The focus of my life is my own exploration of the dharma, particularly the dharma as translated by sangharakshita. As part of this exploration
I aim to spend 4 to 5 months each year teaching in various venues around the triratna buddhist community, this teaching takes the form of retreats, urban retreats and
events in centres. In order to do this I hope to cover some of my living expenses through dana.
Dharma dana, the gift of the Dharma, the gift of truth, the gift of the teaching. And this
is said to be the highest of all gifts, the greatest of all gifts... all can participate, all
can share, in this great duty, this great responsibility. In fact, one cannot help it... if you have
imbibed anything of Buddhism, well inevitably you must give out Buddhism... it's something that just comes from you,
or comes out, in the course of conversation but without always necessarily
being labelled as Buddhism, but something does come out.Sangharakshita
would you like to support me?
If you would like to support me you can do so through the justgiving website
using the snazzy widget below. The donations go through the 'indrajala trust' overseen by the triratna development team. You could invite me to come and do something
at your centre or retreat centre. You could offer me practical support whilst I am 'on the road', a bed for the night, a lift to the station....
Dana has a special function to perform. The function of establishing positive contact with people. The function of
creating spiritual friendship. The function of helping to form a spiritual community. Now we don't usually think of Dana in this way.
We usually think of Dana in a more utilitarian way, so to speak: we give people something because they need it. But here, it's not quite like that,
at least, not in the narrow sense. You give people things because you like them. You give people things because you want to be spiritual friends
with them; because you want to form a spiritual community with them. Not of course that you give in a calculating sort of way,
just in order to bring about those particular results. The whole process of giving in this way is completely natural, completely spontaneous:
by giving someone a present, you give expression to your special awareness of them... Giving in fact, is a form of communication.
Sangharakshita
two of a series of bowls by my friend Sukkhasiddhi
