma #Dharma #Buddha

Natalie Willmer, from the Auckland Buddhist Centre in New Zealand, with a short talk on the metta sutta – an ancient Pali text that contains some of the Buddha’s words and teaching on metta (loving-kindness). Natalie describes her response to first coming across these words of the Buddha; some of them inspired her, but some of them raised questions… This is the first of a short series of 10-minute talks from different practitioners from around the world that we’ll be posting in the run-up to the urban retreat that starts next Saturday, November 9th. www.thebuddhistcentre.com/urbanretreat Subscribe to our podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-buddhist-centre-online/id498033013

Vajragupta talks about the possibilities for connection when people all around the world are practising kindness together, evoking the radically transformative nature of community and of love. Take part in the Urban Retreat, November 9-17th 2013: www.thebuddhistcentre.com/urbanretreat Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-buddhist-centre-online/id498033013

Triratna Buddhist Centres across the world will be running the urban retreat in the same week as the online event... How does the online urban retreat fit with what is happening locally? This is a three-and-a-half minute talk from Vajragupta on how the two can complement each other... Join us for the Urban Retreat online, November 9-17! www.thebuddhistcentre.com/urbanretreat Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-buddhist-centre-online/id498033013

Vajragupta introduces the Triratna Urban Retreat 2013 on the theme of loving kindness - 'Blazing Like the Sun'. The Buddha spoke of it like this: "Loving kindness, which is freedom of heart, it glows, it shines, it blazes forth." Loving kindness ('metta') is a quality that can be cultivated towards yourself and others as a new way to respond to the ups and downs of everyday life. Each day we'll go further into this quietly beautiful, radical practice. Join us for the Urban Retreat online, November 9-17! www.thebuddhistcentre.com/urbanretreat Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-buddhist-centre-online/id498033013

Vajragupta introduces the meditation aspect of the Triratna Urban Retreat 2013 on the theme of loving kindness - 'Blazing Like the Sun'. The Buddha spoke of it like this: "Loving kindness, which is freedom of heart, it glows, it shines, it blazes forth." Loving kindness ('metta') is a quality that can be cultivated towards yourself and others as a new way to respond to the ups and downs of everyday life. Each day we'll go further into this quietly beautiful, radical practice. Join us for the Urban Retreat online, November 9-17! thebuddhistcentre.com/urbanretreat Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-buddhist-centre-online/id498033013

This is a recording of the Transference Of Merit and Self-Surrender recited in many languages, as used in the Sevenfold Puja of the Triratna Buddhist Order. In order the languages are English, Dutch, German, Swedish, Welsh, French, Spanish, Polish, Russian, Estonian, and Danish - each read or recited by the Chair or other representative of that Buddhist Centre, sometimes in a small group. It was recorded on the European Chairs Assembly - the first event held at Triratna’s new retreat centre Adhisthana - in August 2013. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-buddhist-centre-online/id498033013

Our friend Suvarnaprabha from San Francisco has just passed away. She had been living with advanced stage cancer for the past couple of years and writing the most amazing blog about it: crapivegotcancer.blogspot.com/ Some months ago she took the step of becoming an Anagarika within the context of the Triratna Buddhist Order - someone who commits herself fully to a life of stillness, simplicity, contentment and celibacy. Here she speaks candidly and movingly about her reasons for that and what draws her to make such a declaration in the face of her own mortality. Read Suvarnaprabha's book on celibacy and Buddhism for free here: http://thebuddhistcentre.com/highlights/suvarnaprabha-writings-celibacy-ebook Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-buddhist-centre-online/id498033013

Suvarnaprabha (1963-2013) was much loved throughout the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community, but nowhere more so than at her home Center in San Francisco. Here are many of her closest friends chanting together the Prajna Paramita mantra - "Gone, gone, gone beyond ...." Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-buddhist-centre-online/id498033013

Parami on the 20th anniversary of Newcastle Buddhist Centre in the UK, handing over her Presidency role and rejoicing in the work that's gone on on Tyneside to bring the Buddha's teaching to Newcastle. Subscribe to our podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-buddhist-centre-online/id498033013