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Shraddhasiddhi delivers this insightful and deeply personal talk, drawing on Urgyen Sangharakshita's classic core teachings, by exploring the psychological movement from uncreative group conformity into authentic individuality and ultimately, true spiritual community. Reflecting on their personal journey as an activist and a former mitra convenor, they discuss the vital role of contemporary affinity groups alongside Triratna's traditional single-sex structures. Through the lens of Sangharakshita's nine qualities of a true individual, Shraddhasiddhi breaks down the complex differences between operating inside a "positive group" and committing to a genuine spiritual community through insight, ethics, and the real transformation of effective Going for Refuge. This talk was given at Adhisthana during a Gender Diverse Sangha retreat in 2025. ***

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Once upon a time, a billion years ago... Both traditional Buddhist cosmology and modern science deal in mind-boggling time scales – a Deep Time perspective, accessible only via imagination. Buddhist scholar Dhivan explores how imagining Deep Time relates to liberation.

This talk was given at the Buddhafield Festival as part of the series The Dharma Parlour: Buddhafield 2023 - Liberation Through Imagination.

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Over the last 19 years, Aloka has painted the images that adorn the shrine room at Padmaloka Retreat Centre. Padmavajra recently interviewed him about how his art arises from his practice, from the Dharma. He begins by describing how you only need a clear blue sky with an enormous rainbow-colored question mark in it. Much like meditation, creating Buddhist iconography articulates 'internal space,' making it more explicit so that we can relate to it. Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2026, as part of the series Buddhism for Today and Tomorrow - Fifty years on.

More on Aloka's artwork: https://alokaartist.com/

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In this interview with Satyalila, Prakasha shares the remarkable story of the unfolding of his Dharma Life from a fascination with the English poet, painter and visionary William Blake in the late 1970s and early 80s and how this led him to a deep immersion in the Vajrayana approach to Buddhism. Following on from Bhante, in 'Buddhism and William Blake' he elucidates the common basis between the symbolic worlds of Blake and the Vajrayana. Recorded at a retreat on WIlliam Blake, Adhisthana, 2017.

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Within the context of the three ascending Levels of the Spiritual Imagination (Empathy, Beauty and Imagining the Buddha), Samantabhadri explores devotion and ritual in terms of body, speech and mind, and of the journey to the transcendental. She includes the Sevenfold Puja and our more personal experiences of devotion. This talk was given as part of the Ritual and Imagination Retreat at Taraloka Retreat Centre for women training for ordination, 2026. ***

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In this talk Padmavajra explores the the eight consciousnesses of the Yogacara, the eight great cremation grounds and the 'mysterious home of the dakini'. The talk was given during the men's Great Gathering at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2020. ***

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In this talk Samantabhadri explores what it was like to meet the Buddha, the fully Enlightened human being. She then discusses 'garava' as devotion for the whole richness of our Dharma Lives, including positive emotions for all beings. This talk was given on an Order weekend at Taraloka Retreat Centre, 2022. ***

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The Dhammapada, or 'Way of Truth', is a profound expression of 'Basic Buddhism'. In its short, memorable verses, the Buddha challenges us to practise wholeheartedly – because 'a tamed mind brings happiness'. Suryagupta unpacks some of these ancient wisdom-sayings, which, as our founder has said, 'deserve to be engraved on our hearts in letters of gold – or fire.' This talk was given at London Buddhist Centre, as part of the series The Dhammapada, 2022. ***

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After the Buddha's Enlightenment, the Buddha sat in a grove of trees, absorbing what had happened, his experience unfolding in all directions. A great storm arose, and a huge Cobra came and wrapped its coils around him, protecting him from the rain and wind. What does this story hold for us in our Dharma lives, particularly meditation? Vajratara looks in depth at the symbolism of the Naga King and his protection of the Buddha, exploring the forces of the unconscious and the symbolism of energy centres in the body. Talk given at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre for those training for ordination, 2026.

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In this talk, Satyagosha explores "How to Change Your Mind" by looking at meditative states and the "indirect methods" that support them. He unpacks the stages of internal development and how we can use everyday activities like ethics, ritual, devotion, the arts, and service to support our spiritual growth. This talk was given at North London Buddhist Centre, 2026.

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We live in a time ridden by crisis and difficulty. How should Buddhist's respond? This is a personal and very honest talk from Vajragupta, looking squarely at the challenges, and owning his own doubts and fears. There are no easy answers, but some suggestions of where to begin.

One suggestion is that we look to the example of the Buddha, who also lived in very turbulent, troubled times. This is a challenging but ultimately inspiring talk, about Buddhism and Triratna in the world today. It was given at Croydon Buddhist Centre, 2025.

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Revisiting the original series by Sangharakshita, entitled Buddhism for Today – and Tomorrow, given in 1976, Jnanadhara slightly rearranges the sequence of the talks. He begins with a verse from the Udana and proceeds to outline the cyclic and progressive trends in conditionality.

Jnanadhara discusses the importance of faith/shraddha and an exploration of the functioning of carving/trsna and attachment/upadana. It finishes with a quote from the 'Tibetan Book of the Dead'. This talk was given at Sudarshanaloka Retreat Centre and is part of the series Buddhism for Today – and Tomorrow Revisited, 2026. The original series by Sangharakshita is now digitally remastered! Support the Digital Legacy project by Dharmachakra: https://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/digital-legacy

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Karunadhi explores the mythic and spiritual dimension of Bhante Sangharakshita's life and what the emotional significance of Going for Refuge. Through stories, poetry, and the image of the refuge tree, she reflects on his love for the Three Jewels, his connection to his teachers, and his dedication to the Bodhisattva ideal. Talk given at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre as part of a series celebrating Sangharakshita's 100th birthday, 2025. ***

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How do you navigate yourself on the Buddhist Path? How do you choose the right direction of travel if you don't know where you're going or what the Goal is? If the Goal is Enlightenment, do you understand what the Buddha means by Enlightenment? Or is your understanding of it a bit vague and muddled? The Buddha is specific. Saddhaloka will be looking at this whole area.

This talk was given at Buddhistisches Tor Berlin, 2025.

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Back in the Buddha's time, it's thought that there were lots of people who were looking for meaning, going from teacher to teacher. Sometimes they were householders, sometimes royalty, but they were all shopping around - shopping for wisdom. The Buddha met many people like this. He also met people who'd achieved quite a bit by following other teachers, or those who had themselves become teachers. There were those who worshiped fire and those who practised austerities. There were nihilists and eternalists. And then there was Bahiya – Bahiya of the Bark Garment, as he was known. Here, Jayagupta reads his own story, 'Looking for Bahia' in which he reflects on his own quest for meaning, using that as a context for retelling and reflecting on the life and death of Bahiya and the simple teaching that he received from the Buddha. This talk was given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2026.

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As part of the series on Personal Development (system of practice) Parami helps us understand how important spiritual death is in our lives. She explores the small moments of letting go which help us to break through ego clinging, allowing freedom and creativity to emerge. This talk was given at Glasgow Buddhist Centre, 2026. ***

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Padmavajra explores the symbolism of Padmasambhava's famous exile in the eight great cremation grounds. And explores the important teaching that The Eight Consciousnesses (aṣṭa vijñānakāyāḥ) of the Yogacara are regarded in Tantric Buddhism as the eight great cremation grounds. So, we are always in the realm of decay and death. Yet the cremation ground is also the place of initiation, and in this masterful and fascinating talk, remembering his own teacher Sangharakshita's period of "exile" from respectable Buddhist circles in the 1960s in London, Padmavajra explores a significant series of initiations that Padmasambhava received during a crucial period in his life and mythic story. This talk was given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, on the men's Spring Great Gathering, 2026. ***

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In this imaginative talk, which begins with an evocation of how unbelievably fortunate we are to be able to practice together in community, Candradasa speaks to one of the four lineages of our sangha as drawn out by Urgyen Sangharakshita, Triratna's founder. He evokes the lineage of practice as a continuous chain of human inspiration and curiosity – from ancient peoples around the fire, to Siddhartha on the cusp of personal failure under the bodhi tree, to Sangharakshita in India, and finally to the current generation of practitioners who must embody and transmit the Dharma.

This talk was given in March 2026 as part of the 'Live United' retreat, bringing together members of the Order holding positions of responsibility in Canada and the U.S. with visiting guests from Europe who also hold major responsibilities in Triratna. Aryaloka Buddhist Center, 2026. ***

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Padmavajra explores the profound lines from Sangharakshita's Dedication Ceremony:

"Here seated, here practising

My our mind become Buddha,

May our thought become Dharma

May our communication with one another be Sangha"

Recorded at the Autumn Going for Refuge weekend retreat at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2024.

https://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/audio/details?num=LOC6267

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Dhammamegha speaks about Sangha as Dharma practice and how spiritual community and friendship with the admirable are part of our heritage in Triratna. A talk given on the Triratna Buddhist Community International Gathering at Adhisthana, 2017. ***

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