Sridevi

I was ordained by Sangharakshita in 1978 at the first FWBO women’s retreat centre, Mandarava in Norfolk. I worked at LBC when it opened in 1979, then in the West London and Bristol Centres. In 1986-88 I was one of Sangharakshita’s secretaries while also teaching yoga in Norwich. I trained as a yoga teacher in London and did a course with Mr. Iyengar in Pune in 1981, also taking the opportunity to go on a pilgrimage and see the early FWBO activities in India. I returned to my roots in Finland for 14 years in 1991 and helped to run the Helsinki Buddhist Centre.

Outside the FWBO I have had jobs as a secretary, a library assistant, a language teacher and a carer for the elderly. I joined the Tiratanaloka team in January 2006 and appreciate this context very much: meeting women committed to the Dharma from many countries, a great team and a beautiful place to live in! I like the balance of being on retreat and doing practical tasks like recycling and looking after the bookshop. It is fascinating to see how yoga fits in as an enjoyable awareness practice on many of our retreats.

I love books, writing poems, bodywork and meditation.