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Order/Mitra Online Retreat with Lokeshvara
Sunday November 26 , 7:00 pm – Friday December 1 , 9:00 pm
Bookings closed – contact office@melbournebuddhistcentre.org.au for enquiries
Kalyana Mitrata and the Four Tantric Rights
“By the red Rite of Fascination you draw the transcendental towards you,
By the white Rite of Pacification you subdue demons,
By the black Rite of Destruction you destroy negative forces.
And with the Yellow Rite of Prospering you foster the creative forces.“
Friendship that is Kalyana – ‘beautiful’, ‘noble’, ‘auspicious’ – is a practice whose implications may run so deep as to be a complete path to awakening, transcending self and other.
Back in 1972 Sangharakshita gave a series of lectures called ‘Creative Symbols of the Tantric Path to Enlightenment’, and in one of them he described the tantric magic rites.
Later when Subhuti immersed himself in Kalyana mitrata he used this framework in an attempt to unpack the far reaching, transcending implications of Kalyana mitrata. He describes them as emerging from traditional Tibetan magic, forces now harnessed in service of the Dhamma,
“…these magic rites emerge in response to these basic human desires. But in the Tantric context they are sublimated (to serve the Dharma). By the red Right of Fascination you draw not your beloved but the transcendental towards you; you draw the beneficent forces towards you. By the white Rite of Pacification you subdue demons and bring them to serve you or to help you in your efforts on the Path. By the black Rite of Destruction you destroy negative forces. And with the Yellow Rite of Prospering you foster the creative forces”.
I propose to take a few key phrases and points from his work (which is out of print) and embed them in meditation, ritual and some discussion.
This retreat was born through discussions with Viryasiddhi, chair of the Melbourne Buddhist centre, for Order members and mitras in Melbourne with an invitation extended to the other New Zealand and Australian Sanghas, or indeed further afield if the time zones work!
The invitation is to participate in the whole retreat. However, the nature of online retreats is that life may intervene, so you’re welcome to come and go through the week.
About Lokeshvara
If you don’t know Lokeshvara, he was one of the two International Order convenors for 8 years until last year, travelling widely around the Triratna world. Previously he lived at Padmaloka in the UK for 12 years, the centre for mens’ ordination training in Europe.
Open to Order Members and Mitras of the Triratna Buddhist Community
Online in Zoom/ Daily Sessions from Sunday (evening) 26 November – Friday 1 December
Morning meditation at 7-8am (AEDT) / Evening ritual, talk and discussion at 7-9pm (AEDT)
Booking Essential: $180 Waged / $115 Concession
This event will be recorded and made available to watch later if you miss a session.