The Life Inside: With Maitreyabandhu and Andy West

Join Maitreyabandhu in conversation with Andrew West as they explore how Buddhist practice offers a path beyond toxic masculinity—transforming aggression into courage, strength into compassion, and cultivating mature, emotionally intelligent men. Together they'll discuss friendship, purpose, and how the spiritual path, including ordination in the Triratna Buddhist Community, can help men—and all of us—live richer, more meaningful lives.

Andrew West is a writer and philosopher whose work explores psychology, myth, masculinity and spiritual transformation. His acclaimed memoir, The Life Inside, about teaching philosophy in prisons while grappling with his own family's history of incarceration, was adapted into the acclaimed BBC drama Waiting for the Out. He will be in conversation with Maitreyabandhu—poet, author and senior member of the Triratna Buddhist Order—whose celebrated Poetry East series has featured conversations with many of Britain's leading poets, writers and thinkers. Together they bring a rare combination of warmth, insight and curiosity to this timely discussion.

This special event is part of Guhyaloka For The Ages, a fundraising campaign supporting Triratna's men's ordination training retreat centre in Spain, helping ensure future generations have the opportunity to deepen their practice in a unique environment of wisdom, friendship and transformation. Whatever your sex and whether you are a Buddhist or simply curious, join us for what promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking evening at the Mandala Café.

£15 - pay via this page.