Fall Mythic Context Retreat
Fri, Sep 30
|Aryaloka Buddhist Center
An opportunity to explore, through the eyes of beauty, myth and ritual, what it is that we can open to in the spiritual life. This HYBRID retreat will offer options to attend either in person at Aryaloka or online via Zoom.


Time & Location
Sep 30, 2022, 6:00 PM EDT – Oct 09, 2022, 3:00 PM EDT
Aryaloka Buddhist Center, 14 Heartwood Cir, Newmarket, NH 03857, USA
About The Event
Please follow this Eventbrite link to register
"Spiritual receptivity is of the utmost importance; without it, spiritual progress simply cannot be maintained. We need to hold ourselves open to the truth as the flower holds itself open to the sun. This is what spiritual receptivity means: holding ourselves open to the higher spiritual influences that are streaming through the universe, but with which we are not usually in contact, because we usually shut ourselves off from them. We should be ready if necessary to give up whatever we have learned so far, which isn't easy by any means, and to give up whatever we have become so far, which is still more difficult" (Sangharakshita: The Essential Sangharakshita)
This retreat will be offered at Aryaloka Buddhist Center, September 30-October 9, 2022. It will be a hybrid retreat, in other words, there will be options to attend either in person at Aryaloka or online via Zoom.
An opportunity to explore, through the eyes of beauty, myth and ritual, what it is that we can open to in the spiritual life – what it is that brings our devotion alive. This will be supported by a significant period of silence and by the Going for Refuge and Prostration Practice: a ritual enactment of creative engagement with all life.
Required reading:
- Re-Imagining the Buddha by Subhuti
- The Refuge Tree as Mythic Context by Aloka (available by arrangement for participants)
The following two books will not be discussed directly, but we encourage you to explore a few teachers in our lineage in more depth. We suggest reading about 2-3 teachers of your choosing from these books:
- Precious Teachers by Sangharakshita
- Teachers of Enlightenment by Kulananda
Optional reading and talks:
- The Five Aspects of Dharma Life - Spiritual Receptivity, by Subhuti (opens in FBA)
- Wisdom Beyond Words by Sangharakshita: p. 183-194 ('The Greater Mandala')
- Seeking the Buddha through Symbol, Myth and Archetype by Dhammadina (opens in YouTube)
- Spiritual Receptivity, by Vajratara (opens in FBA)
Retreat team will include Amala, Ashokashri, Dharmasuri, Shantimukta, Sunada and Viriyalila
Aryaloka Info
This is a HYBRID retreat with options to attend either in person or online via Zoom. Please note space is limited for in-person participation and vaccinations are required. If you would like to camp, please let us know. As space is limited, those living in the Eastern region will be given preference. We are looking for help with onsite technical support and food shopping. If you live in the area and would like to help with this, please contact TFO.uscan@gmail.com.
Please follow this Eventbrite link to register
Retreat Fees
In-person at Aryaloka: sliding scale $400 / $550 / $700 includes all meals + accommodations. Please pay the highest amount you are able within the range of $400 to $700.
Online via Zoom: sliding scale $35-$280. We recommend you take time off from work and/or other responsibilities so you can participate in the retreat fully. Online program will have accessible times for East and West Coast attendees.
Please plan to register by September 1st. If you prefer an alternative to Eventbrite, or if you want to make a deposit and pay the balance closer to the retreat time, please contact us at TFO.USCan@gmail.com to make arrangements.
Health and Safety Notes
We will require all in-person attendees to be fully vaccinated and to take reasonable precautions to protect against infection in the days leading up to the retreat. If you consider yourself at increased risk you should not attend. If you are planning to travel by plane or other public transport please be sure you have a backup place to stay in case of illness.
Food and Work Periods for In-Person Attendees
All food is vegan, with eggs and dairy options on the side. To simplify cooking and cleaning in silence we have a cook to organize lunch and dinner, with retreatants assisting with a task of their choosing from preparing breakfast, chopping vegetables, or cleaning up after meals. There is also a building-wide clean up session at the end of the retreat that we ask all to participate in.
Flying to Triratna retreats: Option to reduce climate change impact - compiled by Nancy Artz & Rodhasruti - opens in our Skydancer group on The Buddhist Centre Online: Flying to Triratna Retreats
If you have any questions, please direct them to the TFO Coordinating team at tfo.uscan@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you on retreat!