In this talk on Sangha Day at Manchester Buddhist Centre, Vishangka uses Sangharakshita's poem, The Sunflower's Farewell, as a starting point to reflect on the power and beauty of Sangha. This talk was given shortly after Sangharakshita's death.
My parents gave me my life and raised me with love, thereby giving me a stable and healthy basis for my entire life, for which I feel deeply grateful to them.
But in my adult life, the greatest formative influence has been my teacher, Bhante Urgyen Sangharakshita.
I had met the Dharma and caught (some) fire before I met him or fwbo/Triratna. But would the Dharma ever have become the central focal point in my life that it did become, had I then embarked...
Today’s FBA Dharmabyte is a recollection from Sangharakshita called An Encounter with Padmasambhava in Darjeeling. Padmasambhava, often known as the ‘Second Buddha’, is famous for converting the demons of Tibet. In this lecture we are given a brief biography of Padmasambhava and an outline of the progressive Nyingmapa practices attributed to him.
From Sangharakshita Memorial Space on Tue, 27 Nov, 2018 - 13:51Gratitude to Bhante Urgyen Sangharakshita My parents gave me the precious gift of life, Bhante Urgyen Sangharakshita gave me the precious gift of a direction, a way for this human life to be fulfilled. He passed on the teachings of the Buddha that lead to the fulfilment of the deepest wish of the heart. As an adolescent I was desperate to find a way of life that would lead to such fulfilment and to the alleviation of suffering in the...
On the evening of Urgyen Sangharakshita’s funeral and burial, after the departure of most of the 1,200 guests, those who remained gathered together to perform a special, final sevenfold puja and close an extraordinary day.
Padmavajra led the devotional ritual, specifically dedicated to Padmasambhava. In this extract we hear Surata reading verses to Vajrasattva known as ‘The Confounder of Hell’, followed by a rousing version of the Great Guru of Tibet’s mantra.
Voices were uplifted and many offerings made: to say a last farewell...
Since 2015, ‘Safeguarding’ has become an integral part of the life of Triratna organisations in the UK, and indeed those in many other countries, even where Safeguarding as understood in Britain is unknown. (See below for an explanation of Safeguarding.)
All Triratna centres in the UK now have Safeguarding policies and named Safeguarding officers. Triratna centres in other countries are encouraged to do the same, or to do whatever is required locally; and many have done so.
We have a new Mitra study module on Dr Ambedkar! Check it out in Year 3, Module 8.
About half the total Triratna Buddhist Community (friends and mitras) and a third of the Triratna Buddhist Order is in India. There is much that is shared throughout the whole Movement, including our basic teachings and practices, but one noticeable difference is the emphasis on Dr Ambedkar. At every class and on every retreat in India you will find on the...
On the evening of Urgyen Sangharakshita’s funeral and burial, after the departure of most of the 1,200 guests, those who remained gathered together to perform a special, final sevenfold puja and close an extraordinary day.
Padmavajra led the devotional ritual, specifically dedicated to Padmasambhava. In this extract we hear Surata reading verses to Vajrasattva known as ‘The Confounder of Hell’, followed by a rousing version of the Great Guru of Tibet’s mantra.
Voices were uplifted and many offerings made: to say a last farewell...
