'The Ground' - Lineages of Teachings, Practices and Institutions - a talk given at the Triratna Buddhist Order Men's UK & Ireland Area Order Weekend at Padmaloka, 8 May 2016. June 2016 is the fortieth anniversary of the founding of Padmaloka and to mark this, the Padmaloka chapter organised the Area OrderWeekend. It was Bhante who named Lesingham House Padmaloka, telling us that it was one of the names of Padmasambhava's Pure Land, so the Order weekend was devoted to the lineage of Sangharakshita. Some years ago Bhante spoke of his lineage as fourfold: a lineage of teachings, of practices, of inspiration and institutions.

A talk given on an Open Retreat called The Space to Choose at Taraloka. Hridayagita encourages reflection on the Four Noble Truths and particularly the first one as a way to quit running from or trying to fix samsara. First we really have to understand that suffering is an inevitable part of life and why the Buddha gave the Four Noble Truth formula as his first turning of the wheel of the Dharma. Then we can find the Space to Choose how we might respond with awareness, kindness and equanimity.