Buddhist Voices

"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. Extracts from this talk were used for the 50 Years, 50 Voices project - visit the dedicated space on The Buddhist Centre Online for more.

“I asked him, if I would go there, will I get food? And he said “Yes, obviously there will be a feast and you can have enough to eat.’ And I thought then, ’I’ll go.’” In 1998 when Ratnakumar was 13 years old, one of his cousins asked him if he’d like to go to a public meeting. That meeting just so happened to be an anniversary celebration for the birthday of Dr. Bimrao Ambedkar, the great leader of India’s Dalit community and architect of the Indian Constitution. Growing up amidst caste discrimination, finding Dr Ambedkar’s teaching and the movement he had started changed Ratnakumar’s life forever. When he subsequently embarked on formal Buddhist training in 2005, Ratnakumar became determined that he should lead a meaningful life as a follower of Dr. Ambedkar, leaving behind the drinking and fighting of his youth. Now, as a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order, he helps others to change their lives in order to contribute to the transformation of society at large. Read more about Dr. Ambedkar’s transformative work in India Listen to ‘Annihilation of Caste’ by Dr. Ambedkar Extracts from this talk were used for the 50 Years, 50 Voices project - visit the dedicated space on The Buddhist Centre Online for more.

“I had been looking for so long.  And then I saw my first woman Order Member. And that was like the ‘fourth sight’… that inspired me to go for refuge. (Amarapushpa) “It’s not something that has to do with ideas and concepts… It’s about more practical wholeness, with your heart. (Chandrasiddhi) Grabación en inglés y español | Recording in English and Spanish *** Amarapushpa, a lawyer from New York, found her way to Buddhism and, eventually, to England to live a life of service through her Dharma practice, engaging especially with women. She speaks and works in both English and Spanish. Chandrasiddhi from México City has followed her heart from childhood wonderings about the nature of reality through a philosophy degree, and on into full-time Buddhist life and practice. She was among a pioneering group of Latin American women ordained by other Mexican women in México in 2017. This conversation was recorded when they met at Bodh Gaya in India in 2018. Extracts from this conversation were used for the 50 Years, 50 Voices project - visit the dedicated space on The Buddhist Centre Online for more.

A great conversation with the quietly brilliant Abhayadana about her Buddhist work and practice in India. Her name means 'Giver of Fearlessness' - and this is something she has dedicated her life to, helping support and free women in her community from the stigma of social caste and the violence that often goes with it. We hear about her personal approach via meditation and reflection on the Buddhist figure of Kshitigarbha (Jizo) who descends into hell realms to liberate suffering beings. And her experience of visiting Adhisthana, former home of her teacher Urgyen Sangharakshita, and the gratitude she has to his work and to the Dharma itself for what she describes as the chance to live as a human being.  Recorded at the Triratna International Council, September 2019. For more: https://thebuddhistcentre.com/internationalcouncil

"Buddhism gave me an understanding - or at least a suggestion that one could change" In this second in the two part series about Manjusvara we hear about the three things that fundamentally changed his life: a car accident, coming across the London Buddhist Centre and fundraising.  From his time in the US through to the practice of writing as a means of transformation to his involvement in fundraising for Karuna, Manjusvara celebrates having spent half his life in the Triratna Buddhist Community and all the opportunities it has given him to live a meaningful existence. This is part two of a two part series on Manjusvara. Listen to part one. Extracts from this talk were used for the 50 Years, 50 Voices project - visit the dedicated space on The Buddhist Centre Online for more.

"Do not use Buddhism to protect yourself from life... use it to celebrate life" Manjusvara - poet, musician, fundraiser - died while leading at retreat at Dhanakosa in 2011. Here he is, in 2007, giving a talk marking the twentieth anniversary of his ordination. He explores the history of his engagement with the Triratna Buddhist Order (previously the Western Buddhist Centre), starting with his first encounter with the London Buddhist Centre and taking in many significant learnings along the way including the vital importance of friendship, the loneliness of not being able to talk about the most precious things in life and the beauty of the ethical precepts. By turns humorous and lyrical, Manjusvara shares his story (and the occasional poem) and thereby illuminates what it means to live a Dharmically-inspired life. (This is part one of a two part series on Manjusvara. Listen to part two) Extracts from this talk were used for the 50 Years, 50 Voices project - visit the dedicated space on The Buddhist Centre Online for more.

Kiranada is an ordained Buddhist, a traveler, a renowned artist in (cruelty-free) silk, a teacher, an author and a Mom. Here she is at the Portsmouth Public Library in June 2019, reading from her book 'A Year Of Silence', an account of her year-long silent, solitary retreat in the New Zealand bush.  As one of her last engagements before heading off to Kentucky and Missouri to begin a further 3-year solitary, silent retreat, this is a wonderful opportunity to hear what it takes to disconnect from physical contact with family and society and take in the great silence of true solitude.  In the tradition of Thoreau and Milarepa, Kiranada's reflective wit is apparent as she shares excerpts from her retreat journals, and subsequent writing about the experience of meditation and Buddhist practice lived out more fully, free from obligation and all distraction. An essential perspective on space, love, and the opening out of time in an increasingly over-stimulated world! In this extended edition, Kiranada also answers questions about her past retreat and the one she is about to enter, reflecting further on why she considers this kind of experience as potentially an essential part of anyone's life. Recorded at the Portsmouth Public Library, New Hampshire, USA.

"Someone said to me, on one's ordination retreat, depth charges are planted - and you never know when they are going to go off..." Danayutta was working as an investment banker in London when she first decided to go on a 10-day retreat with the London Buddhist Centre. This retreat changed the direction of her life - she realised that she wanted to commit to the Dharma life rather than pursuing her career, working on a busy trading floor. "Because probably by the time I'd finished working...I'd be thoroughly burned out and then where would I get that energy to pursue a Dharma life? In a way the best years of my life would have been spent...I think I just had this moment when I realised I was rehearsing excuses and actually, deep down, what I really wanted was to put my energy into serving the Dharma..."  Here she talks to Satyalila about her experience of encountering the Dharma in London, being brought up in Malaysia in a Buddhist family, the joy of community living, getting married during the ordination process and how her practice has unfolded since ordination. Conversation recorded in 2018. Extracts from this talk were used for the 50 Years, 50 Voices project - visit the dedicated space on The Buddhist Centre Online for more.

"So my impression of Bhante was that he was a magician who had some secrets that I wanted to get…" Ananda was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order (then the Western Buddhist Order) on the 7th April 1968, which makes him the most long-standing member of our Order.  In this full and frank conversation with Satyalila, Ananda speaks about his own spiritual journey in the Triratna Buddhist Order and his relationship with Bhante, Urgyen Sangharakshita, the founder of that Order. From his first impressions of Bhante, to getting to know him better, and developing their friendship - as well as working through difficulties - Ananda emphasises again and again the vital importance of bringing our feelings into the spiritual life - and the spiritual life into our feelings. Recorded at the Bristol Buddhist Centre on the 26th July 2015. Extracts from this talk were used for the 50 Years, 50 Voices project - visit the dedicated space on The Buddhist Centre Online for more.

The first in an occasional series this year of unreleased archive episodes from Buddhist Voices. Here's Lokeshvara, one of our two International Order Conveners in Triratna, talking in 2015 at the end of his voyage around the world achieved in exactly 80 days. No hot-air balloons or steam trains or packet ships, alas, just lots of economy flights and time zone surfing!  What we do hear coming through is why it's worth such an effort. Lokeshvara gives a great impressionistic sense of the "flavour" of a worldwide, very diverse community. What it's like to attend big national and international events, and also experience brief but deeply affecting one-on-one engagements with Order members quietly getting on with their practice in their own local situation. A splendid look back at a special journey for the benefit of all beings... More stories and voices at www.thebuddhistcentre.com/features