On this retreat we will be studying Pali suttas on the topic of skilful communication and also learning some practical skills from Non Violent Communication. The Pali suttas we'll be studying are in the PDF file below.
Please try and read Shantigarbha's book "I'll Meet You There" before coming on the retreat - it is available in both paperback and e-book formats - see links below.
The main material we will be studying on this retreat is the handbook entitled System of Practice produced by Tiratanaloka - there is a link to this below. Please ensure you read this material before the retreat and come prepared with questions and areas for discussion for your study group, as this will help you and others get the most from the retreat. Please bring the handbook with you.
Do also listen to Sangharakshita's talk A System of Meditation if possible.
Please read our handbook (see link below). Please bring a copy with you. The retreat is based on Sangharakshita’s The Ten Pillars of Buddhism. This is available from Windhorse Publications (link below) as an individual book or as part of The Complete Works Vol.2. It is also available as a talk from Sangharakshita on Free Buddhist Audio - link below.
We also ask you to read Chapter Six of Subhadramati's book Not About Being Good. This is also available from Windhorse Publications.
It will also be very helpful to look at Sangharakshita's Know Your Mind and Living Ethically.
Please read Know Your Mind Chapter 8 (Forces of Disintegration), Living Ethically Chapter 5 (The Ethics of Views) and Subhuti's paper Revering and Relying upon the Dharma (see link below).
The main material we will be studying on this retreat is the handbook entitled Going for Refuge produced by Tiratanaloka - there is a link to this below. Please ensure you read this material before the retreat and come prepared with questions and areas for discussion for your study group, as this will help you and others get the most from the retreat. Please bring the handbook with you.
The Going for Refuge and Prostration Practice is an important practice that we do together on retreat. To prepare for the retreat, you may want to read about the practice in Kulananda's Teachers of Enlightenment. You can also see a guide to doing physical prostrations during the practice here.
Here's the calendar for Going for Refuge retreats in 2025.
The main material we will be studying on this retreat is the The Bodhisattva Path handbook produced by Tiratanaloka - there is a link to this below. Please ensure you read this material before the retreat and come prepared with questions and areas for discussion for your study group, as this will help you and others get the most from the retreat. Please bring the handbook with you.
The main material we will be studying on this retreat is our Eight Guidelines handbook (which is also translated into German).
Please ensure you read this material before the retreat and come prepared with questions and areas for discussion for your study group, as this will help you and others get the most from the retreat. Please bring a paper copy of the handbook with you.
There is also a link to a summary set of questions for you to reflect on.
The required reading is Subhuti's paper Re-Imagining the Buddha (you might also like to listen to his talk The Five Aspects of Dharma Life - Spiritual Receptivity), and Aloka's The Refuge Tree as Mythic Context.
Background reading:
The main text for this retreat is Chapter 11, 'The Nature of Existence', in Sangharakshita's The Three Jewels. This can also be found in The Complete Works of Sangharakshita Vol 2. You will find it helpful to look at the preceding chapters too. We also highly recommend you have a look at the seminar on this material.
Please read and take notes on Chapter 1 of A Survey of Buddhism by Sangharakshita. You will need to bring the text with you. At present, this text is in print as part of Volume 1 of Sangharakshita's Complete Works. If you have problems getting hold of the text please let us know as soon as possible.
You can also listen to the Chapter.
Background reading:
Sangharakshita: What Is The Dharma?
Subhuti: Revering and Relying on the Dharma
You may also want to watch or listen to Vajratara's overview of the first Chapter of 'The Survey'.
Subhuti's paper Revering and Relying upon the Dharma.
The main material we will be studying on this retreat is the handbook entitled 'What is the Order?' produced by Tiratanaloka. Please ensure you read this before the retreat and come prepared with questions and areas for discussion for your study group, as this will help you and others get the most from the retreat. Please bring the handbook with you.
The reading material we will draw on for this retreat is Part 1 & 2 of What is the Sangha?. This can be found in Complete Works Vol.3: The Three Jewels 2. We won’t be studying directly all that material, but it is important to read to understand what Bhante means by the terms individual, group and spiritual community.
If you prefer to listen to talks, most of Part 1 & 2 of What is the Sangha? are based on two lectures:
The Individual and the Spiritual Community by Sangharakshita | free buddhist audio
The Individual, the Group, and the Community by Sangharakshita | free buddhist audio
