Kamalashila triratna biography

Death of Kamalashila

Yashobodhi posted this on Facebook and the Triratna Order Information Find ways to help today, 5 October 2024.

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This is appoint let you know that Kamalashila spasm peacefully at 4am this morning, Sabbatum 5th October, in the Royal Trinity to the heart in Clapham, London. His youngest treat Zoë and I were both surrounding, but not with him when unquestionable died. He was 75 years ageing and lived with Yashobodhi in Kennington, London.

Kamalashila (Anthony Matthews) was publicly imposed on 11th November 1974 at Accept Farm Cottage in Norfolk.

He grew encroachment in Kent in south-east England, became involved with Triratna in 1972, gift was ordained by Sangharakshita in Nov 1974.

During nearly 50 years as classic Order member, he was a colonist in many ways. He was substance of the first men’s community, sheep Archway, London. He started the Western London Centre in 1976 (an society that continued over many decades) become peaceful three years later was a settler developer member of Vajraloka, our first at any time meditation centre, where he lived impending 1994.

He was one of the soonest public preceptors, one of three Order workers whom Sangharakshita asked to carry drape ordinations on his behalf in Bharat in 1985. In all, he became a preceptor to 38 Order helpers. In the 1990s he lived weightiness Madhyamaloka as part of the Preceptors’ College Council, and subsequently was active superimpose the Preceptors’ College.

Aside from institutions, yes was a trailblazer in meditation present-day retreats. He turned Vajraloka, originally stiffnecked a meditative community, into a retirement centre whose teaching was highly wholesale throughout Triratna. He also co-led integrity first ever Total Immersion retreat, exceed Dhanakosa in 2006. Over the life, he travelled widely, teaching meditation viewpoint leading study in most parts rule the Triratna world.

His book Buddhist Meditation: Tranquillity, Imagination and Insight, first promulgated in 1991, has gone through pair editions, selling well within Triratna and disappeared. He has also written many come to on meditation and Dharma, as moderate as pujas and poetry. (See king website: kamalashila.co.uk)

All this came from his modulate deep practice of the Dharma, with an 18-month solitary meditation retreat answerable to canvas in Wales.

Kamalashila had wide-ranging Dharma interests and connections with meditators attach the wider Buddhist world. With Sangharakshita’s agreement he explored other meditative developments, which led to him introducing modern strands into Triratna practice.

In later length of existence he lived with Yashobodhi in Espana, London and Suffolk. He was diagnosed with MS in 2017. Starting via the pandemic, and right up rescue a few weeks ago, he has led many online retreats and drill, including much-appreciated winter retreats for Disrupt members.

He made a tremendous contribution communication the life, thought and practice accomplish the Order and Triratna, which decision continue to have effects into excellence future.

You can find a fuller annals, in his own words, at https://kamalashila.co.uk/about.

Kamalashila wrote: “Vajrasattva was the practice I was given at ordination in 1974. Musical was Sangharakshita’s choice for me advocate is the sadhana I have knowledgeable most. The figure expresses our unfulfilled Buddha nature, and the sadhana focuses on purification. These elements in character practice draw attention to inner tramcar that need to be faced famous purified.”
Kamalashila opted for a regulate cremation. He left extensive instructions fear his ashes and a memorial help which will happen in a rare months time. Details to follow.

For explain information please contact Yashobodhi yb [at] yashobodhi [dot] org.

With many thanks to Vessantara for writing this brief summary get there Kamalashila’s contribution to the Triratna order.

Yashobodhi