countdown to #buddhaday!

For our Triratna international Buddha Day celebration, on the occasion of the full Moon day itself, Padmavajra introduces us to the story of the Buddha and the Naga King, Mucalinda. With characteristic resonant depth, Padmavajra evokes the meaning and significance of the Buddha's Enlightenment, and his subsequent encounter with Mucalinda.


He then reflects on the Udana, the inspired utterance, with which the Sutta ends, and describes it as a path of practice:


Blissful is solitude for one who is content, for one who has heard Dhamma and who sees,


Blissful is non hatred in the world, restraint towards living creatures,


Blissful is passionlessness in the world, the transcending of sensual desire,

But the destruction of the “I am” conceit, that is truly the supreme bliss.

Listen to a lecture by Sangharakshita on the significance of this and other stories surrounding the time of the Buddha's Enlightenment:

Archetypal Symbolism in the Biography of the Buddha https://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/audio/details?num=43

Cuatro amigos budistas se reunion en zoom y exploran como su practica budista les ayuda en tiempos de pandemia y tambien como el mundo cambiando ha cambiado su practica.

Parami (en Glasgow, Escocia), Saddharuchi (en la ciudad de Mexico), Nagapriya (Cuernavaca, Mexico) y Sanghadhara (Manchester, Inglaterra) son Miembros de la Orden Budista Triratna apasionados en compartir su entendimiento y practica del budismo por el beneficio de todos los seres.

La musica por Ackport!

https://soundcloud.com/rascal-press/06-make-room-for-fun

Triratna's Threefold Puja Ceremony, recited in Albanian by Lawrence Xhamoni. . For the text itself (and many other languages), please see the Albanian page of the Triratna Translation project at www.thebuddhistcentre.com/translations/albanian

Triratna's Dedication Ceremony, recited in Albanian by Lawrence Xhamoni. For the text itself (and many other languages), please see the Albanian page of the Triratna Translation project at www.thebuddhistcentre.com/translations/albanian

Triratna's Sevenfold Puja, recited in Japanese by Shraddharocani. For the text itself (and many other languages), please see the Japanese page of the Triratna Translation project at www.thebuddhistcentre.com/translations/japanese

The Buddhist Refuges recited in Albanian, by Lawrence Xhamoni. For the text of the translation, please see www.thebuddhistcentre.com/translations/albanian

countdown to #buddhaday!

For our Triratna international Buddha Day celebration, Punyamala speaks to Ratnavuha about her inspiration from some verses contained within the Lalitavistara Sutra which describe the Buddha as he walks to the seat of enlightenment. Together, they explore the image and significance of walking, and how this story draws out the timeless unfolding of awakening in all of our lives

Punyamala also offers an audio recording of the verses for you to listen to, and a suggestion for a walking meditation or reflective practice to connect with the Buddha.



Watch the conversation here:

https://vimeo.com/413969951

Listen to Punyamala reading the verses here: https://soundcloud.com/thebuddhistcentre/the-walk-to-bodhimanda

Practice Suggestion:


1. Listen to the reading from the Lalitavistara Sutra.

2. Take a phrase or two that resonates with you from the text or reflect on the symbolism of some of the images.

3. Bear it in mind as you take a walk, or within meditation. Perhaps imagining walking alongside the Buddha, if that resonates.

countdown to #buddhaday!

For our Triratna international Buddha Day celebration, Maitreyabandhu reads us a poem from his second Bloodaxe collection called Yarn: https://www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/product/yarn-292

According to tradition, two travellers met the Buddha just after his enlightenment and became his first disciples, Tapussa and Bhallika. They disappear from literature after that point, and the Travellers from Orissa is a long dramatic monologue, written by Maitreyabandhu, imagining their story.

Make yourself a hot drink and sit comfortably, or perhaps in meditation before your shrine, and spend 20 minutes listening to Maitreyabandhu spinning this yarn…



Follow Poetry East on Facebook for more exploration of the intersection between poetry and the spiritual life with Maitreyabandhu: https://www.facebook.com/PoetryEastLondon/

countdown to #buddhaday!

For our Triratna international Buddha Day celebration, Punyamala offers a reading of some verses from the Lalitavistara for you to listen to, and a suggestion for a walking meditation or reflective practice to connect with the Buddha.



You can also watch Punyamala in conversation with Ratnavuha about her inspiration from these verses from the Lalitavistara Sutra which describe the Buddha as he walks to the seat of enlightenment. Together, they explore the image and significance of walking, and how this story draws out the timeless unfolding of awakening in all of our lives

Watch the Conversation here: https://vimeo.com/413969951

Practice Suggestion:


1. Listen to the reading from the Lalitavistara Sutra.

2. Take a phrase or two that resonates with you from the text or reflect on the symbolism of some of the images.

3. Bear it in mind as you take a walk, or within meditation. Perhaps imagining walking alongside the Buddha, if that resonates.

A free-rendering of Praises to the Buddha from the Vimalakirti Nirdesa, translated by Robert Thurman and edited by Ratnavyuha.

Read by Ratnavyuha.

You can watch a conversation between Ratnavyuha and Dhiramuni about the verses here – https://vimeo.com/413590780 or listen to it here – https://soundcloud.com/thebuddhistcentre/words-in-praise-of-the-buddha

Practice Suggestion

• 
Listen to the reading from the Vimalakirti Nirdesa.

• Let it soak in with a period of reflection, and open to the possibility of such qualities becoming more important to you in your life and daily practice.

• In the next stage pick up your pen and start writing, loosely, informally, and continuously, for a period of time, perhaps ten minutes, allowing expression of your stream of consciousness.


• End with a period of Just Sitting.