Buddhist Voices

A conversation wth the artist and poet behind the new eBook from The Buddhist Centre Online: Anādi - Without Origin (in English and Spanish editions). We hear about the origins of the book and about Binisa's meditative inspiration that underpins her work as a Dharma painter and illustrator, looking to the classic Tibetan tradition of thangka painting.

Anādi is a beautifully illustrated art and poetry book interpreting the “Bardo Thödol” – known as “The Tibetan Book of the Dead” – derived from the eighth century teaching of Padmasambhava, who was a fundamental figure in the dissemination of Buddhism in Tibet.

This enigmatic and ancient book is to guide people at any time in their lives, but above all aims to prepare them for death and what, in the Tibetan system, will come after it. Therefore, the book divides human existence into six intermediate stages or phases: life, dreams, meditation, death, the reality after death and rebirth. These six stages are trying to tell us that life as we understand it, does not end with the death of the body. The existence continues to be reborn in another body again and again, repeating these stages, until reaching what Buddhism calls Enlightenment.

https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/books/anadi

https://thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/books/anadi-espanol/

#Buddhism #Buddhist #Buddha #Padmasambhava #Tibetan #Tibet #death #dying #afterlife #Dharma #Dhamma #tantric #thangka #painting #illustration #Art

Lokamitra has spent most of his adult life working in India to support the Dalit Buddhist community in their struggle against Hindu caste prejudice and its regard of them as literally "untouchable". Inspired by the life and work of the great Dalit leader, India's first Justice Minister Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the Nagaloka Institute provides an invaluable chance to thousands of young Dalits, educating them in how Buddhism can help support their democratic rights to liberty, equality, and fraternity.

We hear about Nagaloka's general work, the celebrations around the 60th anniversary of Dalit conversion to Buddhism, and about the international conference Nagaloka and Triratna sponsored with the International Network of Engaged Buddhists.

For more, visit www.thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/ambedkar/

#Ambedkar #India #Dhamma #Dharma #Buddhism #Buddhist #Buddha #Indian #Dalit #caste #justice #society #democracy #freedom #education

A special edition of Buddhist Voices, from India at the height of celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the mass conversion to Buddhism in 1956 of hundreds of thousands of Dalit (ex-Untouchable caste) Indians, inspired by their great leader Doctor Bhimrao Ambedkar to escape the horrors of the Hindu caste system and work towards a more just society in India.

Subhuti, a longstanding champion of Doctor Ambedkar as an exemplar of democratic principles for the whole world gives us a wonderful introduction to the life and work of someone who deserves a much wider audience. From his remarkable early life and education to his framing of the Indian constitution itself, we hear of the intimate connection between that constitution (still the basis of Indian society and law) and the work of the mind represented by conversion to Buddhism in pursuit of freedom, equality, and justice.

Inspiring conversation at a time of great uplift for the new Buddhists of India!

For more, visit www.thebuddhistcentre.com/stories/ambedkar/

#Ambedkar #India #Dhamma #Dharma #Buddhism #Buddhist #Buddha #Indian #Dalit #caste #justice #society #democracy #freedom

Ratnashri from Mumbai and Vijaya from Nagpur talk to Dassini about their perspectives on the Triratna International Council; being outside of India for the first time, and being inspired by the example of Dr Ambedkar to see learning and developing skills as having no age limit.

Vijaya shares her top 3 highlights from the meeting, the first being an approach to conflict resolution that builds confidence and supports individuals to see their own shortcomings in the light of the Buddha's kindness.

Ratnashri ends the conversation by dedicating a song to the sangha, and both extraordinary ladies sing us out.

For more: www.thebuddhistcentre.com/internationalcouncil

Vidyatara was one of the forces behind the development of the Triratna International Council after its foundation in 2011. We get a chance to catch up with her on her first return visit to the UK after moving back to Melbourne, Australia. She still carries a fierce passion for the vision of a genuinely international Buddhist movement and that comes through as we hear about aspects of her life and practice at home, back in national political work, carrying the torch of the Dharma.

For more, www.thebuddhistcentre.com/internationalcouncil

#Buddhism #Buddhist #Buddha #Dharma #Sangha #community #internationality #Melbourne #Australia #Triratna

Satyalila interviews Kamalamani about a strong decision in her life as a Buddhist - to forego having children - and her subsequent decision to write a book about it. A great conversation between two good friends about a long, challenging, ultimately affirming personal process and choice.

Get more information on Kamalamani's book and where to buy it:

#motherhood #children #child #kids #Buddhism #Buddhist #Dharma #compassion #love #parenting #parent

Dhammarati talks here about a new project on the system of training in Triratna. He is one of the most experienced members of the Triratna Community, having been chair of the College of Public Preceptors for a decade. He lives and works at Adhisthana, and is now the convenor of the International Council.

Dhammarati reflects on what is essential in Buddhist practice: a growth of awareness which leads to positive and rich emotion and a move away from self-referential emotion. As joy and compassion arises, it allows for a deeper seeing into impermanent nature of all of your experience and a letting go. The reflex of this is to open up to something deeper; wisdom and spiritual rebirth. This moves you towards spontaneous action for the benefit of others; seeing that your own growth and the growth of others is integrally connected.

Dhammarati introduces a new project by the name of Sikkha (with a long a at the end). This is a Pali word meaning spiritual training. The project is about becoming conscious of what is essential to theTriratna community. It is about deepening our understanding of what and how we teach and practice, and developing an explicit shared framework to talk about it.

How effectively are we doing that as a system of training? Dhammarati celebrates the changes that make wider discussions possible across the movement: the International Council and Adhisthana. Here he and Dhammamegha talk about how that conversation can begin and what Sikkha will be doing to enquire about what is most effective in our teaching and practice.

#Dhammarati #Dharma #community #study #dharmateaching #meditation #Triratna #Sikkha #systemofpractice #InternationalCouncil #College #Adhisthana #Bhante #integration #positiveemotion #spiritualdeath #spiritualrebirth #receptivity

Parami interviews Kamalanandi and Padmavyuha about gender diversity in Triratna on the occasion of the first residential retreat for gender diverse people in our community. A timely and topical discussion about the issues raised in society generally by changes in awareness around gender – and in a particular Buddhist culture as it expands its sense of itself to be more inclusive and more forward thinking about a crucial area of personal identity. The implications for ideas of practice as a Buddhist are considerable and represent a great opportunity for deepening our sense both of individuality and of community.

The conversation includes a wonderful Q & A session about issues general and specific around gender diversity awareness and its positive effects within contemporary society and within the Triratna Buddhist Community.

Contact the group for Triratna Gender Diverse people and our allies:

#gender #genderdiverse #community #Buddhist #Buddhism #Dharma #genderfluid #trans #transsexual #transgender #retreat #Triratna