This summer I finally made it to the Taplow court. It is a large Victorian house in the village of Taplow in Buckinghamshire, England  which has served as the national headquarters for the SGI since 1988. I set the intention to go out this summer and it manifested with a nice group of dedicated Buddhist practitioners, all intending to overcome our human life’s challenges and to resolve our Karmas.

I have been a devoted practitioner for 5 years, it has personally brought a deeper inner awareness in me than the willingness, also called the ichinen, inner flame to change them.

I was keen to gain more inspiration from the dedicated practitioners of many years, to share and to also give me gratitude for bringing me my present life condition. My outer life has not changed, the practice has elevated me on a higher vibrational living which has evolved to my consistent practice of chanting Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō.

I have more gratitude for the things I previously had in my life and chanting has given me a deeper curiosity for things in the world. I have also been a seeker, valued people, and situations have come into my life at the time when I most needed it.

Going up to the Taplow, the experience has been rejuvenating and easier than expected. It was a pleasant afternoon and change to the daily routines of London. Being in the English countryside and seeing the fresh greenery nurtured my mind and soul, the group shared the shared same experience as well. We arrived at Taplow station, after 40 minutes a small minivan was waiting for us with a dedicated SGI practitioner to take us to the Taplow court, it was a five-minute train ride away. On arrival, we were all keen to visit the Go – Honzon. In Nichiren Buddhism, it refers to the sacred and calligraphic scroll which the chant is directed to. I heard it is powerful to chant in Taplow. After an intense 30 minute chant we headed to the cafeteria for lunch, it happened to be an Indian lunch that day. We were served a delicious Berry Cake and Custard. While having our cake nostalgia hit us, we were reminded of our school days.

We took a short tour of the historic home and the lovely Japanese Gardens with lotus flowers, lily pad pond with waterfalls. It was interesting to visit the gardens as many people following Buddhism conduct their marriage ceremonies here. Some of them even plant trees to support the growth of property or to honor their lives. We all headed to the book shop to buy books for ourselves and to share with others.

On our way back to London, a friend from our group told us that she achieved a big victory within the hour of her return. I believe anything is possible if these three key ingredients are acquired, faith, study, and practice. For the delicious Berry Cake to rise and be served and also be appreciated, those three ingredients are quite necessary.

For more information visit www.sgi-uk.org for booking a visit.

Dynamic yet relaxing, Bohemian yet spiritual – Bali is a paradox of all sorts. For someone who is a big believer in spirituality, Bali had been at the top of my spiritual travel list for a very long time. So, when I got an invitation in 2017 to visit a Balinese friend from my Iyengar Yoga days.

In the heart of Seminyak, a sprawling 20,000 square feet property comprising of an outdoor yoga studio and luxurious treehouses for guests stood majestically in front of me.

Initially, we spent almost all our time reminiscing about our days with Guruji and bringing each other up-to-date with what we had done since the last time we met. Later on, as I got around to meeting other guests, we spent quite a lot of time exploring, dining, and socialising together. We were people belonging to different nationalities united by our common love for Yoga. This opened my eyes to simple yet enjoyable, yet luxurious life like a Yogi, like my Yogi friend Olop lives.

I attended daily morning classes at Olop’s beautiful outdoor studio, surrounded by peacocks, birds and local farm animals. It felt raw and real. It is the first time I had practice in such a relaxed feeling.

The 8 days that I spent in Bali, were truly special. After I explored numerous local markets and shops around the island I realised, the simplicity and the rawness of Bali was reflected not just through the behaviour of the locals but also through the architecture, monuments, and shops. It had a vibe of authenticity and purity in all the local shops and markets, a feeling that I loved. The products sold in these shops were truly inspiring, creative and made by locals from naturally found materials. From a shop that sold only intricate baskets made from shells to shops that displayed local handicrafts, those markets were definitely the best examples of the unique craftsmanship of Bali, the kind souls, and the refined energy.

Needless to say, I came back with bags full of Balinese artefacts and a heart full of enriched experience of another culture.