In this imaginative and stirring talk, Padmasagara frames the third ordination acceptance verse (“for the attainment of Enlightenment, I accept this ordination”) as a descent into the ‘Underworld’, where we meet Death, the limits of materialism, and doorways into multi-dimensional consciousness. The Underworld is a metaphor for the Realm of Myth, described by Sangharakshita as one of ‘undefined, even indefinable meaning’. The talk was given to men who’ve asked for ordination on the ‘What is the Order?’ retreat at Padmaloka in February 2023.

Three short talks given during the What is the Order? Retreat at Padmaloka in 2023. Surata has been on the Ordination Team since 1988. He talks about what it's like to be in the order and how he expresses his going for refuge through his work. Pramudita reflects on his many years in the Order, how the Dharma can change the world and his contribution through helping to set up the Cardiff Buddhist Centre. Sthiramanas, who is the manager of the London Buddhist Centre, talks about his first three years in the Order and his experience of the challenges and opportunities of taking responsibility in the movement.

At the start of the GBC's rainy season retreat 2023, Pasadini revisits the Dana economy and asks would it better better be described and practiced as a Dana ecology? They explore how we build our practice of dana in a community and why the revolution at the heart of the dana practice is a revolution in relationship.