I want to Give Up! At this time of year, in the depths of winter these words are sometimes sung in my head. For the effect and intensity imagine Freddy Mercury singing “I want to break Free” but with these words “I want to Give UP!”. So what do I… Read More »With a Boundless heart
Spiritual Death and Spiritual Rebirth are sometimes hard to explain. These two are parts of the fivefold Triratna system of practice, which you have probably come across, if only in these writings. The other three; Integration, Positive Emotion and Receptivity, are easier to understand, at least initially, as we are… Read More »Opportunity for Growth
I am sure you have heard that we have an interesting prospect as regards a new Buddhist Centre for Ipswich. Last week we held an open evening to explore the opportunities and difficulties that a new centre would pose. It was good to hear people’s views and dreams about what… Read More »The three C’s in IPSWICH
This is going to be a shorter piece than I have given you of late, so apologies or maybe you will see it as good fortune? It is interesting how a thing, an event can be viewed in opposing ways depending on our own personal ideas, thoughts or emotions at… Read More »Joining a worldwide movement
Over the years of studying the dharma I have come to understand most of the Buddha’s teachings. However, there is a teaching that I have not really fully understood. This is a small part of one of the Five Skandhas which is often translated as heaps or aggregates. I have… Read More »A truly self-less way
This month we seem to be continuing the theme from July’s Dharma Day Festival. On that day Dayasara introduced us to the teachings of Milarepa, an 11th Century Tibetan Buddhist teacher. I have in mind the beautiful and lyrical text “Song of Meeting and Parting” which was sung by Irene.… Read More »For the Benefit of All Beings
Chairs Homily July 2024 This week I have been away from Ipswich on the European Chairs Assembly (ECA) at the Adhisthana Centre in Herefordshire. One of the joys this time of being at Adhisthana was on arrival being greeted by Jodie, one of our own members of the Ipswich Sangha.… Read More »Spiritual Lineage
The big event in the life of the Centre this month is the Sangha weekend retreat. This event is held at the Vajrasana Retreat Centre near Walsham-le-willows in Suffolk. The Retreat Centre is owned and run by the London Buddhist Centre (LBC) and is run, primarily so that their Sangha… Read More »Face-to-Face with Ourselves
On 27th April 19 men joined the Triratna Buddhist Order at Padmaloka, our men’s retreat centre in Norfolk. Amongst them where two fine men from the Ipswich Sangha. Many of you will know them from the support they already give to classes and events at the Ipswich Buddhist Centre. Amoghavajra… Read More »Two new Order Members for Ipswich
We have all heard the philosophical refrain: “I think therefore I am”. This first principle of René Descartes’s philosophy was made in 1637. This concept has underpinned much of Western philosophy. It forms the basis of how we perceive ourselves, as a thinking being able to understand the world around… Read More »‘Self’ Awareness
