Dear friends of Triratna worldwide,

I am happy to write to you all at the start of the Birth Centenary Year of our precious teacher Urgyen Sangharakshita. 

This is not only about looking back, so as to better understand and appreciate our founder and teacher, important though this is; it is also a special opportunity to look forward and put in place the best conditions for the unfolding of Bhante’s presentation of the Dharma in the century to come.

An international Triratna 100 Birth Anniversary Kula is co-ordinating a programme to run throughout this year with events across Triratna honouring Bhante’s remarkable life and work. I am very happy to tell you about just some of the events coming up this year.

The Unseen Sangharakshita: Treasures from the Triratna Video Archive
a never-before-seen talk by Bhante on the first of every month throughout 2025

The first is released today: 'The Ten Ornaments of the Buddhist’. On 19 January 1992 Bhante gave what he described as his last message to the people of Nagpur and India. Using the metaphor of jewellery he explored ten practices and qualities of the Buddhist that would ensure true spiritual beauty.

At Adhisthana
In August, following a large Order Weekend, Adhisthana will host an International Sanghas Retreat: Invoking Padmasambhava (24 – 31 August). On the birth anniversary during the retreat, Tuesday 26 August, Adhisthana invites day visitors for a special Festival Day celebration (details to follow, places limited).

Work a Day for the Dharma
This exciting initiative from FutureDharma will be launched in February. It will be a chance for anyone in our movement, whatever their circumstances, to work for the good of the Dharma. Everyone will be invited to donate a day's income each month to the Triratna charities that we care about. It is FutureDharma's offering to help protect Bhante's legacy for generations to come. Look out for this in February!

Dharmachakra (Free Buddhist Audio and The Buddhist Centre Online)
The Dharmachakra team has been recording and distributing Sangharakshita's core Dharma lectures since 1967. To mark the Centenary they will begin remastering all of Bhante’s talks on Free Buddhist Audio for future generations using new digital technology: 🎧 listen to a sample

Dharmachakra's team also produces and curates The Buddhist Centre Online, which now has a dedicated space for the Centenary. Watch this space for more events throughout the year.

+ Follow Sangharakshita 100

Finally, eight hundred Order members will be gathering at Bodhgaya later this month for our International Order Convention, when we will be in a very special place to celebrate the Centenary.

As we enter 2025 I wish that we can make this anniversary year an inspiration and impetus to strengthen and deepen our Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels, and that together we can help make Triratna a more and more potent force for good in this suffering world.

Mahamati
Chair of the College of Public Preceptors