Buddhism

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Working the Seam
Liberty, equality and fraternity were Ambedkar's central socio-political ideals. Here, we explore how he increasingly understood them from a Buddhist point of view.
Vidyaruchi
20 September 2025
vien of gold
Preparing the Ground
Dr Ambedkar is of great historical significance, but his thought is also worthy of attention. This article lays the ground for a distinctive exploration of some of his deepest ideas.
Vidyaruchi
18 August 2025
The Logic of Anattā and other aspects of Wisdom2
Explores Sangharakshita's account of the final stage of the Threefold Way, including his familiarity with formal logic and his use of it to explain the doctrine of anattā.
Vidyaruchi
19 March 2025
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A further exploration of one of Sangharakshita's signature teachings: the cyclical and progressive modes in which the law of dependent arising operates.
Vidyaruchi
19 December 2024
theorientalits
The way Buddhism has been generally understood in the West has been strongly shaped by the rationalist tendencies of certain nineteenth century scholars. This article explores Sangharakshita's critique of these 'Orientalists', and how it is still relevant to us today.
Vidyaruchi
12 August 2024
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Over three years ago, a group of friends and I came together with the aspiration of launching an online periodical — the very one you are reading now. What was on our minds? What inspired the project?
Achara
10 May 2024
Smallgalaxy
A multi-faceted exploration of Sangharakshita's understanding of the relationship between Buddhism and science, especially his attempts to contain them both within a single unifying vision of existence.
Vidyaruchi
17 March 2024
A Buddhist Utopia
The second in a series exploring what the Buddha said about society. In this one we look in detail about how, according to the Buddha, an empire should be ruled.
Ratnaguna
16 January 2024
Gangetic plain
A commentary on the seven principles the Buddha gave to the Vajjika League, saying that, if followed, would prevent its decline and assure its growth and prosperity.
Ratnaguna
16 November 2023
Beautiful stone sculpture of quanyin in Japan.
Urgyen Sangharakshita explores the idea that ethical actions are not only good, but also beautiful, and so consequently, an ethical life is a beautiful life.
Sangharakshita-face
24 October 2023
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An exploration of the principles of an authentic social justice movement, beginning with the need for the exercise of reason and an agreement between narrative and fact.
Vidyaruchi
20 September 2023
Buddhism and war
When a tyrannous regime invades a peaceful country, what is the most ethical course of action for the rulers of that country? Ratnaguna reflects on the moral dilemma such a situation would present to Buddhists.
Ratnaguna
25 July 2023
B.R._Ambedkar
Dr Ambedkar was a unique figure in world history. Buddhists seeking to promote 'Social Justice' causes have been known to cite him as a precedent. But is this justified? Vidyaruchi investigates.
Vidyaruchi
25 June 2023
Woman holds two fingers or Victory Sign
A message from the editorial board on the occasion of Apramada's second anniversary, explaining something of what motivated us to start a new online publication, and what we hope to achieve.
Vidyaruchi
3 May 2023
angry annoyed woman, getting mad asking question you talking to
Ratnaguna discusses the rise of offence-taking in our culture and argues that, just because someone gives offence, doesn't mean you have to take it.
Ratnaguna
23 April 2023
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An extract from Nagapriya's book The Promise of a Sacred World, in which he argues that cultivating a sense of gratitude for all we've received is transformative.
nagapriya
23 April 2023
middle way
The Middle Path is one of the most fundamental doctrines of Buddhism. In a particularly brilliant passage from A Survey of Buddhism, Sangharakshita identifies three 'modalities' through which it operates. Here, Vidyaruchi explores these deep ideas.
Vidyaruchi
5 April 2023
budhakingbimbasara
Another in our series Thus Have I Heard: Brief Essays on Buddhism, this one explores an apparent contradiction in the Buddha's teaching
Ratnaguna
24 February 2023
Ratnaguna interviews Advayacitta about how recognising and transcending various patterns from the past is an important aspect of psychological and spiritual development.
Advayacitta
24 December 2022
the impartite dharma
An exploration of the crucial twofold distinction of the Dharma into doctrine and method, as found in A Survey of Buddhism and Sangharakshita's later thought.
Vidyaruchi
9 October 2022
mole3
Another in the series Thus Have I heard, about facing danger, and how we should resist attempts from our risk averse culture to shield us from it.
Ratnaguna
12 September 2022
Harbour
In this second article based on his celebrated 'Eros and Beauty' talks, Subhuti examines the nature of aesthetic experience using the language of 'imagination'.
Subhuti
3 August 2022
A Binocular Vision
An examination of Sangharakshita's teaching on the progressive trend within reality, especially as regards its implications for the doctrinal unity of the Buddhist tradition.
Vidyaruchi
24 June 2022
pink lotus
This is the second in our series Thus Have I Heard: Brief Essays on Buddhism. We aim to keep them short enough to be read in five minutes or less. This one is 4 minutes of unadulterated Dharma.
Ratnaguna
24 June 2022
ascent of beauty
In this first of two articles based on his celebrated 'Eros and Beauty' talks given in 2014, Subhuti explores the pursuit of beauty as a spiritual path.
Subhuti
4 May 2022
Cake
Apramāda is now one year old. In this editorial, Ratnaguna marks the occasion by discussing why loyalty to the notion of objective truth is crucial for the health of society
Ratnaguna
4 May 2022
Buddha
The Buddha brought his spiritual genius to two questions: what is the root of our suffering and how can it be quenched? This short article points us to the Buddha’s discoveries and his prescribed training scheme.
Guyhavajra
29 March 2022
Devamitra
Ratnaguna finds much to admire in Devamitra's account of his diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. Inspiring, challenging, humorous, and thought-provoking, it's well worth reading, regardless of your health condition or religion.
Ratnaguna
17 March 2022
Hourglass nebula
In this first article in a series on Sangharakshita's magnum opus, A Survey of Buddhism, Vidyaruchi offers a novel interpretation of some of the main ideas found in Chapter One of the book.
Vidyaruchi
18 February 2022
Individuals
Part 2 of the series Breaking Free of Tribalism and Becoming an Individual
Ratnaguna
8 February 2022
The Buddha
This is the first in a new series we're calling Thus Have I Heard: Brief Essays on Buddhism. They should be short enough to be read in five minutes or less!
Ratnaguna
26 January 2022
Tribe
The first of a 3 part series Breaking Free of Tribalism and Becoming an Individual. In this one Ratnaguna examines the nature of tribes.
Ratnaguna
30 November 2021
Ratnaguna and Advayacitta discuss aspects of Buddhism and psychological therapy - their similarities and differences. In particular they explore the topic of 'helpful conversations'.
Advayacitta
18 August 2021
Arguing with the Buddha
In this, the second part of the article, Ratnaguna continues to look at instances from the ancient texts of the Buddha debating, and draws out lessons we can learn from him.
Ratnaguna
5 August 2021
Argument
The Buddha was well aware of the dangers and pitfalls of engaging in debates, and he had some interesting observations about how to conduct oneself in a discussion.
Ratnaguna
10 July 2021
Ratnaguna interviews Advayacitta about the importance and meaning of music in general, and in particular of the chanting of mantras.
Advayacitta
24 May 2021
Uncertainty
Ratnaguna discusses the vitally important questions of how can we really know anything, and how often are our opinions based on a lack of real knowledge?
Ratnaguna
24 May 2021
The Buddha
This article is intended for you if you have come to this website as someone who is curious about Buddhism but as yet knows little about it.
Advayacitta
7 May 2021
Ratnaguna interviews Advayacitta about the nature of consciousness, and how this relates to the question of rebirth.
Advayacitta
15 April 2021

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