Four hundred Buddhists have gathered at Taraloka retreat centre in Shropshire for the international Triratna Sangha retreat
Dayamala, our woman on the spot, is keeping a daily diary:
Saturday afternoon
Arrived in the sunshine yesterday which was great for those pitching tents and to see Taraloka looking so glorious. Today, rain!
Having lived here for five and a half years, and being used to retreats averaging between twenty and forty five people, I am enjoying seeing Taraloka transformed by providing facilities for over four hundred of us! A huge shrine marquee, three other shrine tents, marquees for kitchen, dining and washing up, children’s play area, composting toilets … Fantastic. We’re having to use one of the farmer’s fields.
Just had lunch — what an achievement catering for this numbers! I am on chopping duty with around twenty others. So well organised. My admiration for those involved is boundless.
Inspiring content
Last night we did a dedication ceremony and this morning we’ve had a short presentation on Free Buddhist Audio and a very inspiring and challenging talk by Jnanavaca on materialism in the scientific sense. He urged us to maintain a sense of wonder at the mystery of everything and to challenge our views, when basically we don’t know anything really! It’s well worth a listen when it becomes available.
Later we have the option of about eight different groups, four of which I would like to go to but we are being encouraged to go to one and remain with that throughout the retreat so … decisions! decisions!
There is a large Manchester contingent here which is great, and groups have come over from Paris and Germany – there are even two Americans here, over from USA!
Metta to all,
Dayamala
