Yesterday a new blue-robed figure walked into the Buddhist Centre. He had arrived at the packed Centre to introduce himself to the Ipswich Sangha. This was Jayaketu, the latest Ipswich Order Member, who was previously known as Mike. He told the gathered throng, about his adventures and experiences, both good… Read More »…and so the Sangha grows
Chair’s Homily for July I am at Adhisthana this week on the European Chairs Assembly, where ideas and proposals abound in many different languages. Sitting chatting, whilst eating breakfast, I notice on my left Viryakirti from Mexico and Silamani from Valencia, Spain. On my right is Aryabandhu from Berlin and… Read More »The Art of Communication
Chairs Homily – May 2023 After 2,500 years of history and innumerable attempts to clarify the Buddha’s message, Buddhism can still seem very complex. But at its heart it is very simple. It is about change and the acceptance of change. The problem comes because we want stability and permanence.… Read More »Accepting Change
Chairs Homily – April 2023This month we will be saying goodbye to one of our Sangha. Goodbyes are often sad occasions but this time it will be a joyful affair.Mike Smith is leaving Ipswich at the end of April and will not return to us as Mike. He will return… Read More »Going for Refuge ‘Effectively’
I have been back from India and the Ipswich Pilgrimage for a week now and returning to ‘normal’ life is occurring slowly. As with any spiritual journey, such as a retreat or in this case, a Pilgrimage, the world never seems quite what it was when you left. The difference… Read More »Shedding our iron-rings
Along with 20 other members of the Ipswich Sangha, I am in India. We have been in India for just over two weeks. During that time we have seen many things that have shocked us, that have made us laugh and also cry. We have meditated, chanted and practised in… Read More »Chair’s Homily February 2023
The only Present you need – Sati – and you already have it! In the early years of Triratna Sangharakshita used to talk quite a lot about everyday mindfulness. This was in part a response to the meditation practices he found in the UK at the time, 50 years ago, that led… Read More »Chairs Homily January 2023
Chairs message– December 2022 Once again we enter the season that on the surface seems to be characterised by Greed. A time when we ask for and receive presents and gifts. Over the last hundred years or so, this season of giving seems to have been taken over by commercial… Read More »The Gift of the Dharma
These current few weeks in the past and in the future, for me, seem to be coloured by celebrations. We don’t often look on the bright side of things. Researchers tell us, we as humans have a negative bias, always looking for what has gone wrong. An ancient survival instinct… Read More »A life of Celebrations
Chair’s Homily October 2022 A few days ago I was given a great opportunity. An opportunity for a bit of quiet time, alone, a sort of mini-solitary I suppose you could term it. So what was the occasion you ask? And how did it come about? But first I must… Read More »Patience – The Joy of Waiting!
