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
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
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
E=MC² is a formula we are probably all familiar with. This is Einstein’s ‘simple’ equation to explain the basics of the physical universe, his Special Relativity theory. It is composed of just 4 characters and one of those characters brings with it Time. This Time is in the form of… Read More »E=MC²
Chairs Homily – January 2024 Once again we have gone around the whole year and are starting again. We seem to place some importance to the new year. It is interesting that we quickly move away from the obvious, that time is continuous, it is continually changing, and try to… Read More »Four Gifts
December homily Last week I had a couple of moving goodbyes or partings with friends. Last Thursday we finally said goodbye to Leigh, who is off to Cambridge to live and work for a Triratna organisation, the Windhorse Trust. I also said goodbye to Kusaladana, who many of you know,… Read More »Meetings & Partings
