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.

I love books, writing poems, bodywork and meditation.