We are going through that period that is the end of the last year and the beginning of the next, a Bardo, to use a Buddhist term. The Earth, our precious planet, has fully circled the Sun taking just over 365 days. It is a good time to reflect on… Read More »New Year, New Now
I was in a meeting of the Triratna International Council recently, which had the theme of Unity.We studied a very interesting text, the Cetokhila Sutta, the title of which can be translated as ‘Wasteland of the Heart’ and it gives five ways in which one can fail to make spiritual… Read More »Weathering the Wastelands
I have had a few conversations recently about fear. This primal emotion seems to be working strongly in many people’s lives at the moment and is worth exploring. So what is fear? It is an emotion, a complex thought that makes us act. It tries to make us act to… Read More »Fear & Fearlessness
It is so good to see and be part of, the many recent celebrations that have occurred at the Ipswich Buddhist Centre. We started September with two cracking Mitra ceremonies. Seven Friends became Mitra’s and took that big step of becoming a Triratna Buddhist. It was so good to rejoice… Read More »Celebrations & Ceremonies
I don’t know if you can remember, but Freedom Day has come and gone. Like all such ‘freedoms’ they never quite fully live up to the name. The promised lifting of all Covid restrictions did technically happen, however, there was a strong recommendation from the Government to keep in place… Read More »Freedom Day
The PM’s announcement that the ending of lock-down on the 21st June was going to be postponed for four weeks brought up, I am sure, an emotional reaction in many of us. Quite a few members of the Ipswich Sangha had been working very hard to get the Centre ready… Read More »My dreams have been shattered
I recently tried to watch a documentary on Greta Thunberg, the young Swedish climate activist. I say try, because after watching for a few minutes strong emotion surfaced within me and I cried. To consider that the fate of our ability to live on this planet rested on such young… Read More »Saving the world
I was pleasantly surprised to hear a government minister talking about the Bodhisattva Ideal. This was during the height of our pandemic whilst we were in lock down. The minister said “No one is safe until the whole world is safe”. I heard this phrase being used a number of… Read More »The Bodhisattva Ideal
An Evening with Padmavajra and Friends 20th April 7pm Join Padmavajra and friends live on Tuesday 20th April for a special event to raise funds for urgent Covid-19 care in India: US PST 11:00 | US EST 14:00 | IE & UK 19:00 | Europe CET 18:00| India 23:30 |… Read More »Urgent fundraising event for urgent Covid care in India Tuesday 7pm
As you might expect we are starting to prepare for the opening of the Centre. When that will be is not certain and depends upon the Government’s advice. However, it will happen soon so it does need to be considered and action taken. One of the delightful things that has… Read More »Expanding the Sangha Room
