Resources

What is the Order? 2

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

What Is The Order?

Required reading:

The main material we will be studying on this retreat is the handbook entitled What is the Order? produced by Tiratanaloka - there is a link to the file below.  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.

PDF icon What Is The Order Handbook_May 2024.pdf
Background reading:-
What is the Western Buddhist Order (part of the Seven Papers)
Sangharakshita: The History of my Going for Refuge
Sangharakshita: Forty Three Years Ago
Moksananda: Ordination
The Individual and Spiritual Community

The Transcendental Principle

Required reading:

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 (link to PDF below)

You may also want to watch Vajratara's overview of the first Chapter of 'The Survey' (link below)

 

Transcendental Principle 2 retreat:

Subhuti's paper Revering and Relying upon the Dharma (link below) is required reading for this retreat

Subhuti: Revering and Relying on the Dharma
Vajratara's overview of Ch1 The Survey

The Nature of Existence

Required 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 highly recommend you have a look at the seminar on this material - see link below.

Sangharakshita: 1982 seminar on The Nature of Existence

The Eight Guidelines

Required reading:

The main material we will be studying on this retreat is the handbook entitled The Eight Guidelines produced by Tiratanaloka - there is a link to this below. The handbook is now also translated in 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 Eight Guidelines as Personal Reflections"

PDF icon The 8 Guidelines Handbook v2 April 2022.pdf
PDF icon Eight Guidelines as Personal Reflections v.02_2022.pdf
PDF icon Tiratanaloka Handbuch - Die acht Leitlinien.pdf
Background reading - Sangharakshita and Subhuti: The Seven Papers (link below)
Sangharakshita and Subhuti: Seven Papers

The Bodhisattva Path

Required reading:

The main material we will be studying on this retreat is the handbook entitled The Bodhisattva Path 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.

PDF icon The Bodhisattva Path Handbook 3.pdf
Background reading - Sangharakshita; The Bodhisattva Ideal (Windhorse Publications) or you can listen to this material as talks on Free Buddhist Audio (link below)
Background reading - Subhuti: A Supra-Personal Force (only if time - link below)
Sangharakshita: series of talks on Aspects of the Bodhisattva Ideal
Subhuti: A Supra-Personal Force

Going for Refuge

Required reading:

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.

 

PDF icon Maitripala's talk: The life and death of a false refuge
PDF icon Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels Handbook_Version Jan 2024
Background reading :
Sangharakshita: The History of my Going for Refuge
Sangharakshita: Dimensions of Going for Refuge
Subhuti: Initiation into a New Life (Pages 127 - 151)

Ethics to Insight

Required reading:

Please read our handbook.  The retreat is based on Sangharakshita’s The Ten Pillars of Buddhism.  This is available as an book 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.  Please bring a copy with you.  

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.  

Ethics 2 retreat:

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).

 

PDF icon Ethics to Insight Handbook
Sangharakshita: The Ten Pillars of Buddhism (talk)
Sangharakshita: The Ten Pillars of Buddhism (book)
Sangharakshita: Know Your Mind (paperback/e-book)
Subhuti: Revering and Relying upon the Dharma
Sangharakshita: Living Ethically
Subhadramati: Not about Being Good

A System of Practice

Required reading:

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.

You can also listen to Sangharakshita's talk A System of Meditation if possible.

PDF icon System of Practice handbook_Jan 2024.pdf
Sangharakshita: A System of Meditation (talk)

A Deeper Harmony

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.

PDF icon Deeper Harmony Study Material.pdf
Shantigarbha: I'll Meet You There