‍A stambha (Sanskrit: स्तम्भ English: stambha) is a pillar or a column employed in Indian architecture. A stambha sometimes bears inscriptions and religious emblems. Stambha also means support, propping, strengthening, fixedness, rigidity. In the 3^rd Century BCE Ahsoka, the emperor of Magadha - the first pan Indian Empire, erected important Stambhas across India that he named the Dharma Stambhas, these and others like it have been a great source of information for historians.

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This photo above is “The Inscription Pillar” or “Rdo Rings” at Samye Monastery. Built 8^th century, around the time of the monasteries founding. Richardson describes this pillar and translates the inscription in “A Corpus of Early Tibetan Inscriptions”, Royal Asiatic Society, James G. Forlong 1985, pp. 26-31:

"The inscription is on a pillar of hard reddish stone standing on a worn lotus-shaped base of some softer light-coloured stone against the east wall of the great temple of Bsam-yas (Samye) a little to the south of the main entrance. It is remarkably well preserved.”

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There is something incredibly beautiful about this inscription pillar above. The pillar itself resting on a lotus flower, with the deep red column and gold inscription make for a striking combination. Padmasambhava is known as the Lotus Born, with deep red skin, and Padmaloka is the Realm of the lotus, and deep red is our colour.  

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Welcome Friends,

hopefully this provides some of the inspiration for the Padmaloka Stambha. An attempt to create a supportive and longer-form way of keeping up to date with news, retreats, developments and communal life at Padmaloka.

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This has previously been achieved using social media, however, given its highly addictive, short-form and increasingly politicised nature, it seemed that an independent column or blog may be a better way to connecti and share community life with those whom we serve here on retreat, the wider Sangha and those interested in Triratna Buddhism.

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Social media seems crucial to many charities and businesses due to its convenience and volume of users. Though Padmaloka is in a unique position in the movement, a position that currently allows it the flexibility to try a different method, one that will allow for higher quality, more thought-out and a slower pace of content.

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The Stambha will aim to include a handwritten article of around a 7-minute read, some photographs, designs or artwork, and a video or two. It will also include signposts for upcoming categorised by commitment to the Triratna Buddhist Order. All in all this will be around 10-12 minutes of content, posted on the 1^st of every month. This will mainly be undertaken by myself, Sebastion, the Guestmaster at Padmaloka, though other members of the community will be able to add to the platform if they wish.  

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We will leave up our current social media accounts, to serve as an archive and a signpost to the Stambha, and email notifications will be available, please sign up to this here:

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April at Padmaloka,

One of the most impressive things about Padmaloka right now, are the transformations that have taken place in the Garden since James Mildren began life here as Gardener. James has been applying himself methodically, intelligently and with the Virya of several men to beautify the gardens. He has done this by gathering a Sangha of keen, green thumbed (and sometimes chainsaw wielding) Gardeners, of varying levels of experience. Who have all offered their time and energy to help James serve Padmaloka, and those who come here, most notable during two gardening weeks James hosted over the winter months.

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Look out if you visit for a more tamed and well-managed woodland, cherry wood benches, coppiced hazel, opened up vistas, woodchip paths, re-bedded rose-beds and wildflower meadows.

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What is most beautiful about watching James at work is how friendly and caring he is for the men who help in the garden. Whether on a work morning during retreat, the Gardening weeks or with regular volunteers, he is constantly rejoicing in their efforts around the dinner table and is diligently attentive to them. Making sure they get the most out of the work.

Chris Gruchy, who frequently helps out in the garden said:

‘James’ friendliness toward helpers is what is making the garden blossom.’

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New Community Members,

We have been lucky enough to welcome, not one, not two but 5 new community members this year so far.

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On the Ordination Team, Prasannadeva from Dublin and Akashamitra from the Karuna & London Buddhist Centre.

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On the support team we have welcomed Tomo Richardson who is training in Maintenance, Ben Beasley who will manage the Kitchen, and Emiliano who has come from all the way from Mexico to join us for 5 months as part of his Ordination Training.

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Joining the Padmaloka community is a daunting prospect, and requires a lot of courage. It also means a reconstitution of the community, which reforms with the new qualities of the individual who has joined. A wonderful process and one of the conditions that means one can never quite settle down whilst living in a dynamic spiritual community.