7 – 14 Aug | LED BY Maitrisiddhi + Parami
“The golden light is what transforms the self and transforms the world. But where does this light come from? […] It is, we may say, a transcendental light.”
– Sangharakshita, from TRANSFORMING SELF AND WORLD
Throughout his life, Sangharakshita returned again and again to themes around adhisthana: ‘a powerful influence emanating from a powerful spiritual source, an influence which can have a radically transforming effect on you, if you open yourself up to it.’
Exploring material from Transforming Self and World, The Inconceivable Emancipation, The Bodhisattva Ideal and more, we’ll look at the dynamic between the golden light and our unenlightened darkness. What happens meditatively, as we become more and more receptive to Other Power? And what happens in our lives?
As Bhante says, at a certain point in our Dharma lives ‘it becomes no less difficult to speak of the spiritual life in terms of self-effort than to speak in terms of reliance on divine grace, sometimes more difficult in fact.’ (A Survey of Buddhism)
MAitrisiddhi
Maitrisiddhi picked up a book by the Dalai Lama on a mountaineering trip to the Andes when she was 25, and after getting over strong prejudice against ‘religion’, arrived at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, UK. In 2009 she moved to Taraloka Retreat Centre and joined the teaching team there in 2015. She has been teaching on Other Power, especially Shinran, for several years. She is the author of ‘Maitreya, Buddha of Potential’.
Parami
Ordained into the Order when the women’s wing was still very small, Parami has been a prominent part of the women’s wing ever since. A public preceptor for many years, she is now enjoying living in Glasgow and engaging with the local centre and politics there.
Reception is from 4pm on the day of arrival, with the retreat beginning with supper at 6pm.
While you’re here you will be participating in communal life. This includes meditating with everyone on site in the main shrine room in the morning, taking part in daily tasks and at the end of your retreat you will help us to prepare the retreat centre for the next group to join us.
With this in mind, the retreat will finish after the clear-up, so if travelling on public transport, please book a train after 11am.
Female single rooms are now fully booked. If you would require one, please contact the office to be added to the waiting list.
For: Order Members - Mixed
Start date: 7th Aug 2026
End date: 14th Aug 2026
Event Type: Residential
Price: Standard £335 | Concession £265 | Financial Assistance £210 | 2026 Adhisthana Members £75
Please note that the payment includes a non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit of £75.
Read about Adhisthana membership.
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Bookings are closed for this event.