Adhisthana is a central place for Triratna, a beacon that promotes unity, provides inspiration, and maintains the authenticity of Sangharakshita’s vision for the Order and the Movement he founded. At the centre of it all sits Bhante’s burial mound, the nucleus of the great mandala of Triratna, around which the sangha flows in ever-widening circles. February has been a month of blessings: blessings brought here by visitors, blessings emanating from the work and practice of the residential communities, as well as blessings of a more mysterious origin.
In early February, we hosted the bi-annual Men’s Area Order Weekend, an opportunity for men from all over the United Kingdom and Ireland to make connections, catch up on recent events, and deepen their practice collectively. This was followed by a retreat for the Men’s Private Preceptors, who engendered a strong atmosphere with their decades of experience and their responsibility as lineage holders of the Triratna tradition.
As part of their Team-Based Right Livelihood sessions, the Operations Team held a fireside ritual in the barn, burning paper-collage mandalas and other significant objects in order to let go of the trials and triumphs of the past and look forward to the year ahead. They followed this with a feast of vegan marshmallows, toasted over the fire.
We had a Presidential Visit from Subhuti, who has been Adhisthana’s president since its founding. His presence here for the week brought a great deal of inspiration, motivation, and material for reflection to everyone in the communities. As well as taking the time to see each of us one-to-one, Subhuti gave an excellent talk on ‘Magical Correspondence and the Practice of the Dharma’ (which can be found here: https://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/audio/details?num=LOC6935) and a follow-up session on the same theme for the Operations Team.
On 16 February, the residential communities, the Adhisthana Local Sangha, and the Women’s Mitra Convenors all gathered in the Main Shrine Room for Parinirvana Day, on which Buddhists commemorate the Buddha’s ‘death’ and final passing into Nirvana. Subhuti delivered a talk taking us through some of the history and background of the festival, including key moments from the Parinirvana Sutta and some sobering reflections on death’s inevitability. He then led a puja, during which the atmosphere was electric: a powerful example of collective devotional practice.
The Main Shrine Room got a makeover from the Men’s Community, who came together for a Men’s Work Day to paint the walls and ceiling – a job last done in 2017. The bulk of the work was done remarkably quickly, as the majority of the Men’s Community were able to participate, and Yashodeva led the team with his characteristic blend of warmth and efficiency. What a wonderful way to contribute to the continuum of merits at Adhisthana while deepening the single-sex practice so vital to life here at the retreat centre.
Thus, the stream of Adhisthana’s blessings flows ever more freely, and as spring approaches, bringing its bright blooms and bountiful birdsong, we have much to look forward to.
