Reflections On The 2011 Young Buddhists Weekend
In 2009 I attended the first proper Triratna Young Buddhists weeekend, I was doing so out of duty, representing Padmaloka. I felt sceptical about the whole thing, my cynical side thought it sounded a bit 'trendy vicar'. How utterly and completely wrong I was. Around thirty of us attended, it was absolutely brilliant and deeply inspiring. I was converted and looked forward to the 2010 one, which was even bigger and even better, with around 60 of us attending.
How would the 2011 one compare? It had doubled in size again to over 120!
I can honestly say that this year's was the best one yet. Which is very high praise indeed. I've said this elsewhere, but I'll say it again, for me it was a cross between: a Buddhist retreat ,a house party, an illegal rave, Hogwarts and a primary school (it was set in a an old manor house converted into a bording primary school). It felt deeply intergrating to have such elements all present in one context.
One of the highlights of the weekend for me was friendship, especially attending the event with the Padmaloka and Norwich crew and also being with my old cronies from Colchester, as well as all the delightful beings I've met in different contexts, plus meeting lots of new people. I found myself on a number of occaisions want to talk to everyone at once but not knowing where to start!
The discussion group I led seemed to go well, with everyone engaged. The pujas were sublime, such beautiful chanting... Plus three very good talks from Vajratara, Singhamati and Dharmashalin. Also lovely food provided by the Buddhafield Cafe.
One striking memory is from Saturday night. It's just after dinner and I'm in the Order meeting, we're going round saying how we are and how the groups are going. As we go round, outside the door we can hear the gentle bubbling of conversations getting louder, as people finish dinner and make their way to the tea area and lounge. Flourishes of laughter spring up too, also getting louder. Then the music starts, gently at first, with perhaps just a guitar, but other muscians join in, including drums, untill it sounds like a full on house party is in full swing outside the door. We have to speak up in the Order meeting as the sounds outside are starting to drown out our voices, we decide to only have a partial silence overnight, not wishing to impede the energy that is flowing freely through the building and it's inhabitants. Arybandhu and I get the giggles, imagining all the wild things that are going on outside the doors of our meeting. The meeting ends and the Order members join everyone else, we find a civilised affair compared to the wild imaginings of Aryabandhu and I. People enjoying the music and each others company whilst drinking tea. Dancing starts and many join in, we then put our arms round each others shoulders and kick our legs in the air. Then we let go and start liking arms in pairs, spinning round before linking up with another willing arm and smiling face. The dance descends into laughing, smiling, joyful chaos. Then 8 O'clock comes, there's no bell, but each and every single person stops what they are doing and procedes mindfully to the shrineroom, ploughing all this energy and joy at simply being alive, into the meditation and puja, indeed one of the most powerful, beautiful and moving pujas I've ever attended.
My only regret is that this these events weren't happening when I first came along in my early twenties. But hey, better late than never, they are happening now.
