I'm fundraising to support myself so that I can teach the Dharma within the context of Triratna.

 

From 2008-11, I was on a 3-year meditation retreat. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to take my Dharma practice much deeper in such excellent conditions. I never felt that I was just doing the retreat for me; I always saw it as a way of deepening what I could offer to people within Triratna. Since coming back, I have devoted my time and energy to supporting those in Triratna who wish to deepen their Dharma practice, especially through meditation.

 

 

I aim to help in all the ways I can, including running seminars, weekends, full-length retreats, producing articles and maybe online courses, as well as providing support for people wanting to do longer retreats or who would like the opportunity for some on-going meditation mentoring. 

  

I don’t feel happy about charging for the Dharma, so I’ve decided to ‘go for broke’ and operate entirely on a dana (donations) basis. You can help ensure that my ‘going for broke’ is a metaphor, and doesn’t become literal! 

 

I am looking for donations to cover my basic living costs. I estimate I shall need £10,000 for the period from July 2012 to June 2014. So if you feel you could benefit from my activities or would just like to support them, then I’d really appreciate your help.

 

Many thanks for taking the time to read this. See below for details about how JustGiving works and how to donate, as well as some information about my background in Triratna. 

 

With all good wishes,

Vessantara.

 

 DONATING THROUGH JUSTGIVING

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Triratna, who will pass it on to me. They'll also make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer, so that your money goes even further. 

VESSANTARA IN TRIRATNA

As the 22-year-old Tony McMahon, Vessantara made contact with Triratna in London in January 1973. He was ordained into the Order in August 1974, and given his name (which means ‘universe within’) by Sangharakshita. In his early years of ordination he was the second ever Chair of the Brighton Buddhist Centre, and a founder member, manager and treasurer of a co-operative running four right livelihood businesses in Croydon, UK. He also helped with the restoration work of the building that became the London Buddhist Centre, and lived for over a year at Vajraloka, our meditation retreat centre in Wales.

In the 1980s he was secretary to Sangharakshita for 6 years. He also became Chair of Aid For India, the charity that is now known as the Karuna Trust. He then lived at Guhyaloka, our ordination centre for men in the Spanish mountains. He organised the first two men’s ordination courses, and then led the next seven courses.

In the 1990s he became president of our Brighton, Birmingham and Bristol centres. For over five years he was Overall Order Convenor, responsible for various aspects of the Order’s communication and functioning around the world. He was also part of the Preceptors’ College Council, the small group of Order members responsible for guiding Triratna through the handover of responsibility from Sangharakshita to the next generation of Order members.

In the 2000s, he gradually divested himself of his organisational responsibilities and devoted himself to practising, teaching and writing about meditation. In 2001-2, he spent a year on retreat at Guhyaloka.  In 2005, along with Kamalashila he was responsible for initiating the Total Immersion intensive retreat format within Triratna. During 2008-11 he spent over three years in meditation retreat.

 

He has produced eight books on Buddhism and meditation, including three guides to the buddhas, bodhisattvas and tantric deities; Tales of Freedom (a set of stories from the Buddhist tradition with commentary); and two titles – The Breath and the Heart – for Windhorse Publications’ series on the Art of Meditation.