by Vessantara | Aug 22, 2024 | Uncategorized
On this day in 1974, I joined the Triratna Buddhist Order, and received my new name, Vessantara. I can’t quite believe it. Things were so undeveloped back then that I don’t even have any photos of the event to prove to myself that it happened. But I do...
by Vessantara | May 8, 2024 | News, retreats
From the 7th – 14th of June, I’m leading an Order meditation retreat at Rivendell, in Sussex, UK. For a long time it was waiting list only, but now they have been able to make some more spaces available. It would be great to have a full house and, apart...
by Vessantara | Mar 28, 2024 | News, retreats
Less than a month to go now until my next retreat for Order members, called Gems from the Diamond Sutra. It will be a meditation retreat exploring some of the main themes and images from the sutra. Dates are 24th April – 3rd May, and you can attend in person at...
by Vessantara | Jun 5, 2023 | Uncategorized
This weekend my next retreat begins at Rivendell Retreat Centre in Sussex UK. It’s on Turning our Mind towards Freedom, and is open to any experienced meditator (say 2 or 3 years of meditation) who is familiar with the Triratna approach to Buddhism. It’s...
by Vessantara | Mar 31, 2023 | Books, meditation, News
A little while ago Dhammamegha from Windhorse Publications interviewed me for the latest edition of their podcast. We chatted about the new edition of my book Meeting the Buddhas, and what it means to meditate on Buddhist figures that embody qualities like love,...