Photographs of Sangharakshita’s mother and father

Object location: Bedroom

When Sangharakshita moved to Adhisthana, he had these photographs of his parents framed and hung them above his bed. He had a warm appreciation of them both and often dreamt of his mother. The significance of his placing of the pictures should not be lost. In a sense, placing them either side of Tārā was tantamount to placing them under her protection. Sangharakshita would also have been aware that in the meditation on Going for Refuge to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha one imagines that all men and women go for Refuge with one; and that the assembly of men and women are headed by one’s father and one’s mother.

Now, I see them in my dreams;

A mystic light about them gleams.

They have become my Muse’s themes.

My mother and I in an orchard strolled.

Her looks were neither young nor old,

And she was wearing a gown of gold….

From ‘The Family Reunion’ (2009) in The Complete Works of Sangharakshita, vol.25, p. 449