
Retreat Recordings
Awakening Together: Spiritual Friendship 2024 GFR Retreat
Awakening Together: Spiritual Friendship
September 7-15, 2024
Aryaloka Buddhist Center, Newmarket, NH
How is spiritual friendship distinguished from our other relationships? Why is Spiritual Friendship emphasized so strongly in our Community and Order? What is the nature of the horizontal and vertical dimension of friendship inherent in Triratna? Our teacher Sangharakshita has said: "It is in friendship (maitri) that we may find the emotional equivalent of the intellectual understanding of the doctrine of ‘no self.’” Through friendship we have the opportunity to develop the virtues of generosity, compassion, patience, and forgiveness. The gift of these teachings can help us move beyond self-clinging into a deeper and far more mysterious connection with one another - a Greater Love.
Order of the talks: Amala, Ashokasrhi, Viriyalila, Aryadrishti, Sunada
In addition to the recorded main talk below, you can listen to us chanting together in the shrine room: Tiratanavandana (in call and response), a poem in the round called "Indra's Net", the Bodhicitta mantra (amazing!) and a puja dedicated to Sangharakshita.
Amala introduces the theme of the retreat with the talk entitled: What is Spiritual Friendship?
Ashokashri shares her personal reflections on Why one practices Spiritual Friendship.
Viriyalila offers reflections and personal experiences on ways to practice spiritual friendship - suggestions for 'how' to practice it.
Aryadrishti offers this personal talk on how spiritual friendship is a path of personal transformation. View the illustration from the talk-->
Sunada rounds out the retreat exploring how spiritual friendship is different from ordinary friendship with more personal experiences and reflections.