Mandarava

Mandarava is an artist, puppet maker, and storyteller who creates immersive settings for enactments and ritual. She has a background working in professional theatre/opera, as a puppeteer, puppet maker, scene painter, prop maker, and costume dyer. As well as her interest in working creatively, she has trained more recently in the ‘healing arts’ and is now working as a ‘Somatic Experiencing and Focusing Practitioner’. Both are body-oriented approaches that help bring about more aliveness and vitality inherent in our bodies and release what has been blocked or stuck in our lives. She is inspired by a holistic approach to practice that draws on the body, the felt sense, and the imagination in a way that is emergent and creative.

Instagram: mandaravabutlin

Upcoming Programs by Mandarava

The Heart's Release - The Liberation Story of Princess Mandarava

Also With Sinhacandra and Alayasri

April 17 - 24, 2026
Explore the inspirational life story of Princess Mandarava, one of Padmasambhavas consorts (the famous Indian guru who brought Buddhism to Tibet) how she moves into a life of liberation and freedom and hearts release.There will be storytelling with puppets, reflection, group discussion, meditation, ritual, gentle body work in nature and our own creativity. This process will enable us to listen to and be more intimate with ourselves, with others and the world around us. TRIRATNA RETREAT: For regular meditators who attend retreats, a centre or group in Triratna community.

Under the Rose Apple Tree

Also With Nagasiddhi and Satyamati

May 15 - 22, 2026
Before the Buddha’s awakening, he experienced a profound insight that led him to turn away from the unprofitable, wilful and harsh path that he had previously followed. He recollected a childhood memory of sitting beneath a Rose Apple tree where he experienced a deep contentment and spontaneous joy. We will explore this crucial episode in the Buddha’s journey together through experiencing being fully present and deeply connected to ourselves, others and the world around us through a vibrant contentment and the gift of the imagination. TRIRATNA RETREAT For regular meditators who attend retreats, a centre or group in Triratna community.

Path of Purification

Also With Atula, Nagamudra and Nagasiddhi

September 3 - 11, 2026
Atula and the team will guide, with skill and kindness, us into an aware relationship with both ourselves and one another. Group work with honesty and sensitivity to explore our patterns of communicating and relating. A ritual context of meditation, devotional Vajrasattva practice and periods of silence. A profound retreat that has been known to help manifest lasting changes. TRIRATNA INTENSIVE for regular meditators with 2 years+ experience of retreats, centres or groups.

The Body as Mandala

Also With Paramananda

December 4 - 11, 2026
In the West, the seat of consciousness has tended to be imagined in the head. More traditionally, it would be associated with either the belly or the heart. On this retreat, we will imagine our own bodies as both vessels containing psyche and as mandalas where the central or constellating archetype is the heart. We will playfully and imaginatively shift our attention from our thoughts to our direct experience, which is constantly manifesting as us through our own bodies and our extended awareness of the world around us. TRIRATNA INTENSIVE RETREAT for regular meditators with 2 years+ experience of retreats, centres or groups.