In his first lecture on the levels of Going for Refuge given in 1978, Bhante Urgyen Sangharakshita described the level of Effective Going for Refuge in terms of the secret or esoteric Refuges of the Buddhist Tantric tradition, which are the Guru, the Yidam and the Dakini.

He tells us in the lecture that for Tantric Buddhists the emphasis is on direct experience, so their concern is to find the Refuges in one’s actual, direct spiritual experience.

In this retreat we will explore how the direct experience of the Refuges relate to Effective Going for Refuge and therefore to ordination. We will explore what the Guru, the Yidam and the Dakini mean now for the Triratna Buddhist Order and those who have asked for ordination.

In particular, we will be studying Bhante's lecture Levels of Going for Refuge.

Details and Timings

The retreat starts with dinner on the first day at 6:30pm and finishes on the final day at 10.00am.

Health and Hygiene

It is vital that you don't come on retreat if you have any symptoms of Covid-19, including a cough, loss or change of smell or taste, a temperature, or any other cold or flu-like symptoms.

If you have been in contact with somebody who has tested positive for Covid-19 within the past 7 days, please contact us on 01508538112 or email us on info@padmaloka.org.uk; we may ask you to take daily lateral flow tests if it is still appropriate for you to come on retreat.

To come on this weekend it is essential that you have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

We ask that you take two Lateral Flow Tests, one 48 hours before arrival and a second within 24 hours of the retreat starting, please also bring a few Lateral Flow Tests with you as everyone will be required to do a test halfway through the retreat.
You can order them free from the UK Government here: Lateral Flow Tests, or from most pharmacies.

For more information on our Covid policies and to see our risk assessment you can visit our Coming on Retreat Page.

Banner and thumbnail image: edited painting by Aloka ©