vajra bell newsletter - winter 2015

vajrabellkeeping sangha connected

WINTER 2015

AdhisthanaTriratnarsquos New Spiritual Home

Also inthis issue

Stupa-fied Sacred Space Inspires by Barry Timmerman

Reflections on a Noble Silence Retreat by David Watt

This issue is in-spired in part by four men on a road trip In May of 2014 four of our Order mem-bers ndash Narottoma Satyada Surakshita and Vidhuma ndashmade a kind of pilgrimage

to go on retreat at Adhisthana the recent-ly opened home of the Triratna communi-ty in Coddington England This center has become a place for Order members from throughout the world to study and practice together This issue introduces us to the beauty and importance of this place seen through the eyes of four sangha members

We have Narottomarsquos meditation on beauty which arose largely from his re-treat experience there Satyadarsquos essay puts his visit to Adhisthana in the larger con-

text of Sangharakshitarsquos work to bring the Dharma to the west Dayalocana provides a succinct introduction to the place Final-ly Hattie Johnson a resident of Adhistha-na writes of life there and provides amaz-ing photos that convey its beauty

I am also grateful to our other contrib-utors Barry Timmerman for his essay on his relationship to the stupa Tom Galliard for his piece on the Dalai Lama and Kavyadrishti for her poetry

My thanks go to the members of our kula Pete Ingraham Vihanasari Lois Sans and Carolyn Gregsak for their work on sangha notes upcoming events and arts reporting Special kudos go to our far-flung correspondents reporting from cen-ters around North America ndash Bettye Pruitt Khemavassika Gail Yahwak Padmatara Viryagita and Kay Jones

~ David Watt

wwwaryalokaorgcategoryvajra-bell

VAJRA BELL KULA

CO-EDITOR Mary Schaefermbschaefercomcastnet

CO-EDITOR David Wattdavidwatt1956gmailcom

ADMINISTRATION EDITOR Dh Vihanasarivihanasaricomcastnet

ARTS EDITOR Lois Sansmichaelandlois86gmailcom

CONTRIBUTORS

Dh Satyadasatyadastephensloancom

Carolyn Gregsak

cgregsakgmailcom

Peter Ingrahampingalumniunhedu

DESIGN Dh Rijupathaericwintercrowstudiocom

SpiRitUAL VitALity CoUnCiL

Amala (Chair)Vidhuma (Vice Chair)

ArjavaDayalocanaKarunasaraSurakshita

BoARd of diRECtoRS

Arjava (Chair)Barry Timmerman (Secretary)Elizabeth Hellard (Treasurer)

DayalocanaAkashavanda

AmalaJean CorsonTom Gaillard

Aryaloka Buddhist Center14 Heartwood Circle

Newmarket NH 03857603-659-5456

infoaryalokaorg wwwaryalokaorg

Find us on Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomAraloka

or on the Aryaloka Facebook Grouphttpwwwfacebookcomgroupsary-

alokasangha

Connect at The Buddhist Centre Online httpthebuddhistcentrecomaryaloka

Cover art Hattie Johnson

vajrabellOne of my favor-ite parts of being co-editor of the Vajra Bell is the opportuni-ty to learn about the Dharma and activ-ities of the Triratna Buddhist Communi-ty from Order mem-

bers mitras and friends from New Eng-land and around the world We think of a teaching or place wersquod like to learn more about and voila ndash we put out a call for people to ldquoenlightenrdquo us (and our readers) on the topic

In this issue we get a multifaceted view into Adhisthana the home of Trirat-na and Sangharakshita in the UK through photos and reflections of Order members who have been on retreats there and from a mitra who lives and works at Adhistha-na A visit or retreat to that beautiful place is now on my ldquomust dordquo list Thanks to Narottama Satyada Dayalocana and Hat-tie Johnson for sharing their experiences I echo too David Wattrsquos thanks to all our contributors to this issue We have a great kula and supporting team and of course you are always welcome to join us

Another favorite part of this job is the chance to reflect on my own practice and experiences with the Dharma and the Triratna Buddhist Community In read-ing Narottamarsquos reflections on beauty I thought of my own ldquoretreatrdquo into beau-

ty this fall ndash hiking to the bottom (and yes back up ndash that is mandatory) of the Grand Canyon That venture has been on my bucket list for years Not only did the vastness of the beauty take my breath away the physical challenge of the hike was an amazing practice in mindfulness It was humbling to watch how my mind could be friend or foe particularly when I maneu-vered steep and rocky sections of the trail where one slip could provide a more di-rect but less desirable flight down

My mantra often was ldquojust one step at a timerdquo As soon as my mind started think-ing of how far I had come or worse ndash How long before I can take another break How much farther to the campground How long before this is over ndash my anxiety arose along with my fatigue my footing slipped my hands sweated and I found myself somewhere other than on the trail in the midst of this vast beauty

Right here right now Thatrsquos all I have When I reminded myself that all I had to do was take the next step and be total-ly present joy arose (or at least my anxiety would dissipate) I could handle anything on the trail then including the fatigue the thirst the heavy pack on my shoulders along with the warm sun the endless ever changing vistas and the humor and cama-raderie of my fellow travelers on this path Hmmm isnrsquot that what Buddhist practice is all about

~ Mary Schaefer

editors notes Mary Schaefer amp David Watt

VAJRA BELL2 WINTER 2015

VAJRA BELL 3WINTER 2015

As the transi-tion from the Ary-aloka Council to the Aryaloka Board has taken place the new Board of Direc-tors has met month-ly Having members of the former Aryalo-

ka Spirituality Committee and the Aryalo-ka Council on the new Aryaloka Board of Directors has helped to maintain cohesion To increase the effective collaboration and better understand the functions of both bodies a joint meeting is planned for Janu-ary The goal is to share our respective mis-sions and ensure that we are working in concert It is essential that we maintain a balance of high quality administration in order to keep the Dharma and the highest ethical standards at the forefront of our ef-

forts The board has focused on how to in-

crease revenue and the visibility of Ary-aloka to the community (eg marketing) reinstitute a strong fundraising plan and enlist those with the talent and experi-ence to succeed in achieving these goals We have formed subcommittees devot-ed to marketing and fundraising We have consulted with sangha members adept in these areas and are working to develop ideas and a plan with specifically targeted benchmarks The board is in the midst of our yearly pledge drive Our goal is to raise $50000

We have focused on improvements to the building and grounds We have cele-brated the completion of the stupa a major project carried out by the stupa kula We are looking at what still needs to be done and how to get it done in a timely fashion

With our new executive director Shrijnana ndash and administrative assistant Vanessa Ruiz ndash growing more skillful by the week we are establishing and utilizing more up-to-date systems for accounting and track-ing We are also working to develop more interfaith connections in the community

In addition there are personnel changes to the board Surakshita is stepping down and Tom Gaillard is rejoining the group The board nominated and elected this termrsquos officers Arjava as board chair Eliz-abeth Hellard as treasurer and Barry Tim-merman as secretary Other board mem-bers include Prasannavajri Akashavanda Dayalocana Jean Corson Amala and Shri-jnana

The board welcomes questions and feedback Please do not hesitate to contact any board member

from the board of directors Dh Surakshita

The Aryaloka Council and Board minutes are posted on the bulletin board at the foot of the stairs

The Spiritual Vitality Council (SVC) meets monthly to oversee the spiritual well-being of our Aryaloka community The SVC was formed as part of changes to the

organization and administration of our Aryaloka community

The Board of Directors is responsible for the legal and financial management In accordance with the laws and regulations of the State of NH the board makes certain we operate as a correct religious non-profit organization and that we make sound fiscal decisions to ensure a solid future for us This is itself a large job

Our spiritual well-being is our reason for existing we are a spiritual community The board decided to give the spiritual vitality of Aryaloka its proper emphasis by creating a special council to take responsibility for just that

The SVC has broad responsibilities We work with the Shrijnana the executive director to develop program events We

advise her on general themes for programs and encourage and support events that develop those themes We are concerned about every aspect of our communityrsquos spiritual life from the person making his or her way down our driveway for the first time to Order members who have been part of Aryaloka for decades

At each meeting we review the functioning of the Order and Order activities as well as mitras and mitra activities friends and activities for friends newcomers and the wider community who have not (yet) experienced Aryaloka We work with the teaching kula to review who is teaching and what is being taught to make sure we are offering the Buddharsquos timeless teachings in a way that is accessible accurate inspiring and appropriate for 21st century America

We are still in the early stages of understanding how to do our tasks well We know that the spiritual well-being of our community depends on many people and has many aspects Spiritual vitality is more than programs it is also the people who are part of and touched by our Triratna Buddhist Community We

are the measure of the spiritual life of our community

How do we live our basic Buddhist beliefs Are we good living examples of Buddhist ethics Are we kind and respectful in our actions Are we compassionate in our relationships to others How do we manifest our belief that nothing is to be clung to as mine myself me that we are part of a great inter-connected web of life

These are the questions the SVC is designed to wrestle with Of course we appreciate and invite your help and input to answer such questions

The SVC includes Amala chair Vidhuma vice chair Arjava board chair Dayalocana Karunasara Khemavassika womenrsquos mitra convener and Surakshita menrsquos mitra convener We are committed to working hard to oversee the communityrsquos spiritual well-being Please contact any of us through the website with questions suggestions or thoughts Our ongoing connection with you makes possible and supports our work to keep Aryaloka an inspiring spiritual center

from the spiritual vitality council Dh Vidhuma

Tuesday Friends Night at Aryaloka

Akashavanda and Barry Timmerman have been guiding new friends through an introduction to Buddhism Theyrsquove covered fundamental topics such as ethics meditation wisdom devotion and Buddhist history Arjava has been leading discussions of Dharma stories and how to bring their lessons into everyday Buddhist practice Using Sangharakshitarsquos book Living with Kindness Satyada has been leading discussions on the Karaniya Metta Sutta the Buddharsquos poetic sermon on loving-kindness

Retreats

After a busy month of Order retreats in September Aryaloka hosted the annual retreat for Women in the ordination

process as well as Autumn Joy A Weekend of Mindful Hiking and Biking (if outdoor pursuits interest you look for the Nordic Nirvana retreat in February) and the Intensive Noble Silence retreat

Fall Work Weekend

During the October fall work weekend volunteers worked on projects ranging from repairs to Shantiloka (our solitary retreat cabin) to yard work and cleaning Unfortunately not all of the planned projects were completed so any additional help to clean and maintain our center would be greatly appreciated in the coming months Also please consider sharing your time and talent by volunteering or joining us at the upcoming spring work weekend in May

Peace Day Started the New Year

On January 1 2015 (New Yearrsquos Day) Aryaloka hosted its 9th annual Meditate for

Peace Day from 7 amto 7 pm Meditation sessions were held every hour on the hour

Stupa Completed and Ready to Welcome Dhardo Rimpoche

If yoursquove been to Aryaloka recently you have seen the new stupa which is now complete Plans to host Dhardo Rimpoche the next incarnation of the stuparsquos dedicatee are in the works Look to hear more about his visit in the spring

Path of Practice Group

Starting Sunday January 11 Amala and Khemavassika will hold monthly meetings of the Path of Practice group These sessions are for practitioners looking for depth and consistency in their practice and who are ready to make a one-year commitment to the group

For more information on these and other upcoming events please visit wwwAryalokaorg ~ Peter Ingraham

The Concord menrsquos sangha is alive and well although some of our regular attendees are in the process of being released or reassigned to other locations in the correctional system Khanti Outreach provides weekly dharma meetings for men in the Concord State Prison for Men on Thursdays (dharmamitra study) and Saturdays (open meditation) Satyada makes the monthly trip to Berlin NH to visit several mitras Both Khemavassika and Satyada would be delighted to have additional sangha members join a meeting with them

Winter is upon us in the northern woods Snow came early in November this year and it seems that it is likely to stick around for awhile In the midst of it all we find warmth in spiritual friendship and gathering together

At Nagaloka we have started a new book study Not About Being Good by Subhadramati This book gently and practically leads us into Buddhist ethics The book offers many suggestions for reflections and practice and ways to apply ethics in our daily life Our discussions have been lovely and open with sharing of


sangha notesARYALOKA SANGHA

(NEWMARKET NH)

The Portsmouth Buddhist Center (PBC) is thriving

In the fall of 2013 we moved to our first rental space at 84 Pleasant Street Portsmouth NH Having our own space (our first three locations were generously donated) has provided the conditions for our sangha to grow

We have four new mitras and a lively Monday night mitra study class and there has been an increase in depth of practice

and commitment to Triratna A full program slate includes

Wednesday sangha night Thursday introductory class (in the winter there will be a series of four-week classes) the recent Eight-Step Recovery meeting on Friday nights the Sunday morning open meditation and various workshops practice days and introductory classes on weekends

The PBC Council and the management team meet regularly As a council member I enjoy seeing the principles of consensus in decision-making and harmonious communication practiced

I also appreciate the emphasis on a dana-based sharing of the dharma and on seeking radical transformation of self and society

In November Amala presided over a welcoming ceremony for the new PBC chairperson Suddhayu and the two new mitra conveners Viriyagita and Narottama The ritual marked a significant step for the center and included rejoicing in the merits of and an inspirational talk by the new chairman He expressed his vision for the center evoking wonder mystery and the power of the dharma to transform our lives ~ Dh Viriyagita

PORTSMOUTH SANGHA(PORTSMOUTH NH)

NAGALOKA SANGHA(PORTLAND ME)

CONCORD SANGHA(CONCORD STATE PRISON FOR MEN)

continued on page 6continued on page 6


sangha notes

Lots of positive happenings to report in the New York sangha The overarching theme in our community this fall and winter was metta

In October 14 sangha members gathered at Fay Simpsonrsquos spacious family cottage on Fire Island for a weekend retreat on metta bhavana Viriyalila and Danakamala from Portsmouth NH joined our resident Order members Vajramati and Padmadharini in leading the retreat We had a thought-provoking talk on metta some strong led meditations and a beautiful puja self-reflection exercises led by Viriyalila and two session of lucid body work led by Fay Danakamala helped us practice metta in the kitchen while cooking up some excellent grub

In early November we had the benefit of a visit from Karunagita and Amaragita UK Order members who are

in a virtual chapter with Padmadharini They joined us for sangha night and helped launch an ongoing discussion series of Sangharakshitarsquos book Living with Kindness

Amaragita also led a weekend communication workshop attended by the council and several sangha members She shared a framework that she had developed to support organizations working with at-risk youth emphasizing the importance of inquiry and listening Her one-on-one and group listening exercises helped us apply the framework to our own communications

Two new mitra study groups started in New York this fall one in Brooklyn and the other in Manhattan A teaching kula has formed and is determining what the sangha can offer in addition to our weekly sangha night This is possible because we have found a new space to rent for one or more days a week So there is a lot of excitement about what our calendar might look like in 2015 ~ Bettye Pruitt

NEW YORK CITY SANGHA(NEW YORK NY)

NYC Sangha members with two Portsmouth Order members came together on retreat in October at Fire Island They are (top to bot-tom on stairs) Alyssa Fradenburg Viriyalila Padmadharini Meike Schuetzek Heideh Mat-terson Bettye Pruitt Susan Michael Syma Afia Danakamala Vajramati and (left to right on ground) Lara Nahas Fay Simpson Josh Heath Nick Matterson Gary Baker and Russ Davis

When I wrote this we had only two weeks of courses and classes to go before our winter meditation retreat began led this year by Viveka and Padmadharini

In January our order and mitra sangha takes a break from most of our public events to focus on practicing together This is our ninth rainy season retreat The theme this year is communication specifically how we communicate with each other about our experience of ethics meditation and wisdom

Meanwhile our center at 37 Bartlett Street is surrounded by construction two doors down eight floors of expensive bright orange and gray condos are nearing completion next door an Alamo Drafthouse is progressing slowly producing incredible amounts of debris and the street in front is being jack-hammered to pieces to prepare for a new sewer line I keep expecting to find our little house buried under the weight of the diggers cranes cement and garbage that gather every day outside the door

In other ways this year has been

quiet We introduced a new mindfulness course based on Life with Full Attention which was popular with new people Order members and mitras We experimented with combining mitra study and sangha night studying views and sangha Otherwise our program didnrsquot change much There still are many who want to learn how to meditate here despite the increasing range of options in San Francisco Our drop-in classes have been well attended

On the Day of the Dead in November about 15 of us shared a picnic at Suvarnaprabharsquos grave remembering and celebrating her life and the lives of many friends and family who have died over the last year including our dear friend Vince Nosal a mitra who died suddenly in July It felt really good to be there

Up in Lake County our retreat land is getting more comfortable with a new floor bathroom and tile in the kitchen Our Ordermitra sangha in the spring planted a garden resulting in a some mindfulness and some of the biggest zucchini Irsquove ever seen

In 2015 wersquore looking forward to visits from Dhammarati Paramananda and Paramabodhi Kamalashila Yashabodhi

and last but not least Vidyamala who is coming to lead a Breathworks teacher training retreat at Jikoji from June 19 to 26 More details to come but let me know if yoursquore interested We are also hoping our president Dhammarati will be here more than usual when he has handed over some of his responsibilities in the UK A very happy new year to you all

~ Dh Padmatara

SAN FRANCISCO SANGHA(SAN FRANCISCO CA)


our personal experiences This study will likely take us through the largest part of the winter

We have just wrapped up a mitra study on What is the Sangha facilitated by Narottama Together we explored the third jewel of sangha and what it means in our lives We discussed and were able to go deeper into how spiritual friendship is ldquothe whole of spiritual liferdquo Thanks to Narottama for his generous support of our mitra community

Coming soon ndash January 16-19 ndash we will come together with the New York and Boston sanghas for our annual Outlying

Sangha Retreat held at Aryaloka This is always a great time for celebrating seeing current spiritual friends and nurturing new bonds Nagaloka also will host the monthly mensrsquo practice days on one Sunday in January February and March

Dharmasuri will teach a four-week week Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation course starting January 6 Our Friends Night continues Wednesdays from 7 to 9 pm Led mediation and discussions are held Sunday mornings from 830 to 1000 am Regular open sits continue Monday evenings and Thursdays at noon

See our website at wwwnagalokabuddhistcenterorg for more details ~ Gail Yahwak

Winter started early in this neck of the woods Cold temperatures snow on the ground for most of November and lately a foggy inversion One of the beautiful things about living in the Northwest is experiencing all four seasons and everything that comes with that

The Rocky Mountain Buddhist Center had a robust 2014 We started with a committed group from the previous Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation class that wanted to move forward with the Foundation Year from the mitra study course which we offered on our Wednesday sangha night It has been fun watching our experience deepen and the support for each other grow Out of that committed group arose a new mitra Helena Vlasto We had a wonderful ceremony in the spring She

brings such a positive energy to our sangha We started half-day practice days

every couple of months It is lovely to meditate together for three hours and then share lunch catch up and address questions that come up along the way

A new order member is among us Karunakara formerly Peter Kurisoo was ordained in Spain in June It has been a busy year for him Home from his three-month ordination retreat for a few weeks he went off to Aryaloka for the retreat for Men in the Ordination Process and the Order convention He was home for a couple of weeks before he was off to the Sun Lakes retreat in Washington with several other local sangha members

Dhammarati also attended the Sun Lakes retreat and then spent a lovely week with us in Missoula We had a day retreat with him and it was fun for all the new sangha members to meet this very experienced senior Order member with

that soft Scottish brogue We had another Introduction to

Buddhism and Meditation class this fall which generated several new friends looking to dig into the Foundation Year study So exciting to see and feel the energy when sharing the Dharma

Missoula enjoyed hosting Shantinayaka from San Francisco for a week He led us through a day retreat on the Brahma Viharas which was well attended much appreciated and enjoyed It is a treat to have Order members from outside our sangha visit

We wrap up our year taking a couple of weeks off as several members are on retreat and out of the area We will start another Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation class in March and look forward to a year of positive momentum in sharing the Dharma and building sangha

~ Kay Jones

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SANGHA(MISSOULA MT)

Want to attend a retreat for free Consider joining Satyada and Khemavassika for one of the four upcoming retreats scheduled for 2015 January 30-31 May 8-9 July 10-11 and October 30-31 These retreats are non-residential () beginning with a Friday session starting at 630 pm Satyada and the men together Satyada and the men decide on the retreat themes Lunch and

snacks are provided To attend a visitor must get clearance first by completing this application from the NH Department of Corrections httpwwwnhgovnhdocdocumentscit_involv_apppdf and forwarding it to Laura Hardwick NH Department of Corrections Shea Farm THU 60 Iron Works Road Concord NH 03301 Please allow at least six weeks for processing before the retreat

The men appreciate outside visitors to come for a visit or retreat See the letter from Dan a Mitra at Concord in this issue

of the Vajra Bell Recently Neil Harvey visited a Saturday session to talk about how the Dharma informs his art which he shared with a small but enthusiastic group We enjoyed one of Neilrsquos paintings displayed at a recent arts night at Aryaloka

If you are unable to visit Concord there are opportunities to extend the hand of spiritual friendship by serving as a pen pal to one of the men incarcerated Please contact Khemavassika (Khemavassikagmailcom) for more information

~ Dh Khemavassika

nagaloka sanghaContinued from Page 4

concord sanghaContinued from Page 4

sangha notes

Would you like to contribute to the

Vajra Bell or do you have feedback

Wersquod love to hear from you

Please contact any of our kula members

listed in the box on the right of Page 2

By Dh Khemavassika

Good news Aryalokarsquos circle of women mitras at Aryaloka has expanded Four women made their declarations at Friendsrsquo Night in December Our newest mitras are Vanessa Ruiz (who also works in the office at Aryaloka) Tricia McCarthy (a Dover resident who has been coming to Friends Night for five years) Jillian Wilay of Portsmouth (who is studying to be a yoga teacher) and Valerie OrsquoKeefe of Barrington (who decided to be a mitra months ago and waited patiently for a group to be ready to take this step with her)

Sadhu to these women who join our group of more than twenty local women practicing together

A group of about ten women have been meeting this fall studying the Vimalakirti Nirdesa on Thursday evenings We are delighted to have Lilasiddhi co-teaching this class with Khemavassika The group consensus is that this study is among the most interesting and lively ones we undertaken

In January the women mitras will study great Buddhists from the Triratna Refuge Tree followed by Amalarsquos return from Spain and a study entitled Creative Symbols of Tantric Buddhism in the spring

Please remember to register with the office if you wish to participate

The Path of Practice Sunday sessions beginning in January are open to all women mitras Order members and friends who are practicing seriously and deeply The addition of these sessions

provides mitras with another great study opportunity

Interested in learning about what it takes to be a mitra Please contact Khemavassika at khemavassikagmailcom and we will find a time for a cup of tea

Aryaloka Welcomes Four New Women as Mitras

New women mitras at Aryaloka from left to right Tricia McCarthy Vanessa Ruiz Valerie OrsquoKeefe and Jillian Wilay


By Dh Vihanasari

Have you ever noticed the small flag on the side of the Newmarket Community Church on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to noon It announces that the Newmarket Food Pantry is open to distribute food to those in the community who might otherwise go without Men women and children wait patiently beneath the flag to go inside and choose food items to take home to prepare nourishing meals for their families They include those who are handicapped elderly single moms and dads scraping by unemployed ndash all are welcome at the Pantry Warm friendly volunteers greet everyone with kindness and take care to find people the items they need

Aryaloka has a box in the entryway to collect nutritious non-perishable food items that The New Market Food Pantry Many thanks to those who have donated items to this bo If you could only see the smiles on peoplersquos faces as they take away what you have generously provided To those who have not yet had the opportunity please deposit your food contributions in the box so that those in need have the fixings for a meal

The Newmarket Food Pantry depends wholly on donations Thank you for whatever you are able to contribute

Your Generosity to the Food Pantry is Appreciated


By Tom Gaillard

I was happy to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Boston on November 1st and hear his talk ldquoEducating the Heart and Mindrdquo It seemed incongruous to see this famous monk at the home of the Boston Bruins those of us on the ldquofloorrdquo in front of the stage sat in folding chairs placed atop rubber mats covering the Bruinsrsquo ice The chilly air wafting up from under our feet was warmed by His Holinessrsquo inspiring words and frequent deep-throated laughter

In typical arena fashion a large video screen above the stage broadcast the proceedings As we awaited his arrival a camera showed him proceeding through a crowd of Tibetans and Westerners backstage It was moving to see him bowing and exchanging blessings with the people many of whom wept in joy as they greeted him Once onstage he sat next to Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren as Tibetan children in native garb sang folk songs The Dalai Lama reached over to hold the senatorrsquos hand they held hands for at least 10 minutes Irsquod wager it was the longest shersquos held hands with a world leader

His Holiness spoke without notes for 45 minutes in strongly accented but fluent English before replying to written

questions collected from the audience He touched on how at a basic level all seven billion humans are the same many of us are filled with anxiety and seek happiness Using anecdotes and personal stories of people hersquod met he asked us to consider in turn whether money education or material comforts would alleviate our anxiety In the end he counseled that we can find lasting happiness only through working with our minds

His firm opposition to evangelization was surprising Asked if he ever got angry he responded by telling a story of meeting with Christian proselytizers in a Buddhist land Hersquod told them very firmly (perhaps angrily) that they should not seek to convert others He then related the story of a Polish woman he knew whorsquod converted to Buddhism after working in India but who on her deathbed reverted to God and her original Catholic faith He used this story to urge that Westerners not change their religion only after serious deliberation and study he said should it be considered I thought this an interesting position by one who more than anyone has made Buddhism visible in the West

What Irsquoll remember most about the talk though was his warmth and lack of pretense This was wonderfully illustrated just a few minutes into his talk when he began blinking into the spotlights He

paused walked to his seat picked up a Boston Bruins cap and fit it onto his head The crowd roared with laughter and applause But this was no ploy to curry local flavor No he needed a cap and he wore it for the duration of his talk with no apparent thought to how silly it might make him look He is the rare leader who seems completely at ease with himself who is comfortable holding hands on stage and pauses to laugh with genuine enjoyment

In closing he said ldquoIf I consider myself to be a simple Buddhist monk we can communicate very easily If instead I consider myself to be the 14th Dalai Lama I separate myself from others and it is very lonely and promotes anxietyrdquo This ldquosimple Buddhist monkrdquo powerfully demonstrated in his speech and presence how the mind has the power to shape the world

photo from wwwsportskingscom credited to Lenny Clarke

An Open Letter from Mitra Dan Concord Menrsquos Sangha

The Dalai Lama Live in Boston

Hello Vajra Bell ReadersMy name is Dan and Irsquom a mitra in the

Triratna Buddhist Community I am also a prisoner at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men I would like to let you all know that Satyada and Khemavassika have done an admirable job representing the Triratna Community in sowing the seeds of the Dharma in the fertile plain of the small sangha of Buddhists and the curious within the prison population I wish to thank each and every one of you who have helped in their practice of Right Effort the spreading of the Dharma to the imprisoned here and elsewhere I thank you

In addition I would like to encourage those of you who are capable but who have not exerted your own effort to help

to do so I understand that prisons and prisoners are viewed through the lens of suspicion apprehension and even disgust sometimes for valid reasons However as a Dharma practitioner myself I would like to encourage you to see the opportunity for practice and use the fulcrum of Right Effort to lift the lens that colors onersquos perception fogs onersquos view and hinders onersquos energies in order to sow the seeds of Dharma yourself Once the lens is lifted the doorway to cultivate metta (loving-kindness) karuna (compassion) and upekkha (equanimity) will open wider offering a unique opportunity to elevate onersquos practice

All of us are subject to the premature judgments and preconceptions that are born out of and fostered by the general

society As Dharma practitioners use this in practice and examine the aggregates Notice the immediate experience of the arising of the defilement of aversion Feel the unpleasant tone attached Experience the way this defilement twists and contorts cognition Watch as volition emerges And become conscious of the ever-changing effects these have on onersquos views Sit with them and see the cause of suffering

Then come here and experience the Concord Sangha Meet us Talk to us And recognize the brush stroke of prejudice Finally sit with us in practice and realize the opportunity to watch that prejudice melt into the sea of Dharma adding one more step on your path to freedom

I thank you all the Vajra Bell readers for your time ~ Mitra Dan


By Barry Scott Timmerman

Aryaloka has a new stupa It began as the dream and vision of Bodhilocana an order member with a strong connection to Dhardo Rimpoche one of Sangharakshitarsquos main teachers in Kalimpong India Bodhilocana passed away before her vision was realized Other ordained women in the order formed a stupa kula raised the needed funds and carried out her dream

Serendipitously they located Sonam - a Tibetan stonemason who also had a strong connection to Dhardo Rimpoche - to build it Work began this past summer and with contributions of money time materials and labor the stupa was completed by the fall

Stupas have been around for a long time According to Wikipedia ldquoA stupa is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing Buddhist relics typically the ashes of Buddhist monks used by Buddhists as a place of meditation The

shape of the stupa represents the Buddha crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne His crown is the top of the spire his head is the square at the spirersquos base his body is the vase shape his legs are the four steps of the lower terrace and the base is his thronerdquo

Although not described in any Tibetan text on stupa symbolism the stupa may represent the five purified elements

The square base represents earthbullThe hemispherical domevase bullrepresents water The conical spire represents firebullThe upper lotus parasol and the bullcrescent moon represents airThe sun and the dissolving point bullrepresent the element of space

I periodically spent time observing the stupa building - Sonam and his crew worked slowly methodically and meditatively chanting while they worked Each person had a specific task The stupa took form as each level was completed

Ceremonies were held at various stages In the first ceremony objects of samsara were placed in a lower chamber These objects symbolize suffering and impermanence After that chamber was sealed the building resumed

A higher chamber contains many sacred objects including relics of Dhardo Rimpoche some of his ashes mantras written by Triratna Buddhists from all over the world and other symbolic offerings A ceremony was held at this stage too After this chamber was sealed the stupa was completed The stuparsquos ornamental top was made for Aryaloka in Lhasa a city in the Tibetan region of China along with the grille that is mounted on the east face of the stupa enclosing a Buddha rupa

Observing the building process was an intellectual exercise Being involved in construction earlier in life and having worked with stonemasons I enjoyed the ldquotechnicalrdquo aspects of the build Little did

Stupa-fied Inspiration arises from sacred space

continued on page 11

By David Watt

It was with trepidation that I arrived November 11 at Aryaloka for the seven day Noble Silence retreat led by Bodhana Karunasara and Lilasiddhi I was unemployed and in the midst of a job search my partner was busy both with her full-time job and side business and all of this was renting space in my head Although I have been meditating regularly for about six years and had recently become a mitra my normal solo practice was 20 to 40 minutes at a time I had never sat for more than an hour On the few occasions when I had done two one-hour sits back-to-back the second hour was a mess with intruding thoughts planning remembering and every other manifestation of monkey mind I found the prospect of meditating for eight hours a day daunting

Members of the sangha that formed around this experience came from across the country I was the only Aryaloka regular aside from the leaders The group included two New York sangha members a meditation enthusiast from Nova Scotia a psychiatrist who flew in from Dallas a musician from Pittsfield a philosopher living in Durham and me All but me had previous meditation retreat experience and all but me knew what to expect more or less

The first evening and morning included meditation and discussions of the retreat logistics and our meditation plans My plan basically was to wing it ndash alternate mindfulness of breathing with metta bhavana and hope for the best What little preparation I had done consisted of digging up some old notes on the Anapanasati Sutta about In and Out Breathing We got to know one another well enough to know that wersquod like to know one another better Our discussions ended at 130 pm that first afternoon when we took the vow of silence the vow not to speak until 7 am six days days later

The daily schedule for the next five days started with two and half hours of meditation beginning at 530 am Breakfast followed then meditation from 930 to noon lunch and a single 90-minute meditation from 230 to 4 We had dinner followed by two more hours of meditation to conclude the day

The logistics of running this retreat are daunting particularly the meal preparation The retreat is designed so that the attendees take as little mental clutter ndash such as meal preparation and chores ndash into the meditation sessions as possible Consequently the Order members do everything and they were in constant motion Bodhana was the soul of efficiency in the kitchen and always seemed to be lugging groceries or prepared food up the stairs Wearing his hoodie and carrying bags of food he could easily have stepped out of a 14th Century Chinese woodcut of a monk carrying a bundle of sticks or pails of water Karunasara gave the appearance of total serenity as she moved from setting tables serving food and doing dishes After completing her chores Lilasiddhi would crash on a couch for 10 minutes before heading back to the shrine room to sit for two and half more hours

During the meditations of the first day or so I made a couple of discoveries First sitting for eight hours a day is painful I found myself wishing that Irsquod brought a yoga mat and more Advil Second while everyone appeared to be resting in the second Dhyana I struggled with all the usual monkey mind stuff ndash lists things that I forgot to do fear that I would never work again guilt about leaving so much on my partnerrsquos plate on and on it went

The unstructured meditation was disorienting and my usual posture which is fine for 40 minutes became uncomfortable when done for hours Over time this changed I changed posture learned to relax my back and became more comfortable Reading the first two tetrads of the Anapanasati sutta was very useful in focusing on process rather than

milestones of time ndash being aware of breath body pleasure rapture mind and using the breath to calm the body and mental processes

I was reminded of things Irsquod been taught examining the vedanas and the hindrances My breathing became softer more organic less mechanical I began to experience extended periods perhaps 10 minutes or more of unhindered meditation Off the cushion living in silence became easier It took me a while to break the habit of reading peoplesrsquo faces for a greeting as I passed them The retreat is a place to be alone together and the blank looks staring out the window and walking meditation are part of the effort to enter a persistent meditative state There was a feeling of kindness and togetherness at meals or stretching in the yoga room prior to sitting I believe that a retreat such as this could only happen in silence In the shrine room we needed the energy and intentions of the sangha not their stories jokes personalities and ideas

It was wonderful to spend an extended period of time around the center I walked the loop path four or five times a day noticing something new each time I sat by the stupa for five minutes every night after the evening sit to look at the stars I took particular delight in noticing that Orion Taurus and the Pleaides were rising over the stupa in the evening and that they were later visible from my room in Akashaloka when I woke up at 5 am Once I meditated in the Akashaloka shrine room at three in the morning when I couldnrsquot sleep

One poignant moment occurred on the second to last day at about 1030 am The retreat had been very emotional for me and at that moment nothing was working in my meditation and my back hurt I moved to a chair and began silently reciting the mantras from the seven-fold puja counting them out on my mala It was raining hard and I thought of the Buddha with his bhikkhus during the rainy seasons I stopped to ponder the alignment of conditions that had produced this moment for me and I felt extraordinarily grateful

The second to last day included a three-hour sit that was both wonderful and excruciating The final morning produced


Reflecting on an Introduction to Noble Silence


I know what an emotional impact this sacred monument would have in my life and daily practice

I canrsquot explain how and when this emotional connection took place It was spontaneous and surprising I experienced the emotional equivalent of an intellectual understanding as Sangharakshita has written While on the retreat for men in the ordination process this summer I found myself at the stupa every day circumambulating chanting the refuges and precepts reciting the Heart Sutra making offerings of incense and reflecting on the life and lineage of Dhardo Rimpoche I did not plan this I just found myself falling into it I began to have strong emotions when I approached the stupa I felt tenderness compassion and a

strong draw to tend to the stupa Karunakara an Order member on that

retreat is a geologist He taught me about the stone used in the stupa and it opened new realms of significance The primary stones are schist stones named for their prominent or perhaps unusual mineral constituents such as mica garnet and tourmaline Schists are frequently used as dimension stones selected and fabricated to specific shapes or sizes As you examine the stupa closely you can see the myriad of sizes and shapes that make up the whole The mineral grains in schist drawn out into flaky scales by heat and pressure can be seen by the naked eye

That means you see jewels embedded in the schist stones particularly when damp There are hundreds of thousands of tiny garnets and mica flakes in the stupa Schist stone is flexible because of the way it was formed This adds to the stuparsquos structural

integrity particularly during winter when the stone is subjected to ice The stone will flex rather than crack As I pondered this it occurred to me that as we practice the dharma we too will flex rather than crack

After the retreat I found myself at the stupa every night on my way home from work I continued my ldquostupa practicerdquo and thought of how I could help maintain the site I often clean the stupa and its steps I visualize monks all over the world tending to stupa sites as they reflect and practice

There is a powerful palpable energy of compassion that the stupa radiates This may seem unscientific to some I do not question it It is as real to me as my breath I invite you to experience it for yourself or join me in paying tribute to a Bodhisattva and a lineage that connects us directly to the Buddha

I have been Stupa-fied


stupa-fiedContinued from Page 9

Avalokitesvara Was Born With Two ArmsBy Dh Kavyadrishti

Avalokitesvara was born with two arms He worked on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at the local food pantry but when the economy got bad and the line there grew he needed two more arms so he could work every week When he overheard an elderly woman whorsquod been a regular there for some time talk about how her roof was leaking he needed a few more arms to get volunteers together to patch the spot where shingles had blown away When the pale young woman with the three pale young children came in for the third time with bruises on her facehe needed at least two more so he could take her aside and gently tell her about the womenrsquos shelterWhen the mill in the next town closed the lines at the pantry were just too long and people were using too much gas to get there so he needed a few more arms to start another pantry across the riverWhen the young couple adopted two babies from Somalia he remembered all those left behind and suffered the knowledge the best he couldHe needed more arms to do something about the overcrowded schools downtown and found a few grandmother arms to read with the youngest ones every week When he heard more and more about what was happening in the war he knew he could just never do enough

And a man was dying of AIDS all alonethe woman so ill from the chemotherapy needed to cry with someone the kid who was so very bright might not get the scholarship without help with his application the woman who started the community garden plots needed spades and a load of manure the local Buddhist center needed a new roof a few inmates at the state prison wanted to learn to meditate

So Avalokitesvara now has a thousand armsand still needs yours

poetry

dhisthana located in the rural English countryside is the central home for the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community

and of our beloved founder and teacher Sangharakshita We asked Sangha members including someone who lives there to talk about their experiences at and with Adhisthana Here are their reflections and photos


AAdhisthana

By Dh Dayalocana

When Sangharakshita began teaching the Dharma in London upon his return from India almost 50 years ago he had no idea how rapidly the Triratna Movement (then known as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order) would spread throughout the world Today the Triratna community practices in more than 60 centers in Europe India North America Latin America South Africa Australia and New Zealand

Members of the Triratna Order live and teach in urban areas rural areas and on mountaintops and islands

Thanks to those with vision dedication and generosity of time and energy there is now a central spiritual home for the Triratna community It provides a place for people to visit and connect with Sangharakshita and what our Buddhist movement brings to the world Sangharakshita chose to call it Adhisthana a Sanskrit word meaning ldquograce wavesrdquo Adhisthana is often described as the power emanating from Buddhas and other great spiritual beings Adhisthana is the tangible influence that arises from their presence


Imag

e by

s m

yers

Adhisthana A New Home for the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community

A spiritual life-giving source for our Buddhist community


Adhisthana is a place of gentle beauty peace and fascinating energy Located in Coddington in the quiet countryside of England Adhisthana has space to accommodate large retreats and both a menrsquos and womenrsquos community as well as to provide a home for Sangharakshita and his extensive library Adhisthana is a place for people from throughout the worldwide Triratna community to meet study and practice together

If the Triratna Buddhist Community

is a body Adhisthana is the heart It pumps the spiritual life blood out to the community keeping a steady and strong pulse

Sangharakshitarsquos library brings together his books archives thankhas and images His presence is a strong element of the Adhisthana experience as well Gathering in numbers large and small the Triratna community is reminded of our roots and our gratitude to Bhante Sangharakshita Inspired by the Dharma we move together into the future Photos and information are available at wwwAdhisthanaorg and on wwwTheBuddhistCentrecom


life-giving sourceContinued from 3

by Dh Satyada

While I donrsquot remember just when it began as I learned more about the Triratna Communityrsquos decision to purchase the property now known as Adhisthana I felt a call to visit what has become to me the heart of our movement That feeling grew through the spring of 2013 and became a regular discussion topic with my friend Dh Narottama By the time of the retreat for Men in the Ordination Process in September 2013 the idea was taking shape Narottama and I asked two fellow Dharmacharis ndash Vidhuma and Surakshita ndash if theyrsquod like to join us on a trip to Adhisthana We all agreed ndash although we still didnrsquot know when or how ndash that the four of us would undertake a ldquomythic journeyrdquo to Adhisthana Thus the band of four was formed

In a post to the BuddhistCentrecom in March 2013 Lokabandhu says ldquoAdhisthana is situated in quiet rural land near the Malvern Hills south of Birmingham UK It will be a centre for the whole Triratna Buddhist Community and Order a place where people from all over the world will meet study and practice together sometimes in small retreats sometimes in large numbers It will be a place where people can visit to connect with Sangharakshita and what he represents a permanent home for his library and archives his images and thankhas and in time his final resting-placerdquo Further ldquoFrom its literal meaning of a site residence or position the word lsquoAdhisthanarsquo is then applied to the power pertaining to such a position It can

therefore mean the power which belongs to divine forms and in this sense comes near to the conception of lsquogracersquo It can also refer to the power that is experienced in meditation or through the recitation of mantras In that it may be transmitted by a spiritual teacher to his disciples it may also be translated as lsquoblessingrsquordquo

Adhisthana is a place but it also could be thought of as the blessings Sangharakshita has given us Those

blessings were immediately apparent to me as we drove up the driveway on a May morning this past spring Our band of four had chosen a weeklong Order retreat in early May 2014 as the context of our visit After an all-night flight from Logan Airport in Boston we landed at Londonrsquos Heathrow airport and piled into a rental car for the drive As we turned into the property I sensed something special

Bhantersquos Blessings A personal account of an odyssey to Adhisthana

A journey to Adhisthana with the Five Amigos (above left to right) Dh Narottama Dh Paramashanti Dh Surakshita Dh Satyada and Dh Vidhuma

Left Adhisthanarsquos buildings have been returned to most of their for-mer majesty with the efforts of many dedicated individuals in the Triratna Community


about the place The natural beauty of the surroundings combined with the scope of the intentions behind the dedicated group who helped this place come into being produced an experience bordering on the transcendental truly something bigger than any mere conception of ldquomerdquo could explain

Fortunately we built a day of ldquoarrivingrdquo into our schedule so we could explore and settle in before the retreat began The retreat focused on finding beauty in the spiritual life and was led by Subhuti and Padmavajra At our first meeting Subhuti spoke of the ldquoBhante energyrdquo which suffused Adhisthana I knew what he was talking about Even though Sangharakshita was not well enough to meet with us his energy was always with us He was a strong presence throughout the retreat

The retreat was a profound experience

that I am still processing and am not ready to comment on here Being with a large group of Order members from around the world though had a strong effect on me Joining fellow retreatants and the Adhisthana community each morning and chanting the Tiratana Vandana before meditation brought to life for me a sense of being part of a worldwide movement dedicated to practicing the Buddharsquos teachings based on Sangharakshitarsquos presentation of those teachings That sense of connectedness grew stronger during the celebration that week on the anniversary of the Buddharsquos enlightenment that happens on the full moon in May A special seat had been put together in the shrine room composed of grasses picked from the fields surrounding Adhisthana Spread over that seat of grass was one of Bhantersquos old brown robes During the puja that full moon night we made offerings I kept hearing a voice within me saying ldquoBhante is my teacher the Buddha is Bhantersquos teacherrdquo

My offerings were for both my teacher and the Buddha who have blessed me with the opportunity to practice the Dharma

After the retreat was over we had another day to soak up everything that had happened That day of integration coincided with preparations at Adhisthana for the International Retreat We had a chance to meet some of the Buddhafields group setting up tents and other infrastructure preparing for the 400 people who came to Adhisthana to celebrate the international nature of the Triratna Community What a blessing to see the energy in those young people

All conditioned things come to an end when the conditions that give rise to them fade away The time to leave Adhisthana came way too soon One thing was clear to me as we drove away I will be back I will be back to connect further with Sangharakshita and the blessings of his legacy that he has given to all of us in the Triratna Community


bhantersquos blessingsContinued from Page 14

By Hattie Johnson Adhisthana Administrator and a

mitra in the process for ordination

Adhisthana is Triratnarsquos new spiritual home in a quiet rural village near the Malvern Hills in Herefordshire United Kingdom It is also home to Triratnarsquos founder Bhante Sangharakshita and a growing community of 18 men and women Importantly it is a place for the whole movement to gather study and practice together

The Adhisthana resident community is made up of Order members and mitras who work for Adhisthana others who hold positions of responsibility in central Triratna institutions as well as with Bhante and his support team The Public Preceptorsrsquo College and the Order Office are based there

Right at the heart of Adhisthana is the Sangharakshita Library ndash a collection of books and artifacts collected by Bhante over his lifetime plus a wealth of letters papers photos and images connected with him and his life One of the most important roles of Adhisthana is caring for this precious legacy It will be a way for future generations to have a tangible

Adhisthana - A place of great grace beauty and blessings



14 Heartwood Circle Newmarket NH 038576036595456 | infoaryalokaorg

More online at

wwwaryalokaorgBUDDHIST CENTERARYALOKA

buddhist film series

Monthly Movie Nightat Aryaloka Buddhist Center

Thatrsquos right Aryaloka will be showing monthly movies beginning in 2015 This Buddhist film series offers a mix of classic favorites and perhaps some Dharmic films yoursquove never seen before So bring your friends and family grab some refreshments and enjoy a film with us

The epic biographical film based on the life and writings of the 14th Dalai Lama the exiled political and spiritual leader of Tibet (PG-13 1997)

Jan 10 Kundun

Based on one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature of the same name Stephen Chowrsquos Journey to the West is a contemporary remake of the misadventures of the Buddhist monk Xuanzhang as he makes a pilgrimage from China to India (PG-13 2014)

Feb 14 Journey to the West

An overcrowded maximum security prison becomes the first prison in the United States to hold an extended vipassana retreat The Dhamma Brothers follows the stories of several inmates who participated in this program (Not Rated 2007)

Mar 6 The Dhamma Brothers

Filmmaker Rick Ray asks the Dalai Lama ten key questions during the course of an interview which is inter-cut with a biography of the Dalai Lama a history of modern Tibet and a chronicle of Rayrsquos journey securing the interview (Not rated 2006)

Apr 11 Ten Questions for the Dalai Lama

Samsara explores the wonders of our world from the mundane to the miraculous looking into the unfathomable reaches of humanityrsquos spirituality and the human experience Samsara takes the form of a nonverbal guided meditation (PG-13 2011)

May 9 Samsara

All films begin at 7 pm


Mens Day at the MFAarts at aryaloka Aryaloka has a deep commitment to the contemplative arts - supporting the art process creativity and artistic expression as tools for communicating spiritual insights and in the process of creation dropping the self

By Lois Sans

You may have noticed a new piece of artwork at Aryaloka a beautiful painting in tints and shades of blue by artist Virginia Peck A collection of Peckrsquos work was shown this past October and November in Aryalokarsquos Art GalleryYoga Room The painting ldquoBuddha with Lotusrdquo was acquired with donations received at an Arts Evening event November 2 at Aryaloka and a matching gift from Peckrsquos son

Virginia joined sangha members for the event in November Even though it was a windy chilly Sunday evening the turnout was plentiful We warmed up with delicious snacks and good conversation before adjourning to the yoga room for the arts

Kavyadrishti started out by reading two of her poems ldquoNovember Balletrdquo and ldquoAvalokitesvara Was Born with Two Armsrdquo both featured in this issue

Barry Timmerman played guitar and sang some traditional songs as well as his own compositions Some were nostalgic some humorous and all were highly engaging

Mary Koon who has taught contemplative dance for the past 15 years entranced the audience with pieces from the Sacred Circle-World Dance Although participation was not mandatory everyone danced whether seated or moving with grace around the circle of light Koon currently teaches a class at the Unitarian

Church in Milford NH where all are welcome

Virginia Peck who works at her studio in Lowell Massachusetts spoke about her art and how through meditation when the ldquolight bulb went onrdquo she came to paint the Buddha with a unique technique She covers a canvas with an under-painting of abstract colors draws the head of the Buddha in charcoal and then layers over the abstracts with complementary colors Each Buddha is unique luminous and serene Peck also showed a video on how she works and the step-by-step process she

uses You can view her work through her website at wwwfacesofbuddhacom

As the evening wound down the power went out a fitting way to leave the evening in quiet contemplation

Arts Evenings are held every autumn this being our sixth year

We hope you can join us for the next event in 2015

Thanks go to the contemplative arts kula ndash Eric Ebbeson Tobbie Mulroy-Krantz and Jean Corson for a very successful event as well as to Sue Ebbeson for her on-going support

An Enchanted Evening at November Arts Night

poetryNovember BalletBy Dh Kavyadrishti

There is the cold and the smell of skunkand the sound of one car passing

Ballerinas rise from broken milkweed podssome caught again by thistles

Candidatesrsquo signs sprout overnight on lawnslike dandelions

A forty watt bulbreplaces the hundred

Wind moves leaves into hidden placeslike relatives sent to institutions

Joggers put on sweat pantschrysanthemums succumb

Jack-o-lanterns shrivel at doorwayslike the old men who sleep on church steps

Oil trucks come backfrom their summer migration

The milkweed pods made barren by the wind hold fast like lonely grandmothers

A few stubborn crabappleswait to add to the splatter on the ground

There is the coldand the wait for one car

You may have noticed the bookstore has undergone a transformation over the past few months You can expect more changes in the future

If you wish to purchase a gift certificate for Buddhaworks please see Vanessa Ruiz in the office or contact her at infoaryalo-kaorg If there are books you would like to special-order please contact Bodhana at bodhanacomcastnet For items you would like to see us offer please contact me at hullcoppyahoocom

We are always looking for new Dhar-ma-related items to add to our invento-ry We recently purchased several copies of the Triratna Buddhist Order puja book The 108-bead skull malas are popular and there is also an adjustable skull wrist mala Buddhaworks features handmade one-of-a-kind mala or kesa bags that can be used to store anything made by our own sang-ha member Akashavanda Please check these lovely items out the next time you are in the bookstore

In this issue of the Vajra Bell Bud-dhaworks features selections from Sang-harakshitarsquos vast body of work that rep-resents the breadth of his writings on Buddhist practice These classic texts cov-er core Triratna concepts and practic-es such as the Three Jewels going for ref-uge ethics and metta in Sangharakshitarsquos unique perspective and style

The Three Jewels The Central Ideals of Buddhism

ldquoThree precious

jewels lie at the heart of Buddhism radiating the light of awakening into the world the Bud-dha Jewel as sym-bol of Enlighten-ment (the figure of the Buddha) the Dharma jewel the path to Enlighten-

ment taught by the Buddha and the Sang-ha jewel the Enlightened followers of the Buddha down the ages who have truly de-voted their lives to his teachings This book illuminates these precious gems in a clear and radiating lightrdquo

~ WindhorsePublicationscom

A Guide to the Buddhist Path ldquoThe Buddhist tradition with its nu-

merous schools and teachings can un-derstandably feel daunting Which teach-ings really matter How can one begin to practice Buddhism in a systematic way This can be confusing territory Without a guide one can easily get dispirited or lost

ldquoProfoundly experienced in Buddhist practice intimately familiar with its main

schools and found-er of the Triratna Buddhist Commu-nity an interna-tional movement Sangharakshita is the ideal guide In this highly read-able anthology he sorts out fact from myth and theory from practice to re-

veal the principal ideals and teachings of Buddhism The result is a reliable and far-reaching guide to this inspiring pathrdquo


The Ten Pillars of Buddhism

ldquoIn a world marked by rap-id changes shifting lifestyles and values how can we be sure that we are mak-ing the best choices for ourselves others and the world This small book explores 10 basic Buddhist ethical principles

and the liberating view of ourselves con-tained within them Buddhist ethics are not a list of laws imposed from outside but guiding principles we can apply to ev-


buddhaworks Whatrsquos New in the Bookstore - by Dh Shantikirika

BuddhaworksThe Aryaloka Bookstore

Your support brightens Aryalokarsquos futureBuddhaworks is located at the Aryaloka Buddhist Center

Books by Sangharakshita DVDs from Pema Chodron and Lama Surya Das Meditation Journals CDs from Thich Nhat Hanh

Singing Bowls Brass Door Chimes from Nepal and India Meditation Candles Lots and Lots of Great Books

eryday situations Emphasizing personal responsibility and choice not blind obedi-ence the Buddhist path of ethics leads us into a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us To apply them is to put to the test the promise of the Bud-dha that by our own efforts we can trans-form our actions emotions and thoughts to allow our compassion and wisdom to shine through all that we dordquo

~ GoodReadscom

Living with Kindness

The Buddharsquos Teaching on Metta

ldquoKindness is one of the most ba-sic qualities we can possess and one of the most power-ful In Buddhism it is called met-ta ndash an opening of the heart to all we meet Any friend-ly feeling contains the kernel of met-

ta It is a seed that is waiting to be devel-oped right here amidst the conditions of our daily life

ldquoLiving with Kindness is a pithy com-mentary on the Buddharsquos teaching of met-ta in the Karaniya Metta Sutta In it Sang-harakshita a teacher of Buddhism for over 50 years shows us how to cultivate many of the facets of kindness in ordinary ev-eryday life Outlining the nurturing con-ditions the seed of kindness needs to grow he encourages us to follow the path that

leads to a warm and expansive heart ndash and beyond And with that heart we can be happier and more fulfilled in ourselves and empathize with the joys and suffer-ings of all living beingsrdquo


The History of My Going for Refuge

ldquoThe act of committing onersquos life to Buddhism and its three central tenets the Buddha the Dharma and the Sangha is known in many traditions as lsquogoing for refugersquo

ldquoTracing his own path of discovery Sangharakshita shows the importance of

commitment to these three spiritual ideals and how this commitment pro-vides a basis of uni-ty among all Bud-dhists In so doing he also tells the sto-ry of the founding of the Triratna Bud-dhist Communi-ty an international

Buddhist movement The History of My Going for Refuge makes essential reading for anyone interested in the history and development of Buddhism in the Westrdquo



Audio-visual resourcesexploring Buddhism

wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks


Introduction to Meditation CourseWednesdays Jan 14 - Feb 4 10am - 12pm

Led by Bodhana

This four-week course provides a thorough introduction to the fundamentals of sitting meditation practice During the course two different

meditation practices will be taught the mindfulness of breathing and meditation on loving-kindness These are traditional Buddhist meditation techniques dating back to the time of the Buddha

Introduction to Meditation amp Buddhism Course

Wednesdays Feb 11 - Mar 18 7pm - 9pmLed by Vihanasari amp Rijupatha

On these six Wednesday evenings we will learn three traditional Buddhist meditations and also explore central Buddhist teachings - including

the ethical precepts conditionality or interconnectedness and the Four Noble Truths - in a way that is appplicable to daily life

Introduction to Meditation Mindfulness of Breathing

January 25 Led by Lilasiddhi

This workshop is an intensive introduction to the foundational meditation practice of mindfulness of breathing Basic methods of setting up our meditation and the

traditional Buddhist meditation form will taught

Path of Practice GroupMonthly Sunday meetings

from March 2015 - March 2016 9am - 1pm

Led by Amala amp Khemavassika

This course is open to those who want to deepen their practice in 2015 with monthly sessions on Sunday mornings While each meeting will differ shrine room practice will be an important focus Some mornings will feature sutta or sutra study others may have a talk There will be the opportunity to share your experiences with others in the program

Kalyana Mitrata Retreat for Portland Boston amp NYC Sanghas

January 16-19 Led by Sunada Vajramati

Padmadharini amp Dharmasuri

As the Buddha explained to Ananda spiritual friendship is the whole of the spiritual life We will explore through talks study discussion and

small groups how friendship impacts our practice and how it relates to our everyday lives We will connect with each other through meditation open discussion and devotional practice

Nordic Nirvana Retreat February 6-8

Led by Akashavanda amp Arjava

Pack your cross country skis or snowshoes to experience the awe of Aryalokarsquos winter stillness and beauty Scheduled to fall on the full moon this

weekend retreat will be a delicious mix of playing in the snow meditation periods of noble silence and small group discussion ndash all in the context of cultivating mindfulness and gratitude

Introduction to Noble Silence Weekend Retreat

March 12-15Led by Bodhana amp Lilasiddhi

On this weekend retreat we will be exploring the practice of Noble Silence ndash stillness of body speech and mind ndash and learning how to bring stillness

into our daily lives If you are considering attending a longer multi-day Noble Silence retreat this event would be an excellent introduction

Awakening to Spring Yoga amp Meditation Retreat

March 20-22Led by Judy Wall Shrijnana amp Arjava

Just in time for spring- open your heart and rejuvenate your body with a weekend retreat in peaceful surroundings Yoga sessions will include both active sessions that promote strength and flexibility and restorative sessions that foster relaxation

Aryaloka Classes amp Retreats You Wonrsquot Want to Miss

RETREATS

INTERMEDIATE COURSES

INTRODUCTORY


and mindfulness Meditation sessions will focus on the metta bhavana (loving-kindness meditation) which deepens our loving connection with

ourselves and others The instruction will be tailored to your level

Mindful Eating Retreat After the First Bite

March 27-29Led by Amala amp Megrette Fletcher

Bring the power of mindfulness into your life by engaging in the practice of mindful eating Transform your mind health and life learn how to use

three steps with food and the act of eating using 2500-year-old wisdom from the Buddhist tradition This weekend retreat will also discuss three common obstacles to mindfulness and mindful eating and three helpful tools to overcome them

Menrsquos Practice Day Spiritual Rebirth

January 10 9am - 2pmLed by Vidhuma amp Tom Gaillard

This menrsquos day will explore the aspect of the spiritual life that is in the TBCrsquos definition termed ldquoSpiritual Rebirthrdquo The

day will include practice exercises and discussion to help us move beyond the small self-centered agitated self and learn to see and express a wise

loving vast indefinable you

Mindfulness and HealthFebruary 28 9am - 1pm

Led by Vidhuma

Dr Paul Shagoury (Vidhuma) will review the impact of mindfulness meditation on physical and emotional health

The presentation will include a working definition of mindfulness along with a look at research on mindfulness and stress depression cancer anxiety and well-being

Ancient Wisdom Shantidevarsquos Perfection of Patience

March 28 9am - 1pmLed by Candradasa

Join Aryalokarsquos senior Dharma teachers for study of suttas sutras and stories from throughout the Buddhist tradition This

monthrsquos Study is from Shantidevarsquos Guide to the Bodhisattvarsquos Way of Life

(Bodhicaryavatara) led by Candradasa

Living Joyfully Dying PeacefullyWorkshop Series

In three separate workshops led by Karunasara we will be focusing on Death and Dying from a Buddhist perspective and within a Buddhist context

Each workshop will explore a different aspect of death and dying ranging from the philosophical to the very practical

Living amp Dying the Buddhist WayJanuary 24 9am - 1pm

This workshop will explore the Buddhist view of death and dying showing us how a greater understanding of the meaning of death helps us live our lives more fully

How to Benefit Those Who Are Dying and Those Who Have Died

February 14 9am - 1pm

This workshop will help participants learn how to support someone facing a life threatening or terminal illness and how to help ourselves when we are grieving

The Practical Aspects of DyingMarch 21 9am - 1pm

This workshop will guide participants in clarifying their wishes for end-of-life care and help them navigate the medical environment of the end-of-life stages

CLASSESWORKSHOPS

the most wonderful meditation experience of my life with prolonged periods of pure

concentrated joy We broke silence at 7 am to talk with those with whom we had shared silence After breakfast we reflected on our time together closing with the three-fold puja Winding down

the experience by cleaning the center and eating leftovers together was bittersweet but I left with a mind more calm a heart more open and a faith more steadfast

RETREATSCLASSESSOLITARIESThose registering for retreats (including solitaries) and class-

es of any length will be asked to pay a minimum deposit of one-half of the total cost to finalize registration If a registrant can-cels two weeks or more before the retreat she will receive a

credit of the full amount toward another event If the cancella-tion is received less than two weeks before the event the regis-trant forfeits half of the retreat fee and the remainder may be credited toward another event

Note In all situations special circumstances will be taken into consideration

Policy for Retreat Deposits

noble silenceContinued from Page 10

connection with Bhante offering a sense of him and his lifersquos work All provide a multi-faceted foundation for an ever-widening international sangha

I joined the community in November 2014 after having spent five months here earlier in the year on the Young Womenrsquos Dharma Life course Taking part in the course was a blessing I found it deeply transformative to live in conditions that supported immersion in a ldquoDharma liferdquo in community with seven other young women studying and working together developing close friendships and participating in the wider resident community

We spent the five months studying five papers written by Subhuti Bhantersquos teachings from What is the Western Buddhist Order to A Supra-Personal Force as well as a rich variety of other related teachings We received training in skills ranging from non-violent communication to group facilitation to creative writing We benefitted from the practice and experience of the Dharmacharinis who joined us each week

It was at the time the happiest most intense and supportive five months of my life I left with a deeper appreciation of and confidence in the Buddha Dharma and Sangha and a profound gratitude to Bhante for offering such a wealth of teachings creating a sangha and keeping the Dharma alive and vital

Part of the Adhisthana vision is to offer training courses such as this alongside a full program of different events to preserve explore and communicate Bhantersquos presentation of the Dharma The events include retreats and training colloquia Order weekends local sangha retreats and many other groups who come and practice together such as ordination reunion and right livelihood team retreats

With this variety and sometimes with different events happening at the same time Adhisthana is alive as the heart of the Triratna community and a meeting place for the whole sangha Itrsquos inspiring to observe the different constellations of people arising and passing surprise meetings between old friends and new

connections building between people Many people say how much they love the atmosphere here and come back again and again

Adhisthana is set in a beautiful landscape that Irsquove particularly enjoyed over the last few months Watching leaves changing and falling sunlight filtering through morning mist hanging over the field carpeted with frost a brilliant blue kingfisher playing by the pond golden light streaming onto the red brick buildings a white owl at dusk flying low over the abundant natural wetland an amber moon suspended over the Malvern Hills and as always richly-coloured and expansive skies at sunrise and sunset I was fortunate to attend talks at the two Eros and Beauty retreats held this year Adhisthana seemed the appropriate setting to explore the relationship between beauty and the spiritual life

Subhuti described how aesthetic experiences can break down normal perception entering into what Bhante describes as the ldquogreater mandala of aesthetic appreciationrdquo where the distinction between self and world become less clearly defined Inhabiting the mandala one experiences the world in an appreciative rather than a utilitarian mode as a beautiful expression of reality that brings delight and joy freedom and creativity

Living at Adhisthana encourages sensitivity to beauty and gives rise to a deeper aesthetic appreciation delight in simplicity and an experience of fluidity and connectedness

From one perspective Adhisthana exists as a retreat centre a community a place for meeting study and pilgrimage and a central institution of the movement As a team those of us who live here work together to ensure this all functions and runs as smoothly as possible and with that comes challenges

From the perspective of the greater mandala there is mutual delight and playful creativity in sustaining something that expresses our deepest shared values in the service of the Three Jewels This is Bhantersquos Adhisthana alive and manifest in the world the flowing forth of a lineage Adhisthana as ldquoblessingrdquo

I hope that I have communicated something of Adhisthana and its beauty so that you ndash and as many people as possible ndash come visit us either for study gathering in large numbers or just as a pilgrim

Our offering of 2015 retreats can be found on our website at wwwAdhisthanaorg on The Buddhist Centre Online (wwwTheBuddhistCentrecomAdhisthana) on Free Buddhist Audio (wwwFreeBuddhistAudiocom) and on Facebook (wwwfacebookcomAdhisthana) where you can follow us


grace beauty blessingsContinued from Page 15

Please be sure Aryalokarsquos windows stay closed in winter and remember to close them when leaving the center in warmer months Thank you


24 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana24 Friends night 645-915 pm26 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana27 Practice night 7-8 pm28 Mindfulness and Health 9 am-1 pm led by Vidhuma Please register

MARCH

1 Drawing group 930-1130 am led by Eric Ebbeson3 Open meditation session 9 ndash 10 am led by Bodhana3 Friends night 645-915 pm Everyone is welcome5 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana6 Film Night The Dhamma Brothers 7-10 pm8 Path of Practice Group led by Amala and Khemavassika 9 am-1 pm8 Childrenrsquos sangha 2-4 pm led by Alisha Roberts10 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana

10 Friends night 645-915 pm12 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana12-15 Introduction to Noble Silence weekend retreat led by Bodhana and Lilasiddhi Please register17 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana17 Friends night 645-915 pm19 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana20-22 Yoga and Meditation retreat led by Judy Wall Arjava and Shrijnana Please register21 Death and Dying Series workshop 3 The Practical Aspects of Dying 9 am ndash 1 pm led by Karunasara Please register24 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana24 Friends Night 645-915 pm26 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana27-29 After the First Bite Mindful Eating weekend retreat led by Megrette Fletcher and Amala Please register31 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana31 Friends night 645-915 pm

upcoming eventsContinued from Page 24

How Can You Contribute to the Vajra BellAs a sangha one of the most impor-

tant things we do is to share our indi-vidual experiences of the spiritual life By contributing our own stories to the richly-flavored stew of Dharma life that surrounds our center we create strong connections among each other and strengthen each othersrsquo practices some-times without even knowing it

Just by telling another person about something you know or an experience yoursquove had you may provide the miss-ing part to a puzzle that has been un-finished in their mind You may bring them peace simply in the knowledge that they are not the only one struggling with an issue You might say the right word at just the right moment that will alter their lives forever

With this in mind if yoursquove ever been interested in contributing to the Vajra Bell this is the time to do it Have you taken an amazing photo lately We can use one Trying your hand at poet-ry Wersquore eager to share one of your po-ems If yoursquove attended a retreat or event at an Triratna center we would love to have you write something about it for us If you have a great website to share a Dharma movie yoursquore eager to talk about or a page-turner of a Buddhist book that you have to let everyone know about let us know

There are so many ways that you can enrich the pages of the Vajra Bell - let your imaginations run wild

So you say that yoursquore not a great writer Well now is the chance to chal-

lenge that self-view The Vajra Bell kula has among its volunteers an excellent set of editors to help you on your way Have an idea but yoursquore not sure if itrsquos prime-time material Let us know what yoursquore thinking - it may grow from a seedling thought into a solid story

The important thing is to take the leap You never know what will happen unless you give it a shot and there may be someone out there just waiting for what you have to say

To contribute or to suggest an idea for a future issue of the Vajra Bell you can contact any of the kula volunteers listed in the contact column on page two of this issue by email or in per-son

wwwTheBuddhistCentrecom

The Buddhist Center Online is the main website for the Triratna Communi-ty The site offers more than could possi-ble be covered here in this space continu-ing an overview of the TBC a history of the movement and background on Sang-harakshita and his teachers

You will have to discover it for your-

self Sections give an introduction to Bud-dhism instructions on how to meditate and more

For anyone already familiar with the Triratna Community the Buddhist Center Online offers a wealth of opportunities to connect with the wider movement

Once you register with the site ldquoMy Sanghardquo is a space where you can learn what is happening around the Triratna

world A new feature is the ability to cre-ate a news digest that can deliver snippets of news to your inbox

Whether yoursquore an old hand with Triratna or just getting started turn your browser to wwwTheBuddhistCentrecom and discover the opportunities that await you

~ Dh Satyada

online insight The Buddhist Centre Online


JAnuARy

1 Meditate for Peace Day2-4 Order weekend Led by Narottama Order members only4 Drawing group led by Eric Ebbeson6 Friends night 645-915 pm6 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana8 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana9 Practice Night 7-8 pm10 Menrsquos day All men are welcome Please register10 Film night Kundun 7-10 pm11 Path of Practice Group Led by Amala and Khemavassika 9 am-1 pm Please register11 Childrenrsquos sangha 2-4 pm led by Alisha Roberts13 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana13 Friends night 645-915 pm14 Four-week Introduction to meditation course begins 10 am- 12 pm led by Bodhana Please register15 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana16-19 Outlying centers retreat for members of sanghas other than Aryaloka Please register20 Open meditation session 9 ndash 10 am led by Bodhana20 Friends night 645-915 pm Everyone is welcome22 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana23 Practice night 7 -8 pm24 Death and Dying Series workshop 1 Dying The Buddhist Way 9 am-1 pm led by Karunasara Please register25 Introduction to meditation workshop 9 am-1 pm led by Lilasiddhi Please register27 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana27 Friends Night 645-915 pm

FEBRuARy

1 Drawing group 930-1130 am led by Eric Ebbeson1 Childrenrsquos sangha 2-4 pm led by Alisha Roberts3 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana3 Friends night 645-915 pm 5 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana6-8 Nordic nirvana weekend retreat led by Arjava and Akashavanda Please register6 Practice night 7-8 pm8 Path of Practice Group led by Amala and Khemavassika 9 am-1 pm10 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana10 Friends night 645-915 pm 11 Six week Introduction to Meditation and Buddhism course begins 7-9 pm led by Vihanasari amp Rijupatha Please register12 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana13 Practice night 7-8 pm14 Film Night Journey to the West 7-10 pm15 Parinirvana Day 9 am-3 pm led by Karunasara17 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana17 Friends night 645-915 pm19 Open meditation session 9-10 am led by Bodhana20 Practice night 7-8 pm21 Death and Dying Series workshop 2 How to Benefit Those Who Are Dying and Those Who Have Died 9 am-1 pm led by Karunasara Please register22 Ancient Wisdom Study Patience from the Bodhicaryavatara 9 am-1 pm led by Candradasa Please register

upcoming events

ongoing events

(All events are subject to change For the latest up-to-date information check our website at httpwwwaryalokaorg or call the office at 603-659-5456)Events in italics held at Akasaloka Mitra classes amp Order days not included

Sangha Night At Aryaloka Every Tuesday evening 645-915 pm

bull LedbyArjavaAkashavandaAmala Satyada Lilasiddhi and other sangha membersbull Opentoallbull Suggesteddonation$10perclassbull Noregistrationnecessary

Typically our Tuesday night activities includebull 645-Gatheringteaandannouncementsbull 715-Meditationandshrineroomactivitybull 800-Studydiscussionoratalkontheeveningrsquostopicbull 915-End

With any of these activities you are free to participate or to just sit and listen Nothing is compulsory If you have any questions please ask

Full Moon PujaFriday evenings as scheduled (unless noted) See the Aryalo-ka website or Vajra Bell events schedule for dates and locations 700 pm meditation followed by puja

The rich devotional practice of meditation and puja is shared on these special Friday nights by those who find devotion an im-portant part of their practice

When we celebrate the Sevenfold Puja which combines faith and devotion with poetry and sometimes an element of visual beau-ty we find that our emotional energies are to some extent refined When this happens it becomes possible for the vision and insight of the higher thinking center to act through these refined sublimat-ed emotional centers directly on the moving center In this way the whole of life is completely transformed

Sangharakshita ~ Ritual and Devotion


This issue is in-spired in part by four men on a road trip In May of 2014 four of our Order mem-bers ndash Narottoma Satyada Surakshita and Vidhuma ndashmade a kind of pilgrimage

to go on retreat at Adhisthana the recent-ly opened home of the Triratna communi-ty in Coddington England This center has become a place for Order members from throughout the world to study and practice together This issue introduces us to the beauty and importance of this place seen through the eyes of four sangha members

We have Narottomarsquos meditation on beauty which arose largely from his re-treat experience there Satyadarsquos essay puts his visit to Adhisthana in the larger con-

text of Sangharakshitarsquos work to bring the Dharma to the west Dayalocana provides a succinct introduction to the place Final-ly Hattie Johnson a resident of Adhistha-na writes of life there and provides amaz-ing photos that convey its beauty

I am also grateful to our other contrib-utors Barry Timmerman for his essay on his relationship to the stupa Tom Galliard for his piece on the Dalai Lama and Kavyadrishti for her poetry

My thanks go to the members of our kula Pete Ingraham Vihanasari Lois Sans and Carolyn Gregsak for their work on sangha notes upcoming events and arts reporting Special kudos go to our far-flung correspondents reporting from cen-ters around North America ndash Bettye Pruitt Khemavassika Gail Yahwak Padmatara Viryagita and Kay Jones

~ David Watt

wwwaryalokaorgcategoryvajra-bell

VAJRA BELL KULA

CO-EDITOR Mary Schaefermbschaefercomcastnet

CO-EDITOR David Wattdavidwatt1956gmailcom

ADMINISTRATION EDITOR Dh Vihanasarivihanasaricomcastnet

ARTS EDITOR Lois Sansmichaelandlois86gmailcom

CONTRIBUTORS

Dh Satyadasatyadastephensloancom

Carolyn Gregsak

cgregsakgmailcom

Peter Ingrahampingalumniunhedu

DESIGN Dh Rijupathaericwintercrowstudiocom

SpiRitUAL VitALity CoUnCiL

Amala (Chair)Vidhuma (Vice Chair)

ArjavaDayalocanaKarunasaraSurakshita

BoARd of diRECtoRS

Arjava (Chair)Barry Timmerman (Secretary)Elizabeth Hellard (Treasurer)

DayalocanaAkashavanda

AmalaJean CorsonTom Gaillard

Aryaloka Buddhist Center14 Heartwood Circle

Newmarket NH 03857603-659-5456

infoaryalokaorg wwwaryalokaorg

Find us on Facebook httpwwwfacebookcomAraloka

or on the Aryaloka Facebook Grouphttpwwwfacebookcomgroupsary-

alokasangha

Connect at The Buddhist Centre Online httpthebuddhistcentrecomaryaloka

Cover art Hattie Johnson

vajrabellOne of my favor-ite parts of being co-editor of the Vajra Bell is the opportuni-ty to learn about the Dharma and activ-ities of the Triratna Buddhist Communi-ty from Order mem-

bers mitras and friends from New Eng-land and around the world We think of a teaching or place wersquod like to learn more about and voila ndash we put out a call for people to ldquoenlightenrdquo us (and our readers) on the topic

In this issue we get a multifaceted view into Adhisthana the home of Trirat-na and Sangharakshita in the UK through photos and reflections of Order members who have been on retreats there and from a mitra who lives and works at Adhistha-na A visit or retreat to that beautiful place is now on my ldquomust dordquo list Thanks to Narottama Satyada Dayalocana and Hat-tie Johnson for sharing their experiences I echo too David Wattrsquos thanks to all our contributors to this issue We have a great kula and supporting team and of course you are always welcome to join us

Another favorite part of this job is the chance to reflect on my own practice and experiences with the Dharma and the Triratna Buddhist Community In read-ing Narottamarsquos reflections on beauty I thought of my own ldquoretreatrdquo into beau-

ty this fall ndash hiking to the bottom (and yes back up ndash that is mandatory) of the Grand Canyon That venture has been on my bucket list for years Not only did the vastness of the beauty take my breath away the physical challenge of the hike was an amazing practice in mindfulness It was humbling to watch how my mind could be friend or foe particularly when I maneu-vered steep and rocky sections of the trail where one slip could provide a more di-rect but less desirable flight down

My mantra often was ldquojust one step at a timerdquo As soon as my mind started think-ing of how far I had come or worse ndash How long before I can take another break How much farther to the campground How long before this is over ndash my anxiety arose along with my fatigue my footing slipped my hands sweated and I found myself somewhere other than on the trail in the midst of this vast beauty

Right here right now Thatrsquos all I have When I reminded myself that all I had to do was take the next step and be total-ly present joy arose (or at least my anxiety would dissipate) I could handle anything on the trail then including the fatigue the thirst the heavy pack on my shoulders along with the warm sun the endless ever changing vistas and the humor and cama-raderie of my fellow travelers on this path Hmmm isnrsquot that what Buddhist practice is all about

~ Mary Schaefer

editors notes Mary Schaefer amp David Watt




























Retreats



Fall Work Weekend















(NEWMARKET NH)














sangha notes


















~ Dh Padmatara



















~ Kay Jones







~ Dh Khemavassika



sangha notes





listed in the box on the right of

By Dh Khemavassika












By Dh Vihanasari






By Tom Gaillard


































By David Watt































poetry




AAdhisthana

By Dh Dayalocana





Imag

e by

s m

yers









life-giving sourceContinued from Page 13

by Dh Satyada




























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events





































Retreats



Fall Work Weekend















(NEWMARKET NH)














sangha notes


















~ Dh Padmatara



















~ Kay Jones







~ Dh Khemavassika



sangha notes






By Dh Khemavassika












By Dh Vihanasari






By Tom Gaillard


































By David Watt































poetry




AAdhisthana

By Dh Dayalocana





Imag

e by

s m

yers










by Dh Satyada




























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events













Retreats



Fall Work Weekend















(NEWMARKET NH)














sangha notes


















~ Dh Padmatara



















~ Kay Jones







~ Dh Khemavassika

nagaloka sanghaContinued from


sangha notes






By Dh Khemavassika












By Dh Vihanasari






By Tom Gaillard


































By David Watt































poetry




AAdhisthana

By Dh Dayalocana





Imag

e by

s m

yers










by Dh Satyada




























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events












sangha notes


















~ Dh Padmatara



















~ Kay Jones







~ Dh Khemavassika



sangha notes






By Dh Khemavassika












By Dh Vihanasari






By Tom Gaillard


































By David Watt































poetry




AAdhisthana

By Dh Dayalocana





Imag

e by

s m

yers










by Dh Satyada




























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events




























~ Kay Jones







~ Dh Khemavassika



sangha notes






By Dh Khemavassika












By Dh Vihanasari






By Tom Gaillard


































By David Watt































poetry




AAdhisthana

By Dh Dayalocana





Imag

e by

s m

yers










by Dh Satyada




























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events











By Dh Khemavassika












By Dh Vihanasari






By Tom Gaillard


































By David Watt































poetry




AAdhisthana

By Dh Dayalocana





Imag

e by

s m

yers










by Dh Satyada




























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events












By Tom Gaillard


































By David Watt































poetry




AAdhisthana

By Dh Dayalocana





Imag

e by

s m

yers










by Dh Satyada




























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events

























By David Watt


























stupa-fiedContinued from





poetry




AAdhisthana

By Dh Dayalocana





Imag

e by

s m

yers










by Dh Satyada




























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events











By David Watt































poetry




AAdhisthana

By Dh Dayalocana





Imag

e by

s m

yers










by Dh Satyada




























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS









noble silenceContinued from




















MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events


























poetry




AAdhisthana

By Dh Dayalocana





Imag

e by

s m

yers










by Dh Satyada




























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events














AAdhisthana

By Dh Dayalocana





Imag

e by

s m

yers










by Dh Satyada




























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events











By Dh Dayalocana





Imag

e by

s m

yers









life-giving sourceContinued from

by Dh Satyada




























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events

















by Dh Satyada


















bhantersquos blessingsContinued from










More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events





























More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS

























grace beauty blessingsContinued from




MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events













More online at






Jan 10 Kundun








May 9 Samsara




By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events













By Lois Sans































ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events
















ldquoThree precious




















~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events












~ GoodReadscom
















wwwclear-visionorg

buddhaworks



Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events













Led by Bodhana
































RETREATS


INTRODUCTORY














Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events
























Led by Vidhuma


















CLASSESWORKSHOPS





























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events






























MARCH





















~ Dh Satyada



JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events












JAnuARy


FEBRuARy


upcoming events

ongoing events











vajra bell newsletter - winter 2015

Documents

sangha members

reflections of order

david wattthis issue

administration editor

triratna buddhist communi

order members narottoma

buddhist centre

sangha notes