Category Archives: Articles

The Garret Hermitage, Bristol, Thursday 2 July 2009, 7.20 am I sent the following text to Sangha friends in my phone address book: “Dear Friends, this is a bit mad, but I’m having a day of playing creatively with the … Continue reading →

“Your work is to discover your work And then, with all your heart, To give yourself to it.” Dhammapada v 166 Trans. Thomas Byrom So I’m starting by cheating! This talk is about Chapter 8 of the Dhammapada (verses 100 … Continue reading →

One important aspect of the long Akasavana retreat last summer which I haven’t yet written about is The Story of the Fankle. Fankle is a wonderful Scots word, introduced to me by Jayavardhini. It doesn’t appear in the Concise Oxford … Continue reading →

It was breathtaking. The retreat house stands on a kind of promontory of land at about 920 metres, with 300 metre cliffs behind and a vast open vista of mountains all around, including the spectacular and monumental Masmut – seemingly … Continue reading →

For about ten years I’d been wanting to take part in a long retreat – six weeks or 3 months. I think it was a part of my profound curiosity about how much it is possible for one’s mind, one’s … Continue reading →

My friend, Alokada, asked me to give this short talk at the National Order Weekend at Padmaloka in December 2006. “Time and Energy” is definitely one of my “themes” or “things” and another friend, Mokshadakini, asked me, the day before, … Continue reading →

This is the unedited script of a talk which I wrote for a beginners’ course which Bahiya ran at the Bristol Buddhist Centre in September 2006 It’s been great to be given the opportunity to look again – and look … Continue reading →

In his book, “After the Ecstasy the Laundry” Jack Kornfield coined (or used) this phrase to describe the joys and challenges of the spiritual life. I was asked to contribute an article to the Bristol Buddhist Centre Newsletter about my … Continue reading →

Since 22 June 2005, when I was ordained, I have been Satyalila (“she who is true and playful”). I was delighted when I received my name, not least because “lila” is a direct reference to the “play” of the bodhisattva … Continue reading →