Modern Buddhisma



Buddhafield - lost Horizons







Rimming...

Flapping Fan!

“If the main stage is the pulse of this vast and vibrant festival, then the Green Fields are its spirit: 60 acres of quiet optimism, keeping alive the vision and principles that have inspired Glastonbury since the first gathering at Worthy Farm 45 years ago.
“If you believe that humans can live in a better way, this is where you will find encouragement from kindred spirits with inspiring blueprints and practical guides on how you can build a fairer sustainable world, powered by the sun and the wind – and pure imagination!
“Here, amongst the sound of wind chimes and drums and the scent of woodsmoke and baking bread, is a place to celebrate being alive and to explore the idea that our survival and fulfillment do not need to be driven by consumption and competition.
“A chance to participate in new and old ways of living, from technological innovations to tribal dances from spiritual awakenings to eco-build solutions – and all in a truly tranquil environment, free from the fumes and noise of generators, running on the quiet power of green energy.
“In the Tipi Field, circled around the fire and totem pole, you can open yourself up to the enchantment of tribal culture, let ancient ritual transform you and potent symbols guide you to reconnect with the earth.”

Ma Ding



yes, I am For Real!

Tai Chi in Eldon



Kavyasiddhi, a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order and regular contributor to BBC Radio 2’s ‘Pause for Thought’, writes from her home in Manchester, UK, with some reflections on her latest series. She says -

'You sound too meditative - think of the Lady Gaga track following you!' 

“This feedback came from the BBC producer editing my overnight Pause for Thoughts. He has a point; most people tune to Radio 2 in the middle of the night to stay awake, not to be lulled to sleep. We spoke as I recorded six spots, the last of which go out this weekend, July 30/31st, during Richard Allinson at approx 0420, repeated on Zoe Ball at approx 0620. If you're going to a car boot sale, you might hear them as you drive. They're also available for a week on BBC i-player. 

“I've written and recorded almost 90 overnight Pause for Thoughts since 2005; I write 5 or 6 at a time, upbeat but not inane, jargon free but not banal. They want a Buddhist take on a topical theme for people who aren't particularly religious, let alone Buddhist, and it can be hard to get the right tone: one week, I went from a kitten at Buddhafield to the repatriation of the alleged Lockerbie bomber, which I felt covered a sufficient range of human experience - even at 2 o'clock in the morning. 

"Kavyasiddhi"

"Though Bhante has not been listening to many audio books, he has greatly enjoyed hearing a CD of Satyadaka reading his own translation of Heine's The North Sea, and described it as 'an impressive piece of work'. Satyadaka was inspired to attempt translating the poem after reading the first part of Bhante's 'Looking Back' series, published in Shabda last year. In his account of his time with Paramartha in Ipswich searching for traces of his Lingwood ancestors, Bhante mentions his long-standing admiration of Heine's poem in the course of describing the visit they made to Felixstowe, to see the sea after which the poem is named.
"Bhante and I have continued following Sudhana's adventures in the Gandhavhuya Sutra, and as the hero has finally reached Vairocana's tower, there is good reason to think we may finish in the next month. I also read him Sulak Sivaraksa's book The Wisdom of Sustainability: Buddhist Economics for the 21st Century, which he thought an inspired sermon on the need for a society more in accordance with Buddhist ideals."

Vidyaruchi

UFO survivors Guild, Durham



Saffron Just Luved His teepee



Over the next few weeks Indian Order members will be visiting UK Centres and talking about their lives and work. This is a great opportunity to get a different perspective on our Movement and the Dharma.

One of the benefits of experiencing the internationality of our Movement is seeing what of Buddhism is cultural. Throughout it's history the Dharma has adapted as it encounters different situations; so what is central and what varies? It is the recognition that we can take direction of our own lives and through changing how we relate to a situation change the way it unfolds that is the essence of the Dharma. In hearing about our work in India we see that principle played out in a more direct and socio-politically active fashion than we are familiar with in the West; but it is the same Dharma.





Barabra's Visons of HELL # 345



Buddhashanti writes from Triratna’s Liverpool Buddhist Centre to say -

“Dear Friends, this to let you know that we moved on Sunday 10 July to a new home in Rodney Street.  Five of us - Mary, Jose, Antoinette, Lindsey and I processed up Duke Street to Rodney Street carrying our small Buddha rupa and thanka and chanting the Shakyamuni mantra.  This was a good if unusual thing to do and I felt it added significance to our move rather than just walking up the hill to a higher place in Liverpool.  Shaun very kindly and generously lent the van and Ian did the driving.

“Rodney Street is a very attractive and quiet location and will suit us very well.  It’s located close to the city centre.  It was a very busy weekend with preparing and decorating the room on Saturday and then doing the move on Sunday.  We had a great time, and a long day, in getting most of the painting done and transforming the room to our needs. It does look lovely now.  Everybody there really threw themselves in to the work and I want to thank everyone involved.  Our new address is Liverpool Buddhist Centre, 66 Rodney Street, Liverpool, L1 9AF

“We have a great Sangha in Liverpool. 

“With metta,

RelaX and Cool Down



The Gang TRogether Again



Leg Dancing



There's a room in my house
where an eagle flies
I hear its wings beating against the walls.
It has the smell of blood on its breath,
that seeps under the doorway.
I go months, even years,
trying not to think about that room.
But the eagle never forgets:
It has set me in its perfect vision.
It knows one day we will meet.
And whether I am ready or not,
it will be ready;
it will be there waiting to take me



Study in CHina

Kamalamani writes -

“Manjusvara's funeral at Bristol Buddhist Centre was a very rich and fitting celebration of a life well lived. It marked beautifully the moving on of Manjusvara from his current life as a Dharma farer, son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, ex-husband, lover, musician, poet, writer, fundraiser and world traveller. The funeral services were co-ordinated and led with immense love and care by Harshaprabha, Saddhanandi and Taravajra, following Manjusvara's wishes. There were rejoicings and remembrances from his family and friends (his brother: John Keefe, Meg Moginot, John Crown and Mario Cavalli, John Bloss, Manjuvajra and Samayasri), from poet and 'Wolf at the Door' friends (Dhivan, Larry Butler, Varasahaya), from friends at the Karuna Trust (Jayaraja and Amalavajra), from India (from Padmadhara read by Silajala), and from Bristol sangha friends (Satyalila, Suhada and Jvalamalini). In recent months Achintya has been creating a digital archive of poems by Manjusvara and Ananda, so we were fortunate to hear recordings of Manjusvara read some of those poems - it was incredibly poignant to once again hear his voice.

“The funeral was followed by a smaller service at the North Bristol crematorium with eulogies starting with a pre-Buddhist friend Stephen Hewitt, then his brother John, followed by another 'Scouting friend', Keith, then Harshaprabha and Ananda. Keith named how Manjusvara's funeral was a meeting of 'two gangs': his Buddhist 'gang' and his 'gang' of family and friends, and how moved he was to witness the love and respect for Manjusvara from his Buddhist 'gang' and his considerable achievements as a poet, writer, and fundraiser. The services were followed by feasting and an afternoon of spontaneous offerings for Manjusvara in the form of words, poems, songs and music.

“There was a recurring theme throughout Manjusvara's funeral: that he was a kind and encouraging man who gave so much in the different facets of his life and never wasted a moment. Whilst the funeral physically took place in Bristol, it felt to be an international celebration of him and his life. Indeed, several services and rituals have been held in his honour and memory from the UK to India since his death. The love and respect for Manjusvara was reflected in the diverse richness, love, humour and sobriety of his funeral service. The love of his friends in the local sangha was reflected in the responsiveness of so many Bristol friends in making the practical arrangements, skilfully woven together by Satyalila with the support of Jvalamalini and the centre team.

“In drawing this to a close I am reminded of a line from Manjusvara's poem, 'Writing Poetry at Edinburgh Airport': 'there is only one human story: it ends in leaving'. Whilst still absorbing the shock of the swiftness with which Manjusvara's left this life, we are also fortunate to witness his legacy of connection, kindness, boundless creativity, integrity, magical mischief, and love. May all blessings be yours, Manjusvara, as you journey into the next chapter of your human story”.

Babs & mark



a Word From SHirley

Shirley is our ressident sage with hr twigs of w=isdom:

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): My alsation fits in the cat box. He don't like it but i can get him in when he's naughty!
SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): my glassess  keep ou tthe wind, not because i'm blind.

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): i think of myself as being a poet and send my verses to the church. they publissed one last year called My dog ate my cat. It was a true story and trhey called it COMIC verse.
SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): everyone calls my dog zilla. When i got him I'd lost my teeth he's really calld Cilla but everyone calls him Zilla

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): I've got 4 daughters, 2 cats and zilla. we all live in a 2 bedroom back-to-back that Barbara painted yellow after she weent to art school. My husband never stopped smiling but he died when he reached 40.

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): I always take my marketeer with me. it has two wheels and a handle anfd can fit lots of things inside. It even fits zilla when we go bingo.

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): Last time i put zilla in the cat box my nreighbour peter threatened me with the RSPC.

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): I keep thinking i hear burglars and joan next door calls me a silly cow for not locking my door. i've told her that the lock is broke and that it hurts my wrist to turn the key. Thats got her fooled!

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): Someone keeps stealing my undergarments from the wasjing line, and i reckon its peter. He is a weird one. He thinks i'm mad because i wear my coat in the house. Ha! imagine if he knoew that i wear it for bed too!!!

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): My daughters won't come in the house anymore they just hoot that horn until i come outside. They say that i smell.

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): They keep giving me new clothes so i take them to the charity sdhop. and pick up some bargains to wear instaed. Ha. They called me a fashion nomad. Whta the hell does that mean??? At least i have hair.

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): treacle on the bin keeps hte burglars away'SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): I might be small but i'm not stupid.

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): when people ask me what i do i tell them that i like to play with myself. they never ask again. i love bingo and i love cards but i don't like other people so i always play with myself. SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): If people talk to me in  the street i drag my left leg behind me and pretend that i'm a leper. it works a treat, then i keep them talking nad talking and taljking and talking. zilla usually pees too.

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): peter kiicked my old dog Marcus clean over the street one day when marcus bit him again. he said that marcus wass a basatrd. marcus was a harmless little terrier, he just liked to nibble.

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): when a big dog approaches, get in a car immediatly. anybodys car, or go into their house and shut the door. this woman from the estate gave me a right mouthful last time i went in her house, called me a crazy old bag lady. i told her that there was a dog outside and she said it was hers.

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): if you find a glove in the street you should  keep it. One glove is better than none and you might find anbother and then you got two. i've been wearing one now for 5 years but cant find the second.

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): that nosey cow next door was watchinmg me hang out my jacket on the line so i told her that id just washed the collar cos that was the only dirty bit. she thought i was an idiot but it'll be dry in 10 mins so whose laughing now????

SPRING CHICKEN (Shirley): what the hell are bingo wings???