“‘Buddham saranam gacchami! Dhammam saranam gacchami! Sangham saranam gacchami! To the Buddha for refuge I go! To the Dharma for refuge I go! To the Sangha for refuge I go!’ These words from the ancient past reveal to us the origin of an act which lies at the heart of Buddhist life: Going for Refuge. They also tell us something of the tremendous spiritual significance of this act. Going for Refuge represents your positive emotional response – in fact your total response – to the spiritual ideal when that ideal is revealed to your spiritual vision. Such is its appeal that you cannot but give yourself to it.” (Sangharakshita: Going for Refuge)
"Going for Refuge in an experience - a spiritual experience - that is deepening and growing more multidimensional all the time. One accepts the ideal of Enlightened humanity, exemplified by the historical Buddha, as being more and more relevant to oneself personally; one takes that ideal as one's personal goal in life more and more to heart; and one tries to practice the Dharma in such a way as to realize that ideal more and more effectively" (Sangharakshita: The Essential Sangharakshita)
As we consider our relationship with the Three precious Jewels of Buddhism, this retreat is an opportunity for us to open to what brings us alive - indeed what we long for most deeply - in our own Dharma lives.
The team for this retreat will be Kalyacitta, Karuandhi, Prajnagita, Santavajri and Vandanajyoti, joined by Vanaraji and you can find the study material here.
We are hoping to hold this retreat at Tiratanaloka. If this is not possible, we will run it as an online event. We are asking you book with just a deposit at present and we will let you know the appropriate balance amount at least one month before the retreat. Please book only if you are happy to do this as a residential retreat.