447: A Luminous Emptiness - Meditating and Loving in Reality with Tejananda

In this latest episode of the Buddhist Centre podcast, we are delighted to welcome back Tejananda, one of the most experienced meditation teachers within the Triratna Buddhist Community. Tejananda will be bringing insights from decades of practice to his upcoming Home Retreat on The Buddhist Centre Live, ‘Emptiness and Compassion: The Divine Abodes’, starting March 29th. The retreat is part of a trilogy (so far!) exploring the Buddhist concept and experience of ‘emptiness’ (shunyata - pointing to the lack of an “objectively” fixed essence or selfhood in anything). This time around we are approaching the great field of contemplation and reflection from the meditative perspective of the 'divine abodes' (brahma viharas)—unconditional love, compassion, joy, and equanimity–all seen as pathways to liberating the mind. By cultivating these beautiful qualities, Tejananda says, we can find a larger context for our afflictive emotions—craving, hatred, and ignorance—and in the process gradually find unveiled the uncultivated, unlimited, and unconditional nature of them as ways to engage with ourselves, with other beings and with reality itself. Tejananda is interested in a non-abstract, earthed, experiential relationship to ‘emptiness', and in the transformative power of compassion for our consciousness. The ensuing conversation opens a seam of truly rich material: from constructed realities (yes, we talk about the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest) to how we can work with difficult emotions, to the relief of resting in a developing experience that we are fundamentally okay. Even as we are all subject to impermanence in the luminous emptiness of this reality, “Let there be unconditional love” is Tejananda’s quietly encouraging rallying call. This is a fascinating glimpse into the work waiting for us when we close our eyes in meditation, experience more fully sensed and in potentially higher resolution than any fancy-pants headset can render!🧘 Reserve your place on ‘Emptiness and Compassion: The Divine Abodes' with Tejananda and friendsShow NotesLike all our Home Retreats Tejananda’s week-long meditation event is designed to support you in exploring in-depth Buddhist practices and teachings in your own time - during the live retreat or at any time after in the archive.Visit our Home Retreat spacesListen to ‘Meditating in the Mandala’, a previous episode with Tejananda about Triratna’s System of Practice‘Being Divine Online’ - a Home Retreat space with Ratnavandana on the Brahma ViharasHome Retreat spaces with Paramananda and Bodhilila focussed on the body in meditation:  ‘The Alchemical Heart’ ‘The Myth of Meditation’ ‘The Poetics of Awakening'  'Following the White Deer: Answering the Mythic call in Meditation’ Paramananda’s books on Buddhism and meditation from Windhorse Publications‘Forces for Good – Challenging Emotions as Portals to Liberation’ with Balajit, Singhashri and Viveka‘Entering the Mandala: Mindfulness and Imagination’ with Vidyamala and VishvapaniFollow us on YouTube and Instagram***Visit The Buddhist Centre Live (events year-round on Buddhism, mindfulness, meditation, and culture)Come meditate with us online six days a week!Theme music by Ackport! Used with kind permission.