In the Triratna ordination ceremony, after being given the Three Refuges and the Ten Precepts, one’s preceptor gives in Pali the traditional admonishment: Having well-observed the Three Refuges, together with the Dharmachari ordination vows, with mindfulness, strive on. ‘With mindfulness strive on’ are the lastwords of the Buddha. When Sangharakshita gave these words at ordinations, he would always remind us that the Buddha is saying that you need just two things for an effective Dharma life: mindfulness, or awareness, and effort.
The importance of mindfulness cannot be underestimated, the Buddha describes it in this sutta as ‘the only way to liberation’. On this Going for Refuge retreat we will give full attention to the theme of mindfulness through the study of Sangharakshita’s Living With Awareness, his commentary on the Satipatthana Sutta – The Discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.
Banner and thumbnail image: cropped painting by Aloka ©
Details and Timings
The retreat starts with dinner on the first day at 6:30pm and finishes on the final day at 10.15am.
If you are struggling financially and need help to come on retreat please contact our Guest Master info@padmaloka.org.uk or 01508 538 112
Coming on a retreat at Padmaloka is a step into another way of being, where we temporarily take up a way of life that is more supportive of Buddhist Practice. We go forth from our ordinary circumstances, our comforts and distractions so that we can discern and move towards our ideals and help others to do so as well.
When booking a retreat at Padmaloka it is important to get a sense of how you will be living here - what our customs, etiquettes and requirements for being on retreat are.