Adhisthana: Eine weitere Umdrehung des Rades
The search for a property where Bhante could live out his last years and which would house his library saw many twists and turns, raising hopes and disappointments. Then, a remarkable configuration of events allowed us to purchase Coddington Court, in the Herefordshire countryside. Bhante announced the name at an Order Convention in Bodh Gaya in 2013. It was to be called ‘Adhisthana’.
From the moment of its opening in 2015, many Order members and Friends throughout Triratna have described Adhisthana as becoming a significant place, with Bhante having lived his final years at Adhisthana and having enjoyed some of the happiest years of his life. In 2018 he died and was buried here.
Now four years have passed since Bhante’s death, and we have been reviewing the future of Adhisthana, and its role in Triratna.
Die Übertragungslinie von Lehre und Praxis
Durch seine Schriften, Vorträge, Vorlesungen und Seminare legte Bhante eine weitreichende Vision des Dharma dar. Er näherte sich ihm aus verschiedenen Perspektiven und im Licht verschiedener Traditionen und gab uns damit etwas, das in seiner Breite, Tiefe, Klarheit und Zugänglichkeit ziemlich bemerkenswert ist. Er war sich sehr bewusst, dass er nicht nur für sein unmittelbares Publikum schrieb und lehrte, sondern auch für kommende Generationen und für die Zukunft des Dharma in der Welt.
This vision that Bhante shared is alive in many of us, but, as Order members quite naturally focus on those teachings and practices they find most helpful, we have to take care that this vision does not get limited or diminished but is passed on in its fullness to future generations, and can continue to unfold. This could be considered the chief task of Adhisthana.
We’re excited about developing a programme of events and retreats, which will be a broader and deeper exploration of Bhante’s direct teaching. Eventually, this will amount to an exploration in depth of the whole body of Bhante’s teaching, as well as engaging with canonical texts in the light of his lectures and seminars.
Initially, we are asking experienced Order members to lead retreats engaging with Dharma teachings that inspired them when they first attended seminars and studied with Bhante, bringing something of the excitement and enthusiasm of those times to new generations.
Bhante offered us so much, and we are looking out for valuable teachings and perspectives that have receded to the sidelines, aiming to bring them back centre stage. In time we may develop some sort of curriculum, with an extended series of traditional texts, seminars and writings that we cycle through. Some Order members are keen to develop modules, where the same text might be approached from a more scholarly, a more meditative or a more devotional perspective. We also want to see Adhisthana developing a significant online presence that both allows those who cannot travel to join our retreats, and also offers regular teaching for all levels. Whilst many of our residential retreats will be for Order members, through the online events we plan to give people at all stages of their connection with the Dharma an opportunity to engage with Adhisthana.
It is going to take time for all of this to take shape, but as it starts to happen we hope to see a rich array of retreats and events unfolding at this Place of Blessings.
Training für junge Menschen
Wie wir und künftige Generationen Sangharakshitas Erbe an weitere Generationen weitergeben, und zwar auf eine Art und Weise, die vital und relevant ist, wird unsere kreativen Energien für die kommenden Jahre beschäftigen, und dies wird ein neuer Schwerpunkt im Programm von Adhisthana sein. In Zusammenarbeit mit dem European Chairs' Assembly ist Ksantikara, der europäische Koordinator für junge Buddhisten, hierher gezogen, um diesen bedeutenden Strang der Arbeit von Adhisthana voranzubringen.
Eine starke Online-Präsenz
Wir haben nicht immer die Möglichkeit, Adhisthana vor Ort zu besuchen. Die außergewöhnlichen Umstände des Jahres 2020 haben uns die Notwendigkeit eines effektiven Online-Unterrichts viel bewusster gemacht und die Möglichkeiten, die sich dadurch eröffnen, ein viel breiteres und internationaleres Publikum zu erreichen.
Die Technologie hat auch Übersetzung und Untertitelung erleichtert, so dass es einfacher geworden ist, mit unseren Veranstaltungen über den englischsprachigen Sangha hinauszugehen.
Wir wollen den Online-Unterricht weiterentwickeln und zu einem festen Bestandteil der Veranstaltungen von Adhisthana machen, um die hervorragende Lehre hier für den Orden und die Bewegung international so zugänglich wie möglich zu machen.
Our online offerings in the coming years will continue to expand.
Die Lehrgemeinschaft von Adhisthana
Diese Veranstaltungen werden von einigen der erfahrensten Dharma-Lehrern und -Lehrerinnen von Triratna geleitet. Neben denjenigen, die Teil der Wohngemeinschaft in Adhisthana sind, gibt es viele andere aus jedem Teil der Welt, wo Triratna aktiv ist, von Amerika bis Neuseeland.
As well as leading retreats and teaching at Adhisthana, the Teaching Community will meet to study and practise together, deepening and sharing their understanding of the Dharma as communicated through Sangharakshita’s teaching, and helping us unfold the vision of Adhisthana.
This experienced team makes it possible for those who have not studied with Bhante to study and practice closely with those who have, so that the distinctive spirit and character of his teaching is passed on.
The Dharma Team
The Dharma Team is part of the community living at Adhisthana, whose main responsibility is the spirit, direction, and vision of this important aspect of Adhisthana’s work.
The team is currently Saddhanandi, Dhammarati, Ratnaghosha, Saddhaloka, Shubhavyuha and Khemabandhu. Subhuti has been an integral part of the team in developing the vision and direction of the project.
The team has been receiving invaluable help from the Sikkha Project in this work.
