I joined the Taraloka community in May 2026 as gardener and Operations Team member. It was in India in 2018 where I listened to my first Buddhist talk. The teachings felt true and resonated with me deeply. They felt like something I had always known and was just remembering. After attending Buddhafield festival and Shrewsbury Buddhist Centre I decided to come on retreat to Taraloka. During these times I would experience moments of real depth and stillness. In time I started to volunteer in the gardens, under the supportive mentoring of Suryahridaya (the then-gardener), and also support retreats.
It was while I was organising on the ‘Breathing In Birdsong’ retreat in 2025, as Maitridevi read a poem aloud, that I knew I needed to change my life to dedicate more energy to my spiritual life. It took me a year to carefully reorganise myself so I could live and work here. There have been a lot of sacrifices and changes but it’s been good spiritual practice. I’m so excited to be able to contribute to the flow of energy and practice that is Taraloka, a place which I know touches the hearts of so many.