Subhadramati explores what Buddhism means by faith, pointing us to what exactly we need to have faith in if we are to deepen into life.
Talk given on the Urban Retreat 2016.
If you enjoyed the talk by David Loy ‘A Crisis for Buddhism?’ you might well appreciate this short article where he continues on some of the themes: Buddhism must awaken to the ecological crisis
Here’s a taster:
”As we begin to awaken and realise that we are not separate from each other or from the earth, we also begin to see that the ways we live together and relate to our environment also need to be reconstructed in order to become more sustainable...
This four-week course, led by Dh. Suddhayu, offers an opportunity for those new - and not so new - to Buddhist meditation to explore how these practices can offer insights into building peaceful relationships. We teach traditional Buddhist meditations, but you do not need to be a Buddhist to practice and benefit from them.
The Metta Bhavana, or Loving Kindness, meditation teaches the cultivation of positive emotion toward oneself and others, the necessary basis for spiritual life and...
“What a beautiful, peaceful valley alternately scoured and cooked by weather patterns that clearly haven’t heard of ‘the middle way’. My ten days there went from hot-water bottle, lumber jacket and woolly hat (all borrowed I’m afraid, my girl guide camping badge is now sadly forfeit) to coveting the shade. So maybe I didn’t manage to embrace the cold; there was no problem, however, luxuriating in the wood-burning stove, slippers and coffee…Thank you Community for hugging us in! I loved...
Dr B. R. Ambedkar (1891-1956) was one of the most extraordinary figures in the history of India. He was born in poor circumstances as an Untouchable – high castes regarded physical contact with Untouchables as polluting and condemned them to do the dirtiest of jobs, sweeping and the collection of human detritus.
Dr Ambedkar’s natural ability and determination (and some good fortune) enabled him to rise above caste prejudice and become one of the founding fathers of modern India. He was the chief architect of the Indian constitution introduced at Independence in 1947 and saw the concept of Untouchability made illegal. But he had campaigned for decades. In 1936 Dr Ambedkar wrote a speech – famously not delivered – in which he outlined the case against the whole existence of caste divisions in India. In Annihilation of Caste, rationally and methodically, he takes apart the basis on which caste exists, and which has delivered harm, pain and misery on untold generations – and continues to do so. I
ndividuals such as Mahatma Gandhi shamefully continued to defend caste distinctions (his response is included here). Even today, in modern India, many of the 200 million Dalits (as the ex-Untouchables now call themselves) experience severe prejudice and violence. Annihilation of Caste is as important a political statement concerning basic human rights as The Rights of Man or The Communist Manifesto, and is just as relevant in the 21st century where caste and class still exercise a baleful effect on society.
In 1956, despairing of true justice for the ex-Untouchables within Hinduism, Dr Ambedkar, and millions of his followers, converted to Buddhism.
This Sunday, November 6, we will continue with our topic of recent weeks - how to work with our mind to move toward greater positivity and equanimity. This week and next, Dh. Candradasa, will lead us in looking at “Knowing Where You’re Going And Steering A Clear Path.” Here’s what Candradasa has to say:
“The Buddha’s Dharma is designed to help you map your own path by learning how your mind works. As we journey along together as a community, we’ll take...
It has been a busy summer at Akashavana, with a great bunch of women camping at the community to do lots of work with us. A few of them have promised to write something for this blog, and this is the first contribution, from Colette Power. The news of the uk vote to leave the EU came through when the first volunteers had been with us for a week or so. You will see the relevance.
