history of Taraloka

Everything begins with a vision.  In the 1980’s, more and more women were becoming interested in Buddhism and interested in deepening their practice within the Triratna Buddhist Community (then the FWBO).  But there were no women’s retreat centres. 

There were men’s retreat centres and mixed retreat centres, but there was no space that women practitioners could call their own.

Pioneering women – watch a video of Taraloka’s beginnings

All it takes for a vision to happen is for people to get behind it. A few women, led by Sanghadevi, made the vision happen. Thousands of people contributed to the grassroots fundraising.

In 1985, Cornhill Farm was bought – a run-down farmhouse with seven acres of land. As Ratnasuri said, (another of Taraloka Community’s founding members), looking at the semi-derelict property:  ‘It’s got potential!’  But it didn’t have much else.

The first retreats were held in the white farmhouse – a living room converted into a shrine room, and everyone crowding into a couple of rooms to sleep on mattresses on the floor. But Taraloka – Tara’s Realm – had been born.

Green Tara is a Buddhist figure who embodies the Enlighened quality of active compassion.  She is made of deep green light, the colour of nature.  Her left leg is tucked up in meditation, and her right hand is held in the gesture of fearlessness.  Tara’s right leg is stepping down into the world, and her right hand reaches out, always giving.

Similarly, for us, our compassion and responsiveness to the world needs to be balanced by going deeper inwardly and being nourished by meditation.  Loka is Sanskrit for place, or realm, so Taraloka means Tara’s Realm or Tara’s place.

Over succeeding years, through the generosity of time, energy and money of many, many women – women who were inspired to make this project happen – the farm outbuildings were gradually converted.

Women with jack-hammers broke up concrete cattle troughs from what is now the lounge, women laid floors and nailed tiles on the roofs.  This tradition continues with the Taraloka work retreats.  And the residential community have been a steady thread, holding responsibility for the project.

Many ordinations have been carried out over the years – below, by Sangharakshita in the 1980’s.  And Taraloka welcomes just under a thousand retreatants a year – so many women’s lives touched by this place.   

‘Tara’s Realm’ now holds four decades – and counting! –  of deep spiritual practice.  And you can feel it.