Talk given in English with Spanish translation by Saddhajoti. | Charla impartida en inglés con traducción al español por Saddhajoti.
As part of a series on Vasubandhu’s Four Factors at the 2023 Pan-American Convention, Ashokashri skillfully weaves into episodes of her life story the principles of the Dharma as they relate to the arising of the Bodhichitta (the transformative wish in Mahayana Buddhism for all beings to be free from suffering).
From resonating with the Buddha's qualities in her youth to enduring challenging times later when she felt she had to start her spiritual life anew, Ashokashri’s journey is both particular and profoundly relatable. Her experiences, including working in the public library system in London for 20 years and helping establish the Triratna ordination process in the USA, have given her some hard-won insight into the practice of practical compassion. And both her Dharma work and personal practice are founded on taking part in a solid Chapter context with fellow Order members, all sustained by deep spiritual friendships (kalyana mitrata).
A moving, sometimes surprising account of how the personal conditions of our life can allow something of great contentment and peace to bud gradually within us, then flower into fullness over time.
Recorded at Abadía Benedictina de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, Ahuatepec, Mexico, October 2023.
PAN-AMERICAN CONVENTION 2023
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