Maitreya: Buddha of Potential 

Image: Maitreya (detail), by Aloka

I've been a Maitreya devotee for over twenty years, and have written a short book exploring this rich figure.  It's also about our potential for awakening and our potential for boundless metta; about the inseparability of wisdom and love; about the archetype of the Young King, and about unexpected dawn-light arising out of the dark.  

 

Although the ‘Friendly One’ or the ‘Loving One’  - is revered in Buddhist traditions across the world as Buddha of the Future and bodhisattva of limitless love, he’s remained little-known within Triratna.  Yet he sits at the very heart of Triratna’s Tree of Reverence and Respect.  Embodying our potential for awakening, Maitreya speaks to us of the naturalness of awakening processes which will manifest whenever conditions allow. 

 

Available online, or in Taraloka or Adhisthana bookshops.

ISBN: 979-8306702162

£6 paperback, £10 hardback

Author: Maitrisiddhi   Illustrator: Aloka

Spiritual receptivity

 

Spiritual receptivity is of the utmost importance; without it, spiritual progress simply cannot be maintained. We need to hold ourselves open to the truth as the flower holds itself open to the sun.

- Sangharakshita

How does relaxation, openness and letting go of control relate to the rest of the System of Practice?  This is my contribution to Mitra Study Year One, but I think it'll also be of interest to people more widely.  I found it a very engaging process, trying to write about the essence of spiritual receptivity and how it relates to meditation, particularly as the area has developed so much in Triratna over the last twenty years.  See what you think.

 

Just Sitting and Spiritual Receptivity

Travel blogs

 

If you enjoy travel blogs, you might like my writing and images in these Polar Steps Travel Blogs.

 

India and Japan

In 2023 I spent a six month sabbatical on pilgrimage in India & pilgrimage and hiking in Japan.  The Japan bit has more blog than the India bit. 

 

Finland

In 2025 I blogged about train travel to Finland and hiking in Lapland.