We often, understandably, think about what we can do to support our Dharma brothers and sisters in India. However, in the video and excerpt below Caroline, a GFR Mitra living and working at Adhisthana, offers a different experience for us to contemplate. In this short video we get a glimpse of the abundant riches that the Sangha in India provide for our movement.
Earlier this year Caroline attended the International young Buddhist convention and pilgrimage in India. This event only occurs every three years and so provides a rare opportunity for the next generation of an international Triratna community to gather together in large numbers and explore the original holy sites of the Buddha.
The International Buddhist Youth Convention usually has a turnout of around 150 participants and is organised by the National Network of Buddhist Youth India. This year the Indian Buddhist Youth organised a six-day convention at Nagaloka in Nagpur followed by a two-week pilgrimage; walking in the footsteps of the Buddha in North India and Nepal.
This exceptional opportunity is one of numerous that the India Sangha offer to our international community. Desire for learning the Dharma is expanding within India and it benefits us all to help support our Triratna international community in their quest to go deeper and train for ordination. An international Sangha is a Sangha which can create change throughout the world.
“I particularly find their Practice and Shraddha incredibly inspiring as a very straightforward, uncomplicated belief in the possibility of transformation.” ~ Caroline
Listen to Caroline’s experience below:
” My name is Caroline and I wanted to share how much meeting our Indian brothers and sisters in the Sangha has affected me. I’ve developed some good friendships with people as a result of visiting India and spending time with Indian people over here in the UK. I particularly find their Practice and Shraddha incredibly inspiring as a very straightforward, uncomplicated belief in the possibility of transformation and in a way, with my sort of navel gazing, I can get a bit bogged down with it. I feel I have a lot to learn from that kind of approach to Dharma practice, and I would love for the Indian Ordination teams to be able to support more people, particularly young people, to join the order and continue practicing and transforming their minds over in India.” ~ Caroline, Adhisthana.