"Do not use Buddhism to protect yourself from life... use it to celebrate life"

Manjusvara - poet, musician, fundraiser - died while leading at retreat at Dhanakosa in 2011. Here he is, in 2007, giving a talk marking the twentieth anniversary of his ordination.

He explores the history of his engagement with the Triratna Buddhist Order (previously the Western Buddhist Centre), starting with his first encounter with the London Buddhist Centre and taking in many significant learnings along the way including the vital importance of friendship, the loneliness of not being able to talk about the most precious things in life and the beauty of the ethical precepts. 

By turns humorous and lyrical, Manjusvara shares his story (and the occasional poem) and thereby illuminates what it means to live a Dharmically-inspired life.

(This is part one of a two part series on Manjusvara. Listen to part two.)

Extracts from this talk were used for the 50 Years, 50 Voices project 

***
Subscribe to The Buddhist Centre Online podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On other podcast networks

News, event coverage, mantras and rituals, Dharma conversations among diverse voices from the Triratna Buddhist Community around the world, keeping you up-to-date with the latest in our sangha.

Subscribe to our Buddhist Voices Podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On others podcast networks  

Our longer form podcast, featuring great in-depth conversations with Buddhists from around the world. Inspiring stories that illuminate for modern times the Buddha’s example of how to live and find true freedom.