London Buddhist Centre

Prajnamanas on the Myth of the Return Journey, from Dharma Night at the London Buddhist Centre.

In Buddhist Puja we ritually evoke the many qualities of the Enlightened mind. We use our imagination to open up to a higher vision of reality. In this talk Jnanavaca argues that engaging with devotion, worship and beauty will help us open up to those moments where we experience something 'more'... more than self, more than our usual view of the world, more than the day to day mundane rhythm of daily life.

Prajnamanas expertly navigates us around the twelve links of the wheel of life. Proving to us that this ancient Buddhist image of the wheel of life is still as relevant as ever. A life spent circling round and round the twelve links is indeed a life if agonising repetition. But what is there that we can do? How can we take a creative step and get off of the wheel? To be a poet and not know the trade To be a lover and repel all women Twin ironies by which great saints are made The agonising pincer-jaws of Heaven -Patrick Kavanagh

"The Buddha's enlightenment is the most important moment in the history of the planet from the point of view of a Buddhist". Ratnaprabha describes, explores and evokes the moment where the Buddha overcame all craving and hatred and illumined the path to liberation for others.

Danayutta looks at the inevitability of suffering to the human condition. She makes the case that the more we turn towards suffering and take responsibility for the suffering we cause ourselves, the more we can engage positively with that fundamental aspect of human experience.

Central to the Buddha's vision was the idea that we could get off the wheel of our repetitive behaviour, repetitive behaviour driven by craving and aversion. There is a gap, a doorway, off the wheel of reactivity and on to the spiral of more and more positive mental states. Vidyadaka talks on where we can find that doorway and how to open it.

Subhadramati explores the reactive, mechanical knee jerk mind of our normal unenlightened states. But she says we can transition to a mind with more choice and more freedom to choose how we respond to what life challenges us with. The talk makes the point that we are not destined to repeat our habits for evermore.

Highly respected teacher Padmavajra invokes Padmasambahava, the great Guru of the Tibetan tradition. Using mantra and story from Padmasmbhava's life the talk makes the case for symbol, myth and vision in our dharma lives.

Dhammadinna points to the fleetingness and preciousness of this human life in this talk on impermanence. Looking at the Buddhas death as recorded in the Buddhist scriptures, the talk is a reminder that all things that are dear to us we must be separated from. The talk was given on Parinirvana Day 2019, a day dedicated to remembering the passing away of the historical Buddha.

Devamitra evokes the archetypal guru Padmasambhava on this funny and engaging talk on fearlessness. Drawing from several instances from his life Devamitra reminds that "no one rises so high as he who knows not whither he is going"

Sangharakshita’s last two papers, completed just over two weeks before he died, examine the three main paths of Buddhism, among other things, and thereby offer three different ways of understanding his own role as teacher. This helps us to understand both his human personality and his significance for us. In this set of three rambles, Subhuti unpacks his 15 minute funeral oration for Sangharakshita (founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order) on 10th November 2018 at Adhisthana. He demonstrates how someone can be considered a very great teacher, exemplar, and even guru, yet also be a human being with his own personality and even failings.

Subhuti, one of the most senior and respected members of the Triratna Buddhist Order, explores a distinction made by Sangharakshita that helps to understand some of the paradoxes that Sangharakshita has left us with, as well as helping us to understand how we too can be so uneven in our Dharma lives. In this set of three rambles, Subhuti unpacks his 15 minute funeral oration for Sangharakshita (founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order) on 10th November 2018 at Adhisthana. He demonstrates how someone can be considered a very great teacher, exemplar, and even guru, yet also be a human being with his own personality and even failings.

Subhuti, one of the most senior and respected members of the Triratna Buddhist Order, reflects on his own experience on the relationship between inspiration, spiritual experience, and human fallibility. In this set of three rambles, Subhuti unpacks his 15 minute funeral oration for Sangharakshita (founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order) on 10th November 2018 at Adhisthana. He demonstrates how someone can be considered a very great teacher, exemplar, and even guru, yet also be a human being with his own personality and even failings.

The social and political landscape is changing. Societies are, on the one hand, fragmenting whilst, on the other, unifying within a growing culture of consumerism and individualism. How can we create a community that is unified and diverse, exemplifying real values and being a force for good in the world? A keynote talk from Suryagupta to launch 2019.

A drunkard walks home from a pub along a muddy track. To his right and left are steep ravines. With great wit, intelligence and experience, Maitreyabandhu explores this rich Buddhist parable.