With this tome (1087 pages) Windhorse Publications completes its staggering publication of Sangharakshita’s Complete Works, all 27 volumes! One of the greatest joys of these volumes is the inclusion of previously out-of-print or never-before-published material such as various talks by Sangharakshita given in India in the 1980s.

The final volume, the Concordance to the Complete Works, is an invaluable, comprehensive, yet accessible guide, index, encyclopaedia, dictionary, as well as concordance. It is also full of quotations, as the publisher’s blurb states, ‘It answers one’s questions, raises other questions, and above all it is full of signposts to help the reader find their own particular way through the vast forest of the Dharma.’ What constitutes the ‘Complete Works’? All of Sangharakshita’s published work, short stories, talks, seminars, and writings published in this volume, representing the definitive edition of his life’s work as a Buddhist teacher and writer.

The Concordance, compiled by Vidyadevi, includes a number of outstanding features: an introductory article on how to use the Concordance, a Retrospective, a detailed Bibliography (accompanied by dates of publication and a guide to which volume in the series the publication appears in), and lists of Errata and Omissions appearing in each of the 26 volumes.

This is not the first book that Vidyadevi has edited. Timed to celebrate the opening of Adhisthana's Sangharakshita Library in 2015, Metaphors, Magic and Mystery, is an anthology on the theme of words. This should not surprise readers. Vidyadevi reminds us that it was through reading that Sangharakshita first realised that he was a Buddhist. 

Remarking on the editing process, Vidyadevi said, ‘There's something about coming at it all fresh and trying to see the patterns in it and bring it together in its different “baskets”, has also spoken about her overall ambition for the Complete Works to be ‘as friendly and as approachable as possible’.

In this last Vidyadevi has excelled admirably. Indeed, I believe that anybody without a prior knowledge of either Buddhism or Sangharakshita can now fully enjoy their new adventure, discovering the world of Buddhism, and in so doing make that journey from head to heart.

***

Luke Penkett is a member of the Norwich Triratna Sangha. He has been writing books and reviews for over two decades. He has lived as a solitary monk for 25 years. Earlier this year (2024) his abbot released him from his monastic vows in order for him to be welcomed as a Mitra. An avid reader, he is making his way through Sangharakshita's work and the Windhorse Publications collection, and will be posting reviews of some of those books in this space. 

***

Volume 27: Concordance to the Complete Works is available to purchase from the Windhorse Publications website in hardback or eBook formats.

The following excerpt is taken from a blog post by Dhivan, a Pali Scholar and Chair of Trustees of Windhorse Publications. You can find the whole article on our website.

The last three volumes of Sangharakshita’s Complete Works are being dispatched to subscribers worldwide – marking the culmination of a monumental publishing journey. Over 27 volumes, averaging 750 pages each, this project encompasses an extraordinary 20,000 pages and 10 million words. It stands as the most ambitious project undertaken by Windhorse Publications in its 50-year history.

The vision for the Complete Works began over a decade ago. As a trustee of Windhorse for 12 years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing this vision transform into reality. Over the years, three or four elegant, grey-bound volumes were published annually, bringing to light Sangharakshita’s extensive written legacy.

On November 9th, we gathered at Adhisthana retreat centre to celebrate this remarkable achievement. The event featured speeches, reminiscences, thanks, and a ritual dedication of merits at Sangharakshita’s burial mound. It was a moving recognition of the scale of what had been accomplished, the dedication of those involved, and the profound value of these publications.

Why a Complete Works? While such projects often emerge posthumously, this one began during Sangharakshita’s lifetime. He had the opportunity to see the first eight volumes before his passing in 2018. This endeavor was, above all, an act of respect and devotion to the founder and teacher of the Triratna Order and movement. Sangharakshita himself contributed to key decisions about the collection’s content, and newly edited materials, including seminars and lectures, were refined in consultation with him in the project’s early years.

These Complete Works are not merely a scholarly edition but a creative act. They encapsulate Sangharakshita’s voice and vision, presented in handsome, grey-covered volumes. They invite us into a vast ‘cathedral’ of teachings – a treasure trove for future study.

The scope of these works is awe-inspiring. For instance, volumes 9 and 10 delve into Sangharakshita’s India writings, shedding light on Dr Ambedkar’s Dhamma Revolution and Sangharakshita’s role in supporting Buddhist converts in India. These writings emphasize going for refuge and Buddhist ethics, offering clarity that differs from his works aimed at Western audiences.

Volumes such as 25 showcase his poetry and short stories, reflecting his lifelong engagement with creative writing. With these volumes, Sangharakshita’s diverse contributions – from memoirs and poetry to translations and traditional commentaries – can be appreciated as a cohesive whole.

The crowning achievement of this project is the final volume: a concordance created by Vidyadevi, the editor-in-chief. This carefully ordered guide to the Complete Works bridges the details of this vast body of work, offering a roadmap to its interconnected insights as described by Vidyadevi in the video below.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Vidyadevi, Windhorse Publications, and everyone who contributed to this monumental endeavor. May the Complete Works inspire and illuminate for generations to come.

Visit our website to learn more about the various purchasing options for individual titles or curated collections of the Complete Works. Or you can get the whole set of 27 volumes delivered to your doorstep.

We're excited to introduce a new way you can support our work at Windhorse Publications! By becoming a Friend of Windhorse Publications, you'll help us spread the Dharma through new books, podcasts, courses, and more.

As a Friend, you'll receive a copy of every new book we publish (except Complete Works volumes) and enjoy special discounts on selected titles and upcoming courses. Plus, we'll keep you informed about the behind-the-scenes progress your support makes possible. Join us with a contribution of just £15 per month, and be a part of our mission to bring the Dharma to life!

Learn more here.

It is such a joy to pick up this book, see the stunning painting of Avalokitesvara on its front cover, be reminded of its artist, Aloka, who painted it in 1974/1975, and remember all the art work he has produced both at Padmaloka and the Norwich Buddhist Centre. 

It is a beautiful meeting of minds. Aloka and Bodhidasa. Bodhidasa, after studying English literature, history and performance studies at the University of Sydney, teaches, leads retreats, and facilitates courses at the Sydney Buddhist Centre, emphasizing the role of devotion in the spiritual life. In 2010 he received the coveted international Churchill Fellowship to explore programmes which support compassionate connections for young people in online spaces.

Approaching Enlightenment explores the way rituals such as the Sevenfold Puja supports spiritual development and can lead to deepening insights. (Bodhidasa’s early ideas on the subject of ritual can be found in a talk called ‘Breaking the chains’ given to the Oxford Buddhist Centre, is available at http://bit.ly/Bodhidasa_BreakingTheChains). At the end of Bodhidasa’s Acknowledgements he remembers Sangharakshita’s words, ‘Rest your heart on what brings the most joy.’ And a sense of joy pervades Bodhidasa’s book.

The book opens with a poem of Mary Oliver’s, ‘I happened to be standing’,  from her book A Thousand Mornings: ‘I don’t know where prayers go, / or what they do … Is prayer a gift, or a petition, / or does it matter?’ It’s a question that most of us have asked at one time or another or have been too shy to ask publicly. It is the most perfect opening of any book on ritual, spirituality, or worship.

Bodhidasa writes in his Prologue, ‘Unlike a lot of Buddhist writing on mindfulness, kindness, ethics, or the study of ancient texts and teachings, this book turns to this neglected but powerful and effective area of Buddhist practice – ritual’ (xix). Ritual, the bringing together of symbolic acts, is one of the most beautiful aspects of Buddhism and, as Bodhidasa writes, his book is map, ‘But’ he adds, ‘also remember, at regular intervals, put the map aside and open your eyes to take in the view’ (xx).

Approaching Enlightenment has twelve chapters, each of which has a question as its heading. Some of these questions are standard ones, such as, ‘Where Should Rituals Take Place?’ or ‘Salutation: What Do I Bow To?’, ‘Confession: How Can I Be Better?’ or ‘Rejoicing: What Am I Grateful For?’ But there are also some surprises: ‘Is Buddhism a Form of Magic?’ and ‘What Holds Us Back?’   

Each chapter includes two sections of benefit to those who have studied Buddhist practices for a long time, and those, like me, who are relatively new to them. There is ‘Something to try’ in which we are gently and gradually enabled to participate, first, in the ritual known as the Threefold Puja and then – again gently and gradually – the Sevenfold Puja. 

There is, also, ‘The Chapter in Review’ where the central teachings of each chapter are re-presented as bullet points.

The book is based on The Sevenfold Puja as practised by the Triratna community with teachings from Bhante and his longtime friend Lama Anagarika Govinda, supplemented by the former’s Ritual and Devotion in Buddhism: An Introduction and the latter’s Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism, in addition to the talks and writings of Sangharakshita’s teachers, as well as more recent work on ritual, psychology, and cultural studies. 

Far more helpful, however, than a textbook on such matters, weighed down by endless and pretentious footnotes, it is as if Bodhidasa is accompanying his reader, assisting them to practise and experience the essential and transformative liberation that Buddhism offers. And in this is the joy I referred to earlier.

***

Luke Penkett is a member of the Norwich Triratna Sangha. He has been writing books and reviews for over two decades. He has lived as a solitary monk for 25 years. Earlier this year (2024) his abbot released him from his monastic vows in order for him to be welcomed as a Mitra. An avid reader, he is making his way through Sangharakshita's work and the Windhorse Publications collection, and will be posting reviews of some of those books in this space. 

***

Approaching Enlightenment: A Guidebook for Buddhist Ritual is available to purchase from the Windhorse Publications website in paperback or eBook formats.

Join us for the exciting launch of Approaching Enlightenment on 23rd October at 9:30 am UK time (7:30 pm Sydney, Australia) at the Sydney Buddhist Centre. Whether you're in Sydney or anywhere in the world, you can attend in person or online via YouTube live streaming. The event will feature a conversation between the author Bodhidasa and Cittamaya, delving into the book and the inspiration behind it. There will also be a chance for a Q&A session, and those attending in person can get their book signed by the author. Don’t miss it!

No dry, inaccessible, or tedious history, Nagapriya’s book The Promise of a Sacred World is a joy to read and digest as it not only ‘evokes a personal encounter with Shinran’ (5) through a series of meditations, and arouses our fascination with Amida, the Buddha of ‘boundless light’, ‘the source of liberation and of all existential value’ (49), with inspired readings of the Pure Land scriptures, it also draws our attention to key concepts, ‘concepts that matter for our existence’, which the founder of the True Pure Land School, or Jōdo Shinshū, ‘draws on to disclose his liberative vision’ (6). The Promise of a Sacred World has been a long time in its gestation but it was worth the wait.

Born in the UK in 1969, Nagapriya now lives in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and is the former chair of the Cuernavaca Buddhist Centre, which he helped found. He began practising with the Triratna Buddhist Community and was ordained as a Dharmachari in 1992.  He also co-founded Editorial Dharma-megha, or ‘Buddha Cloud Publishing’, whose mission is to share Buddhist teachings in the Spanish-speaking world. He works as a team member training men from Latin America for ordination into the Triratna Buddhist Order and since 2019 has been a member of the College of Public Preceptors also within Triratna. His approach to a tradition other than Jōdo Shinshū, Nagapriya ‘has … accurately presented Shinran doctrinally as a scholar but also spiritually as a seeker of the Dharma,’ as Pure Land priest Kenneth K. Tanaka writes in his Foreword.

The subtitle of The Promise of a Sacred World is Shinran’s Teaching of Other Power. Back in the thirteenth century Shinran wrote, ‘Birth into the Pure Land has nothing at all to do with the calculation of foolish beings. Since it is completely entrusted to the Primal Vow of the Buddha, it is indeed Other Power. It is ridiculous to try to calculate it in various ways.’ (Complete Works of Shinran, 1997, p. 548, quoted in The Promise of a Sacred World or TPSW, p.174). Not so long ago, Sangharakshita wrote, ‘The path of dependence on self-power is for the spiritually less advanced, and the path of dependence on other-power for the spiritually more advanced’ (Through Buddhist Eyes: Travel Letters, 2000, p.288, TPSW, p.172). In a letter to Nagapriya (January, 2014), Sangharakshita explained, ‘Surrender, or complete letting go of self-power, is extremely difficult, directly opposed as it is to our natural human tendency’ (TPSW, p.175).

At a time when we seem to be living in an AI driven world, many still hang on to the concept that we are still in charge – just. For this control we are forced to ‘make an effort’. Advertisements daily bombard us with the thought that there are ‘essentials’ we need in order to look good and to feel good about ourselves, and we have to work hard to get them. With part of this driven-ness comes the (mis-)concept that we also have to work hard to be enlightened, to ‘get’ enlightenment, whereas the opposite is true.

To receive this other-power we have to let go of self, and surrender to the other-power. In his thoroughly compassionate book, arising from deep contemplation and a shared wisdom Nagapriya writes, ‘To give this [self-power] up in order to entrust ourselves to something that seems unknown … appears to us as menacing, as a big risk. We fear losing control, although our idea of being in control is itself a delusion. Shinran’s teaching of Other Power overturns the logic of our habitual way of functioning. It seems alien, even a threat to our delusion of autonomy and capacity’ (p.175).

Whereas many other writers would be satisfied with meticulous scholarship and a deep-seated desire to share original sources with his reader, Nagapriya goes even further and in each of his sixteen chapters gives his contemporary readers a myriad of ways into Shinran’s thought and teaching as necessary now as it was in the thirteenth century, giving us no less than new perspectives on Buddhism in today’s world, ways of receptivity and liberation. Nagapriya also offers us as an Appendix, ‘A Guide to Shinran’s Writings and Sources’, detailed lists of Shinran’s six works, his Sources and Pure Land masters, and modern day publications.

Published in August 2022, The Promise of a Sacred World has already been described as ‘a foundational stepping stone’, offering ‘a unique and valuable introduction to the Japanese Pure Land master, Shinran’, ‘a truly extraordinary book’. This is the first, full, book-length study I have had the delight of reading, and I am profoundly grateful that Nagapriya has been my guide.  

***

Luke Penkett is a member of the Norwich Triratna Sangha. He has been writing books and reviews for over two decades. He has lived as a solitary monk for 25 years. Earlier this year (2024) his abbot released him from his monastic vows in order for him to be welcomed as a Mitra. An avid reader, he is making his way through Sangharakshita's work and the Windhorse Publications collection, and will be posting reviews of some of those books in this space. 

***

The Promise of a Sacred World by Nagapriya is available in paperback and eBook formats from the Windhorse Publications website. 

We are delighted to announce that Bodhidasa's new book, Approaching Enlightenment: A Guidebook for Buddhist Ritual, is now available. Combining research in psychology and cultural studies, and the author’s own practice, in this book Bodhidasa draws out the liberatory potential of Buddhist ritual.

Ritual is the area of Buddhist practice that receives the least amount of attention. This book is for both sceptical and enquiring practitioners. The Sevenfold Puja or Seven-Limbed practice is the focus of the book, and through it many other ritual activities, symbols and implements are explained.

More than a book ‘about’ Buddhist ritual, this is a personal guide to assist the reader move more deeply ‘into’ its practice and benefit from its fruits.

About the Author

Bodhidasa studied English literature and performance studies, and teaches in Sydney, Australia. A member of the Triratna Buddhist order, he leads retreats, classes, and courses at the Sydney Buddhist Centre, emphasizing the role of devotion in the spiritual life. Bodhidasa lives with his partner, and they share their love of the Dharma, film, pop culture, and music with their incredibly old goldfish Ammy.

Praise for ‘Approaching Enlightenment’

'Bodhidasa invites us to awaken our imaginations and to see the world as a magician might in this delightfully unpretentious book. He skilfully shows us how, far from being extraneous to the Buddhist path, ritual lies at its heart – because it lies at the heart of human life itself.' – Subhadramati, member of the ordination team at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre and author of Not About Being Good

‘Bodhidasa has given us a beautiful guide to understanding ritual, bringing in its magical and mysterious nature, as well as giving down-to-earth practical suggestions. He takes us in a refreshing and engaging way through Triratna’s Sevenfold Puja. I recommend this book to anyone practising the Dharma, the experienced and convinced, as well as the more sceptical. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down.’ – Khemasiri, co-founder of the Triratna Buddhist Centre in Amsterdam

‘In a world where the word “ritual” is usually prefaced by “meaningless”, it's a joy to read this insightful and accessible exploration of the power of puja. Bodhidasa explains with clarity – for the sceptic as well as those drawn to puja – what Buddhist ritual is really about, and how puja can transform our minds and imbue our lives with meaning and significance.’ – Maitrisiddhi, Buddhist teacher, Taraloka Buddhist Retreat Centre

Podcast Discussion

In this episode, Bodhidasa discusses his rich and varied interests, from magic and games to popular culture and literature, and how these elements are intricately woven into his Buddhist practice and the essence of his new book. Bodhidasa shares how ritual, archetypes, and myth play a pivotal role in connecting with transpersonal and enlightened qualities, opening doors to deeper potentials within ourselves.

Sometimes a book comes along where the subtitle illuminates the title which would otherwise seem inexplicable. This is the case with one of David Brazier’s most recent publications: The Dark Side of the Mirror (2019) has as its subtitle ‘Forgetting the Self in Dōgen’s Genjō Kōan’. 

The phrase Genjō Kōan is well-known to Buddhists, both East and West. Genjō may be translated as a sudden, wonderful appearance, whilst Kōan may be a spiritual problem or a spiritual question, and so, together, can mean the sudden, wonderful appearance of the biggest spiritual question of your life. 

But the illuminative answer doesn’t just stop there. In his series of interviews with John de Weerdt for Windhorse, David Brazier goes further and explains that when the thirteenth-century Zen master Dōgen writes, the Japanese character for Kōan is different from the one normally used. In Dōgen’s writings, Kōan is translated as the reality of your life, and so we have, when the two words are put together, the sudden, wonderful appearance of the reality of your life, a sudden spiritual awakening to a profound, irreversible change.

Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō, arguably his most important work, focuses on satori (a Japanese word meaning spiritual enlightenment). Brazier writes, ‘Satori is a cooperation between ourselves and the Buddhas, or, we could say, with the Dharma manifest in myriad ways all around us. We have to play our part, but the essential element comes from outside and enters into us though not in a way that makes it into part of ourselves … The aim of the exercise is not to gain something, but to serve the greater purpose, even unwittingly – the ‘greater purpose’ being the enlightenment of all sentient beings, the work of all the Buddhas’ (The Dark Side of the Mirror or TDSM pp.45-46).

Eihei Dōgen (1200-53) was orphaned at the age of eight and ordained as a Buddhist monk at the age of thirteen and was almost immediately troubled by some fellow Japanese Buddhists teaching on the one hand that all human beings had Buddha nature and therefore it wasn’t necessary to do anything about it, whilst on the other hand others taught that enlightenment was inconceivably difficult for humans. 

In 1223 Dōgen – as a senior monk – went to China (during the Song dynasty) in search of more original teachings and, during his four or five year stay, unexpectedly experienced enlightenment there. He realised that his calling was to return to Japan in order ‘to teach liberation by practice and transmission’ (TDSM p.xiii).  

Many people still think today that enlightenment comes as the result of a long arduous period of training, or after a long time of amassing merit. However, satori occurs suddenly and unexpectedly (sometimes, it also comes to the least virtuous or the least skilled person). 

There is a need, perhaps more now than ever before, for a contemporary translation and commentary of this masterpiece to be made. As Vipassana teacher and Emeritus Professor at Radboud University, Nijmegen, Henk Barendregt writes in his Preface, ‘In this wonderful book, David Brazier gives a historic background, a new translation, extensive comments and a convincing interpretation of Genjō Kōan, clarifying the provocative language of Dōgen’ (TDSM p.xiv).

On returning to Japan from China in 1233 Dōgen wanted to explain this and throughout the Shōbōgenzō, he frequently uses the analogy of how, when we look at the surface of a pool of water, it can suddenly change from being transparent to becoming a mirror, enabling us to see our own reflection. This change happens when the underside of the pool becomes dark, and, here, at last we come to the meaning of Brazier’s title, The Dark Side of the Mirror. Moreover, this change, this yin-yang occurs whoever is looking at the water (women as well as men), wherever the water is, and whatever is in the water. 

Described as ‘a beautifully written book, highly readable and full of precious insights’, ‘enriching and definitely worth reading’, and ‘transcend[ing] the limited and stereotypical perception of Dōgen prevalent in the West’, The Dark Side of the Mirror was written in order for David Brazier, aka Dharmavidya, a founder member and chief priest of the Order of Amida Buddha, to understand the text. 

Not satisfied by any of the many Modern English translations of Genjō Kōan, Brazier set out to understand the deep spiritual meaning of the text and, he modestly adds, ‘It gradually became a big study. Eventually I had so much material that there was plenty for a book and it seemed a shame not to share what I had found.’ He continues ‘I now understand Genjō Kōan a lot better than I did a few years ago. Nonetheless, I’m sure that it still harbours more secrets and mysteries that other scholars and practitioners will investigate. I hope my work may be a step on our road to greater understanding.’

Dōgen studied the Buddhist scriptures deeply and, at the same time as his contemporaries in the West were beginning to write mystical texts, had a mystical vision of life, personally envisioning what lies at the heart of Zen, in addition to many dimensions which we, today, have sadly lost touch with. 

Prolific writer, David Brazier has offered us in this book nothing less than a key to Dōgen’s thought and shares both his own and the thirteenth-century Zen mystic’s insights into Far Eastern medieval spirituality.

***

Luke Penkett is a member of the Norwich Triratna sangha. He has been writing books and reviews for over two decades. He has lived as a solitary monk for 25 years. Earlier this year (2024) his abbot released him from his monastic vows in order for him to be welcomed as a mitra. An avid reader, he is making his way through Sangharakshita's work and the Windhorse Publications collection, and will be posting reviews of some of those books in this space. 

***

The Dark Side of the Mirror: Forgetting the Self in Dōgen’s Genjō Kōan by David Brazier is available in paperback and eBook formats from the Windhorse Publications website. 

We are happy to announce the latest episode of our podcast, featuring an engaging conversation with Bodhidasa, a practitioner, teacher, and self-declared geek, who joins us from Sydney, Australia.

In this episode, Dhammamegha explores Bodhidasa's rich and varied interests, from magic and games to popular culture and literature, and how these elements are intricately woven into his Buddhist practice and the essence of his new book. Bodhidasa shares how ritual, archetypes, and myth play a pivotal role in connecting with transpersonal and enlightened qualities, opening doors to deeper potentials within ourselves.

The conversation explores diverse approaches to Buddhist practice, contrasting the ascetic and austere with those that embrace worldly activities, emotions of devotion, joy, and integration. Bodhidasa reflects on the cultural tensions between secular life and ritual practices, as well as the Buddhist tradition’s complex relationship with ritual—viewed both as a potential fetter and as a path to enlightenment.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the role of ritual in Buddhist practice and how it can unlock new possibilities within us. Bodhidasa also shares practical insights into how he integrates ritual into his daily life, through offerings, worship, confession, and rejoicing.

Tune in now to explore the rich world of Buddhist rituals and discover how they can bring more depth and meaning to your practice and daily life.

Listen to the episode

This month we celebrate Sangharakshita’s 99th birthday. In doing so we reflect on the enormous impact of his life and teaching, and what his ‘Going Forth’ has meant in all our lives within the Triratna movement.

In 1997, on the 50th anniversary of his 'Going Forth', Sangharakshita offered his own reflections on that significant moment and the Buddha's Noble Quest during an address at the Western Buddhist Order (now Triratna) convention.

‘Going Forth’ refers to renouncing worldly life to pursue a spiritual path, similar to the Buddha's departure from his princely life to seek enlightenment. In the talk, Sangharakshita shares how, at the age of 21, he followed this tradition by donning saffron robes, relinquishing his possessions, and embracing a life of meditation and minimalism in India. This act marked a pivotal turning point, symbolising a shift from a worldly way of living to a deeper spiritual quest.

He emphasised that Going Forth is not just a physical act but involves mental and verbal dimensions too, urging people to simplify their lives, refine their speech, and deepen their meditation practices. Sangharakshita's narrative serves as an inspirational reminder of the dedication required to follow the Buddha's path and the transformative impact of committing oneself to spiritual development.

Sangharakshita’s Complete Works: Final Volumes

This year we have been celebrating another momentous birthday: our own. In this, Windhorse Publications’ 50th year, we will be publishing the final three volumes of Sangharakshita’s Complete Works. Due out at the end of November, these last volumes complete a 27-volume collection that brings together the vast and profound teachings of Sangharakshita, ensuring that his wisdom and insights are available for future generations.

Volume 6: The Essential Sangharakshita

A curated selection of Sangharakshita's most pivotal writings, encapsulating the core of his teachings and providing an excellent entry point for newcomers and a rich resource for seasoned practitioners.

Volume 11: A New Buddhist Movement I

This volumes delves into the early years of the Triratna Buddhist Community, exploring the origins, growth, and pioneering spirit that shaped this unique movement. This volume is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and evolution of modern Buddhism.

Volume 27: Concordance to the Complete Works

The concordance serves as an invaluable reference tool, meticulously indexing the entire SCW collection. This concordance enhances the accessibility of Sangharakshita's teachings, allowing readers to easily locate specific topics and themes throughout his extensive body of work.

Subscribe now and you can get the whole set of 27 volumes delivered to your doorstep.

Windhorse Publications is excited to support Buddhafield, a sister organisation, in their annual festival. This event is a fantastic opportunity to see some of our esteemed authors and immerse yourself in the vibrant community they help foster.

Buddhafield is a collaboration of Buddhists involved with the Triratna Buddhist Community. They live all over the UK, but they run a programme of camping activities in the South of England, focused around the teaching and practice of Buddhism and Buddhist meditation.

So get ready to reconnect with nature, community, and yourself at the Buddhafield Festival 2024, set to take place from July 17–21 in the beautiful English countryside. This year’s theme, With Arms Wide Open, invites participants to embrace the unknown with curiosity and openness, inspired by the words of Rumi: ‘Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.’

Unfortunately Windhorse Publications won’t be able to attend the festival with our usual stall this year, but we will be represented in the shape of talks and books at the festival.

Featured authors in the Dharma Parlour: 

The Dharma Parlour at the Buddhafield Festival is a dedicated space for Buddhist teachings, discussions, and practices. It offers a variety of activities aimed at both newcomers and experienced practitioners.

This year, the Dharma Parlour will host key talks by several esteemed Windhorse Publications authors:

Vimalasara (Valerie Mason-John): Breath as Medicine – We have everything we need to help change our lives. So what's getting in the way? In this session Vimalasara discusses their new book, First Aid Kit for the Mind, which explores spiritual bypassing and the ways we can begin to rewire the mind/heart. First Aid Kit for the Mind will be available for purchase on site at Dhiramati's ‘Buddhist Images’ stall​​.

Shantigarbha: For Love of the Earth – Do you feel troubled and helpless in relation to the climate and ecological emergencies? What support can Buddhism offer to help us love the Earth and protect it for future generations?

Dhivan: The Story of the Universe – Come and hear the story of how all of us and everything have come into being dependent on causes and conditions over 13.8 billion years. Hear how the first raindrop fell on planet earth. Discover how you fit into the biggest possible picture and what it means for your life​.

This year’s theme:

The theme of With Arms Wide Open, which focuses on embracing the unknown and overcoming internal barriers, reminds us of the poem Advent by Sangharakshita, contained in the The Complete Works of Sangharakshita Volume 25: Poems and Short Stories.

Advent

I listened all day for the knock of the Stranger,
And I often looked out from the door.
The table was scrubbed, the brass shining,
And well swept the floor.

The shadows grew longer and longer,
In the grate the fire flickered and died.
‘It’s too late. He never will come now’
I said, and sighed.

I sat there musing and musing,
The spinning-wheel still at my side.
The moonlight came in through the window
White like a bride.

As the clock struck twelve I heard nothing
But felt He had come and stayed
Waiting outside. And I listened –
And I was afraid.

The poem beautifully intertwines with the festival theme through its portrayal of anticipation, readiness, and the emotional openness required to welcome the transformative presence of the Stranger. In the poem, the speaker meticulously prepares and waits, embodying the festival's call to break down barriers and embrace the unknown with an open heart. The arrival of the Stranger, even though met with fear, highlights the profound impact of remaining open to new and potentially transformative experiences. This openness and receptivity, despite uncertainty, encapsulates the essence of living ‘with arms wide open,’ embracing both the anticipation and the arrival of new beginnings with courage and vulnerability, much like the young barn owl spreading its wings to embrace the night air in the festival artwork.

If you are attending the festival this year, we wish you a wonderful, transformative experience!

P.S. If you missed the online book launch of Vimalasara’s First Aid Kit for the Mind you can catch up on our YouTube channel.

Watch the launch video

Don't miss our live book launch of First Aid Kit for the Mind on Zoom! Join us for an engaging session with Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason John in conversation with Candradasa, scheduled for 7 PM (UK) on May 15th. 

Other time zones: 11am USA PST | 2pm USA EST | 8pm Europe (CET) | 11:30pm India | 4am Australia (AEST) | 6am New Zealand (NZST)

Join us on Zoom⁠

This one-hour event promises a conversation between these friends and experienced practitioners as they explore the book, its message and practices. and provide an opportunity to engage directly with the author.

During the session, Vimalasara and Candradasa will explore the possibilities of bringing heart and mind back into alignment through self-regulation and self knowledge. This is a unique chance to connect with the author, ask questions, and gain insights into the powerful tools and strategies that First Aid Kit for the Mind offers for navigating habitual behaviours and embracing a more mindful existence.

We look forward to seeing you there.
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Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John is a celebrated Buddhist author and speaker whose expertise spans a range of subjects including trauma recovery and mindfulness. A teacher and Order Member in the Triratna Buddhist Community, with a background as an international correspondent and a deep engagement in conflict resolution and recovery therapies, Vimalasara brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to their writings. Their books include Detox Your Heart, Eight Step Recovery and I’m Still Your Negro: An Homage to James Baldwin.⁠
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Candradasa is the author of Buddhism for Teens and Director of Dharmachakra, a nonprofit providing free access to resources on Buddhism, meditation, mindfulness, and life. He is the founder of Free Buddhist Audio and The Buddhist Centre Online, and also presents The Buddhist Centre Podcast. He lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA, where he is a cofounder and teacher at the Portsmouth Buddhist Center.⁠

We are glad to announce that Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John's highly anticipated pocketbook, First Aid Kit for the Mind: Breaking the Cycle of Habitual Behaviours, is now available! This concise guide is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand and overcome habitual behaviours through the application of trauma-informed mindfulness techniques.

First Aid Kit for the Mind offers a straightforward approach to handling the challenging moments life often presents. It is packed with guided meditations, reflective exercises, and easy-to-adopt practices that help to re-regulate the body, come back to the breath and soothe and ground back in immediate experience. From there, it is possible to identify unhelpful stories and ways of thinking, interrupt destructive patterns and bring kindness and groundedness to our experience.

Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John is a celebrated Buddhist author and speaker whose expertise spans a range of subjects including trauma recovery and mindfulness. A teacher and Order Member in the Triratna Buddhist Community, with a background as an international correspondent and a deep engagement in conflict resolution and recovery therapies, Vimalasara brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to their writings. Their books include Detox Your Heart: Meditations for Emotional Trauma, Eight Step Recovery: Using the Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction, and more recently I’m Still Your Negro: An Homage to James Baldwin.

This is what leading Buddhist magazine Lion’s Roar had to say about the book:

“Trauma-informed Buddhist teacher Valerie Mason-John’s First Aid Kit for the Mind: Breaking the Cycle of Habitual Behaviors (Windhorse Publications) is a book centered on mind-body practice, which asks, “What should we do when we are hurting?” Mason-John demonstrates how to come home to our bodies both when we’re distressed and when we are at ease, so that we can have our own emergency medical technician of the mind to help us identify and work through the shame we feel when what we’ve tried in life hasn’t worked. Drawing on Buddhism, mindfulness, the performing arts, psychology, and physiology, they use mnemonics to help readers remember the practice. This short book offers more than a Band-Aid approach to covering over a scar; it is a tool for self-diagnosis and a salve for the weary-hearted.”

We invite you to explore this insightful guide that promises not just to educate but also to provide practical pathways to healing and freedom. Thank you for your continued support, and we hope you find this resource beneficial.

Last Tuesday, 23rd April, we hosted a book launch event for Cindy Rasicot's latest book This Fresh Existence. If you missed the live event, don't worry! You can catch up by visiting our YouTube channel. Tune in to immerse yourself in Venerable Dhammananda’s journey explored in Cindy's book.

Watch the book launch here.

In this latest episode of our podcast, host Dhammamegha sits down with the award-winning author and speaker, Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason John, to discuss their upcoming release, First Aid Kit for the Mind: Breaking the Cycle of Habitual Behaviours. This insightful pocketbook promises to be an indispensable guide for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of trauma, addiction recovery, and mindfulness.

In this episode, Vimalasara talks about their life and writing, and the deep well of their personal and professional experience in the areas of trauma, recovery and mindfulness. They speak from the heart about the effective tools and strategies this book offers. You can hear firsthand from Vimalasara how you can harness the tools you already possess to heal and thrive These tools are beautifully presented in an illustrated, easy-to-follow pocketbook, making mental health and recovery accessible to all.

Tune in to learn how to transform your approach to mental well-being and lead a more fulfilling life. Happy listening!

Listen to the podcast here.

First Aid Kit for the Mind now available for pre-order

We are glad to announce that Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason John's anticipated pocketbook, First Aid Kit for the Mind: Breaking the Cycle of Habitual Behaviours, is now available for pre-order! Set to be published in early May 2024, this pocketbook shows us how to approach our triggers and limiting habits with embodied awareness, kindness and skill. It is an essential tool for anyone seeking to escape these cycles and embrace aware and connected life.

Pre-order here.

We’re delighted to announce the release of This Fresh Existence by Cindy Rasicot.

Within its pages lies the compelling story of Bhikkhuni Dhammananda, Thailand's first fully ordained Theravada Buddhist nun, a figure of resilience, and an emblem of spiritual dedication.

Why read This Fresh Existence?

Inspiring journey: The book chronicles the life of Venerable Dhammananda, documenting her transition from a scholar and mother to becoming the first Thai woman to receive full bhikkhuni ordination in the Theravada tradition. Her story is a testament to courage, change, and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.

Deep spiritual insights: Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or someone new to Buddhism, Venerable Dhammananda shares valuable experience and teachings on compassion, mindfulness, and the significance of her ordination to the Theravada tradition.

Cultural and historical significance: The narrative provides a unique lens into the challenges and triumphs of women in Buddhism, offering us an understanding of the evolving role of women in religious practices and the significance of their contributions.

Buy the Paperback (UK) / Buy the Paperback (USA) / Buy the eBook

A passage to ponder

Rasicot's writing invites us into the transformative power of spiritual guidance:

"I felt a tingling sensation around my head that permeated me completely like a soft light filtering down to my heart. In a moment of complete consciousness, I felt her transmission and sensed an intuitive voice from deep inside telling me I would be a catalyst for her teachings, spreading her message of love and compassion throughout the world."

Endorsements from leading Buddhist figures

Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart, describes the book as "a beautiful dialogue with a wonderful and wise teacher. Dhammananda is a courageous pioneer, a nun who embodies blessings and points us to our inner freedom and compassion."

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, founder of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery and co-president of the International Buddhist Confederation, highlights Venerable Dhammananda's "immense courage and innate dignity" in taking on the historic role of restoring the Fourfold Sangha. Despite "extreme criticism and personal denunciation," she has trained generations of women in the monastic role, continuing to inspire many to go forth as bhikkhunis in the Theravada tradition.

Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life, commends Rasicot for painting "an inspiring picture of the woman responsible for reviving the bhikkhuni order in Thailand," tracing her journey from scholar and TV personality to one of the first ordained nuns in modern-day Thailand.

Listen to the podcast

In this episode, Cindy speaks about meeting her teacher Venerable Dhammananda, and responding to her challenging message of kindness and forgiveness rather than anger and hatred. The podcast conversation covers what it is like to be a student and disciple, different ways of practice in Asian and convert American Buddhism, and the radical transformation that can come with the healing practice of the Medicine Buddha.

About the author

Cindy Rasicot worked for many years for non-profit organisations. In 2005 she moved to Thailand from North America with her family, and it was here that she met Bhikkhuni Dhammananda – an encounter that changed her life. She started the online Casual Buddhism series to give more people access to Bhikkhuni Dhammananda’s gentle and powerful wisdom.

Upcoming events

Join us online for the global book launch on 23rd April on Zoom at 19:00 BST (UK Time) / 11:00 PDT / 14:00 EST

Things are buzzing at the publishing house. We're in the final stretch, putting the finishing touches on covers, endorsements, proofreading, printing, and marketing for two exciting books set to hit shelves in April and May. Plus, we're gearing up to make some of our older titles available through print-on-demand, ensuring they're always within reach. Watch this space for more updates in the weeks to come.

And amidst all this hustle and bustle, we're delighted to mark the 50th anniversary of Windhorse Publications this year. I (Dhammamegha) have been thinking a lot about our job and vocation – a nice old fashioned word – as publishers of Dharma books.

For reflection this morning I re-read a section on doubt (pages 150-151) by Venerable Dhammananda in Cindy Rasicot’s forthcoming book This Fresh Existence.

Let me share a snippet with you:

"The teaching of the Buddha is so simple, much less complicated than people think. The Buddha talked about revealing the truth… His discovery was that the self we have been clinging to for so many lifetimes – that we cling to as if it were real – is only a shadow. What we have been doing is running after this shadow. We need to stop running for a minute and realise that this shadow is elusive. This truth is so profound and so simple that doubting your ability is also an illusion.

When we pass through all five obstacles in meditation, including doubt, and reach a state of calm and joy, that too is an illusion. That calm joy is not yours, it’s not mine, it’s not me. It’s such a wonderful feeling when we realise that!"

Pre-order the book

Reading this little section a few times allowed for a kind of tension about my busy day to drop away. It put me back in touch with the freedom, ease and confidence that comes with that simple and happy truth.  

You'll get to delve deeper into Venerable Dhammananda’s life and teachings when This Fresh Existence is published early next month. I was very pleased when one of my childhood heroes, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, lent her support by reading and endorsing the book. You can see what she and others have written about it by following the link above.

This year is going to be significant for Windhorse Publications. After 50 years in operation, we have a lot to celebrate!

Back in the 1970s, what is now Windhorse Publications started out as a scattering of right livelihood businesses including typesetters, printers, distributors and publishers. At first, its newsletters and journals were published under the name Friends of the Western Buddhist Order. It then became Windhorse Press in the early 1970s when it began publishing full length books, starting with The Essence of Zen. By the early 1980s, it had become Windhorse Publications. 

Throughout 2024, we’ll be looking back over 50 years of Dharma publishing and sharing stories from Windhorse’s past. We’ll also look to the future of our books, podcasts, courses and other ways we can continue to support the Dharma life of our community.

In a fine twist of fate, as well as celebrating our 50th anniversary, this year we’ll also be publishing the last three volumes of   Sangharakshita’s Complete Works. 

Please join our celebrations

There are many ways for you to participate in our 50th anniversary celebrations…

• First up will be the International Triratna Day online celebrations on Saturday the 6th of April. At that event, we’ll highlight Windhorse Publications’ roots in Sangharakshita’s talks and writing, and the project of living and working together as part of our Buddhist practice. More information about that event will be available soon here on thebuddhistcentre.com and its social media channels. 

• From the 22nd to the 25th of August, members of the Triratna Buddhist Order are invited to gather at the Combined Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana, where we’ll celebrate Sangharakshita’s writings and the texts and ideas that ground us in the practice of the Dharma.

• This year’s Summer Sanghas retreat, also at Adhisthana, takes place from the 30th of August until the 6th of September. It is on the theme of metta. Why not encourage your Sanghas to come and join in the practice of metta, and the inspiration of Sangharakshita’s classic book Living with Kindness?

• And late in November, we’ll have a great celebration as we publish the last three books in the 27-volume collection of Sangharakshita’s Complete Works:

--- Volume 6 will be The Essential Sangharakshita, originally published by Wisdom Publications.

--- Volume 11, A New Buddhist Movement I, includes articles and interviews of the early years of what is now the Triratna Buddhist movement.

--- Volume 27’s editor Vidyadevi is deep at work producing the last, and definitely not least volume: Concordance to his Complete Works. Somewhere between an index and an Encyclopaedia, the Concordance will be a guide to a lifetime of Sangharakshita’s published Dharma teaching.

We’d love to hear from you!

How have Windhorse Publications’ books introduced you to the Dharma, touched your life, or supported your practice? Please share your stories with us.

You can send us an email (info@windhorsepublications.com) with your story: it could be about an experience of reading one of the books we’ve published, or how you’ve used a book (or books) in your practice, or a book-based course or study you did that had a profound influence… And if you can, please share a picture of yourself with the book cover, or better yet, send a short video clip, telling us where you are and what book or books have touched your life.

Windhorse Publications has been run on a shoestring its whole existence. Publishing is a precarious business and a labour of love, and today the challenges are particularly acute. We’d love to ensure that Windhorse Publications goes into the next 50 years strong and independent, and publishing the books we value. You can be part of that by donating now.

We hope to see you in 2024!

With much metta 

The (current) Windhorse Publications team: Dhammamegha, Liz, Michelle, Utpalavajri and Walter

We would like to introduce you, and invite you to sponsor, the forthcoming book First Aid Kit for the Mind: Breaking the Cycle of Habitual Behaviors by Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John.

Do you struggle with how to respond to being triggered, or with painful habits that you just can’t shift? Help is at hand. Due to be published this May, this illustrated pocketbook will help give you courage to take your life back into your own hands. 

An award-winning author and speaker, Vimalasara offers a wise and accessible path to self-awareness, acceptance, and practical ways to help your heart, mind and body out of triggered and painful states. Whether you can’t seem to stop surfing the net, or you suffer from crippling self-criticism, internalised oppression, or chemical dependencies – this little book will offer many ways to greater freedom, choice, and better relationships. 

The book will include guided meditations, reflections, workbook sections to support your awareness, and short practices. With this guide at hand, you’ll be able to reconnect with breath and body, and learn to recognise and work with negative thought cycles.

Vimalasara and Dr Paramabandhu Groves, wrote the award winning Eight Step Recovery: Using the Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction which came out in a second edition in 2018. We’re confident that First Aid Kit for the Mind will offer both an emergency response and a path to freedom for many people suffering with compulsions and addictions. 

We’d like to invite you to sponsor First Aid Kit for the Mind. Your support gives us the freedom to publish the books we value by contributing towards the upfront costs of production, printing, and distribution. 

How YOU benefit from sponsorship

You’ll be among the first to receive a copy of the book. As soon as the book is published, we’ll send you a paperback copy as well as the eBook. And you get to be part of something that changes lives.

How WE benefit from sponsorship

These are particularly challenging times for small independent publishers like ours, with rising costs of printing and distribution. You can help us keep doing what we love: making Dharma books to support your practice and the wider sangha.

About Vimalasara

Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John is the award-winning author of ten books, including Eight Step Recovery: Using The Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction, Detox Your Heart: Meditations for Emotional Trauma, and more recently their shortlisted book for two Canadian Awards: I’m Still Your Negro: An Homage to James Baldwin. 

A teacher in the Triratna Buddhist Community, Vimalasara previously worked as an international correspondent covering Aboriginal deaths in custody, and interviewed Sinn Fein prisoners and ex rebels from the Sierra Leone war. Their work in the field of conflict transitioned into working with gangs, the incarcerated, bullies, and challenging behaviour. They are one of the founding facilitators of Dr Gabor Mate’s Compassionate Inquiry and also trained in Internal Family Systems.

Learn more about Vimalasara and please do consider sponsoring their forthcoming book!

We are extremely pleased to announce that the brand new Life with Full Attention app is now available to download from the App Store and Google Play.

This app is intended to accompany the book's popular eight-week mindfulness course designed to embue your life with purpose and presence.

In today's hectic world full of distractions and stress, living mindfully is more important than ever for health and happiness. With Maitreyabandhu's 30-plus years experience guiding meditation, this app makes his wisdom readily available. It could be particularly helpful to those of us including 'being more mindful' on our list of New Year's resolutions.

Each week explores an impactful aspect of mindfulness through an introduction, home practice excercises, meditation, and poem. Themes range from ‘day-to-day’ mindfulness to advanced teachings about reality itself. It is a gradual training in the art of attention - no need to rush or delve deeply into metaphysics!

While based on Buddhist principles, this is a universal course that anyone with an open and curious mind can engage in. All you need is a willingness to learn and put these practices into action.

This app is designed to support you as you work through the book Life with Full Attention by Maitreyabandhu, as well as live courses offered at local Triratna Buddhist centres. While the app provides an introduction to mindfulness practices, it works best in tandem with the more extensive teachings within the book or an in-person course.

We would also like to acknowledge and thank Future Dharma Fund for providing a grant and the team based at Brixton for making the app a reality. Also, thanks to Dharmachakra for hosting streaming media for the ‘Life with Full Attention’ app on The Buddhist Centre Online.