The Mahasiddha and His Idiot Servant

by HH. Seonaidh Perks

The Open Nature of Celtic Buddhism

Welcome to the Celtic Buddhist internet home. We hope this site will be of benefit to you as you enter or proceed on the path of Dharma.

Ven. Seonaidh Riley Perks and friends on retreat in Ireland-May 2005. We came here a few times to practice as the energy was palpable and the view quite lovely.

The lineage of Celtic Buddhism was suggested in the 1970's during casual conversation between the reknowned Tibetan lama Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and his student John Perks. It's actual development is the result of the mixing of their minds. The lineage was formally incorporated as a non-profit in 1989, when it took on an official status. After meeting for years in rented rooms Ven. Seonaidh Riley Perks established the Anadaire Celtic Buddhist Center on 11 acres in Vermont, where the sangha erected a stone circle which has aided in increasing and focusing energies of transformation.

Beginning in April, 2006 several of the sangha will be moving to Ireland for a year to strengthen and expand Celtic Buddhism. (More detail is on the Center Programs page).

Sangha members are encouraged to establish a daily meditation practice. Among the Vermont sangha practices include shamatha/vipashyana, tonglen, deity yoga and Tibetan style ngöndro and chöd. As a group we go on yearly retreats to Maine or, to further connect with latent Celtic energies, Ireland and Scotland. One member has delved into thangka painting to explore the emerging Celtic Buddhist mandala.

As you can imagine, the development of a new lineage is a very interesting and potent situation. Staying open and intuitive is both the challenge and the opportunity.

Traditional Buddhists may complain about unstructured aspects of Celtic Buddhism. Venerable Seonaidh says, "It's still a big question mark as to what Celtic Buddhism is going to evolve into. It's important to make the question mark very big, so that it remains a big open question. Not only about oneself, but the society in which one lives. Celtic Buddhism could be viewed as an open exploratory adventure with no conclusion."

Center stone of the Circle of Blue Sovranty at the Anadaire Celtic Buddhist Center.

Contact us:

Last updated Oct. 19, 2008