Triratna News
Triratna News

Celebrating 35 Years of Taraloka Retreat Centre - Interview with the Founders

By Sadayasihi on Tue, 15 Dec, 2020 - 17:39

Celebrating 35 Years of Taraloka Retreat Centre - Interview with the Founders

By Sadayasihi on Tue, 15 Dec, 2020 - 17:39

“One November morning in 1985, four women - Sanghadevi, Ratnasuri, Karunasri, Kulanandi - and a cat called Tansy, drove from London to the Welsh borders, to start what was probably the first Buddhist retreat centre for women in the world.”

In 1985, Cornhill Farm was bought - a run-down farmhouse and derelict outbuildings, together with seven acres of land. The first retreats were held in the white farmhouse - a living room converted into a shrine room, and...

Taraloka Retreat Centre
Taraloka Retreat Centre

Video links to various clips of Ratnasuri

By Hridayagita on Thu, 3 Oct, 2019 - 12:11

Video links to various clips of Ratnasuri

By Hridayagita on Thu, 3 Oct, 2019 - 12:11

A set of links to video clips of Ratnasuri talking about various aspects of her practice over the years.  

Ratnasuri on ordaining women - A clip from ‘Buddhist Women Speak on Ordination’ https://vimeo.com/358868155
Ratnasuri on becoming the first women’s Public Preceptor: https://vimeo.com/358805020
Ratnasuri on Dharma practice including attitudes to her death: https://vimeo.com/358863346
Ratnasuri on moving to Taraloka: https://vimeo.com/358788744
Ratnasuri on attitudes to money and time off: https://vimeo.com/358791961
Ratnasuri on aging in a retreat centre community: https://vimeo.com/358814092
Ratnasuri on her interests: https://vimeo.com/358819254
Ratnasuri on...

Taraloka Retreat Centre
Taraloka Retreat Centre

An interview with Ratnasuri

By Hridayagita on Thu, 3 Oct, 2019 - 12:07

As we head towards celebrating the life of Ratnasuri with her funeral here at Taraloka on the 10th October 2019. This is a link to an interview with Ratnasuri, aged 90, by Samantabhadri on the retreat ‘Facing Death, Embracing Life’ at Taraloka November 2013.

An alert, thoughtful Ratnasuri chats about inspiration, old age, her death and re-birth, Bhante, Taraloka, Amitabha and Vajrayogini.

Community Highlights
Community Highlights

An Obituary of Dharmacharini Anagarika Ratnasuri, 1923-2019

By Centre Team on Thu, 19 Sep, 2019 - 14:28

Kamalagita has written this lovely obituary of Ratnasuri, which you can also download below as a PDF. Please feel free to add any memories and eulogies you may wish to share as a comment below.

Updated 21/10/2019 to include link to condensed version of Kamalagita’s obituary in 
The Guardian 

This post appeared originally on the private Order spaces here on The Buddhist Centre Online. Ratnasuri was such an important pioneer and exemplar – for women and...

Triratna News
Triratna News

30th Anniversary of the First Triratna Ordinations of Women by Women in the West

By Sadayasihi on Thu, 12 Sep, 2019 - 10:14

30th Anniversary of the First Triratna Ordinations of Women by Women in the West

By Sadayasihi on Thu, 12 Sep, 2019 - 10:14

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the first ordinations of women by women in the West.

Ratnasuri previously had been the Public Preceptor for two dharmacharinis in India, January 1987, which she conducted ‘on behalf of’ Sangharakshita, the founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order. 

In 1989 Sangharakshita asked Ratnasuri to perform ordinations ‘on her own responsibility’ - a very significant development for the Order. On 17th August 1989, on a retreat at Taraloka Retreat Centre, Wales, she received into the...

Triratna News
Triratna News

Ratnasuri leaves Taraloka after 29 years

By Munisha on Mon, 21 Apr, 2014 - 18:44

Ratnasuri leaves Taraloka after 29 years

By Munisha on Mon, 21 Apr, 2014 - 18:44Ratnasuri, founder member of the community at Taraloka retreat centre for women, UK, has moved out to begin a new life, living alone for almost the first time in her 91 years.

Saddhanandi writes: In 1985, in her 60s, Ratnasuri moved to the newly-bought Taraloka, along with Sanghadevi and the two mitras who became Karunasri and Kulanandi. As other women laboured to convert the farm buildings, she worked away to support them, cooking for entire retreats...
Taraloka Retreat Centre
Taraloka Retreat Centre

Ratnasuri Departs from Taraloka after 28 years

By saddhanandi on Wed, 16 Apr, 2014 - 14:29

Ratnasuri Departs from Taraloka after 28 years

By saddhanandi on Wed, 16 Apr, 2014 - 14:29Saddhanandi: Here I am, back at Taraloka after a two-week absence: visiting family, attending a two-day meeting on mindfulness at Adhisthana, and attending a meditation retreat at Rivendell. All these events were enjoyable and productive, but throughout I was very conscious of the fact that whilst I was away Ratnasuri was leaving Taraloka and beginning a new life in Wrexham – living alone for almost the first time in her 91 years.

Ratnasuri first moved to Taraloka in 1985...

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