A vision of interconnectedness in a time of climate and ecological emergency

Posted on by Shantigarbha
Gesine and I recently returned from our annual NVC Community camp. Sitting outside in the evenings with clear skies and little light pollution, I had a chance to renew my acquaintance with the stars. They reminded of the image of Indra's Net, a traditional Buddhist symbol of the truth of interconnectedness, of how things arise in dependence upon conditions. The Avatamsaka Sutra refers to the image...
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A friend for a reason, a friend for a season, a friend for a lifetime

Posted on by Gesine Schrader
I have a close friend in Bristol who practises meditation and Buddhism. A year ago, she told me that she had been invited on a 3-month ordination in 2022. She told me that after her return, she planned to move to a women's retreat centre to support the community. Wow, what a life-changing decision! In the first moment there was joy in my heart – I was happy for her to fulfill her dreams and find ...
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Gesine’s dream

Posted on by Shantigarbha
I woke up this morning still connected with my dreams and felt happy. I dreamed that I was in a tropical bay. As I walked into the water I could feel the sand under my feet, the wind on my face and the waves against my skin. I loved playing with the waves. I looked out for a large wave. As soon as I saw one, I dived into it. The wave rolled over me and broke onto the sand. For a moment I was ...
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