An Insightful Life | Dharmacharini Seminar

26 November – 2 December | Led by Saddhanandi + Singhamati

I would say that one of the characteristics of Insight is, by its very nature, not dependent on any particular set of conditions. It could be that for certain people, at certain times, certain situations are more conducive to the development of Enlightenment. But in principle, by its very nature, Insight does not depend on any particular set of conditions.

– Sangharakshita

This is a seminar based on the Windhorse Trading (aka Windhorse:Evolution) Seminar on Right Livelihood that took place in 1993, with Bhante and the men’s chapter connected to that very successful Buddhist enterprise. But on this retreat our study will not focus specifically on our livelihood but on our lives generally and the shape of spiritual endeavour. There is a heartbeat to the Windhorse Seminar, a question that everything circles around and returns to: ‘Is it possible to experience insight working in a gift shop, or does it eventually require moving to a meditation retreat centre?’ 

Of course, the Order and movement have moved on from that time in history, and we are probably all more confident in our lifestyle choices and the nature of effective spiritual growth, and yet… there can often be an underlying doubt that we are not making the best use of our lives, spiritually, and we hear a distant question in our minds ‘Is insight and real growth possible in my ordinary life?’ This retreat will use study, discussion and reflection as ways of engaging with our questions. 

The study will draw out some classic Dharma themes: the Five Spiritual Faculties, the Worldly Winds, Kalyana Mitrata, patience and equanimity.