It is with sadness that the Trustees of Clear Vision announce its closure from September 2020. Over the past 35 years Clear Vision has been a vital part of the FWBO/Triratna Community. It has documented much of our history so far through countless video programmes, particularly FWBO Newsreels, Triratna Newsbytes, and filming Bhante’s talks, events and tours as well as many other talks by Order Members. We have also developed the beginnings of a vast photographic archive and library and video archive. For the world of Religious Education we created a complete range of award-winning programmes and teaching resources on Buddhism for school kids of all ages and also produced postcards and posters. And, of course, during this time we have supported a team-based right livelihood project. We are immensely proud of the body of work that we have created over the years.

At the end of August the Clear Vision Trust will cease operations and the charity will be dissolved. This is a consequence of failing to secure the funding we needed to take us into the future. Given that there are more and more potential film-makers and documentarians in Triratna, and social media helping to keep the Movement connected in ways once unimaginable, we hope that our Triratna history will continue to be properly recorded, shared and archived.

Over the years many Clear Vision team members have come and gone, many to work for the Movement in various ways including: Aparajita, Bodhiketu, Kalyacitta, ex-Padmasri, ex-Addichabandhu, Lalitavira, Mokshajyoti, Vidyamala, Munisha and Upekshapriya. Current team members Amaradaya and Sanghadhara are moving on to new things - Amaradaya working for the Order Office and continuing the school visits service with the Manchester Buddhist Centre team; Sanghadhara starting college in September to study graphic design. Beyond the team we’ve enjoyed the generous support of fantastic trustees and volunteers who helped to keep Clear Vision operational over the years.

Although our video production work will cease, we are planning for the online education resources to be maintained and the remaining stock of education DVDs will be sold by Adhisthana.

Over the years we have developed two very important archives for Triratna. The Photographic Archive now holds over 10,000 images including Bhante’s entire collection, Dhardo Rinpoche’s personal collection and images from the early days of the FWBO up to recent times. The Video Archive largely consists of all the material shot by Clear Vision/Vajra Films from 1984 onward. In addition there is material sent by FWBO/Triratna institutions and individuals from around the world. There is also a number of related broadcast programmes recorded on British television.

These two archives still have to be completed. Everything has to be scanned, repaired, databased, digitally copied and made available. Once completed there will be an online Triratna Photographic Library featuring curated collections as well as the complete archive available offline at Adhisthana. A similar online Triratna Video Archive will hold the entire video collection and be viewable offline at Adhisthana too. Since 1983 we have videoed almost all of Bhante’s talks and public/Triratna appearances and concluded that process with the sad occasion of his funeral. The resulting archive is of immense value not only to our sangha today but for those yet to come who never had the opportunity to meet or see our great teacher.

We are delighted that the Uddiyana Trust (Urgyen House) has agreed to take ownership and responsibility for these two archive projects with Mokshapriya continuing the work. Please subscribe to the website www.urgyenhouse.org to keep updated with developments.

We'd like to say a huge thank you to all team members and trustees past and present, all the volunteers who have helped out, all our funders and donors, and all those who have watched and enjoyed the material we have produced over the years. May the work of communicating the Dharma through video continue to thrive, and may our rich archives be widely viewed and valued.

Yours in the sangha,
Mokshapriya, Akasajoti, Vishangka and Sanghadhara
Clear Vision trustees and team

The annual international meeting of the Preceptors’ College took place from the 4th to the 14th November, 2019. It was Saddhaloka’s final meeting as Chair after almost five years of service, and half-way through the meeting he handed over to Ratnadharini, the incoming Chair, marking the transition with a ritual and rejoicings. Here we capture the handover ceremony and extracts from interviews with Saddhaloka and Ratnadharini.

The Oslo Buddhist Centre teams up with the Church of Norway to organize an Interreligious Pilgrimage, encouraging dialogue between different faiths and to explore their engagement and responses to the climate change crisis

In October 2018, Adhisthana offered its first International Retreat in order to form connections between those holding responsibility within Triratna all over the world, and to offer the participants further training and skills in their positions.

Compiled from a small fraction of Clear Visions extensive Sanghrakshita image and video archive, we pay tribute to our teacher after his passing on Oct 30th 2018.

Buddhafield East Cafe goes from strength to strength, moving to the heart of the field at this years Buddhafield Festival. Clear Vision spends a few days with them to see how they make baking cakes into a spiritual practice.

Saddhanandi Interviews Sangharakshita during the Celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of The Triratna Buddhist Order at Adhisthana, UK - 7 April 2018

On Saturday 3rd of February 2018. Two ordinations took place in the Mahabodhi Temple, under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India.

In November 2017 Clear Vision went to visit the new Colchester Buddhist Centre to hear from the Chair, Amalaketu, about the acquiring of the building, the renovation, and how Triratna is flourishing there.

A few sangha members from Sheffield start up a new Buddhist run business in the city; a vegetarian cafe called Dāna. Clear Vision spends a day with them hard at work and we hear about the setting up of the project.

In October 2017, Barcelona opened its first Triratna Centre. Clear Vision visited for their opening weekend, and Rijumati tells us all about the project. 

On the 2nd weekend of September 2017, the well established Southampton sangha officially opened the doors of its first centre. Chair Sudharshini tells us about the project and the celebrations.

Subhuti speaks about what the Triratna Buddhist Order means to him during the UK & Ireland Men's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana, 5 November 2017

Dhammakumara speaks on 'What I Want from the Triratna Buddhist Order' during the UK & Ireland Men's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana, 4 November 2017

Aryadasa speaks on 'What I Want from the Triratna Buddhist Order' during the UK & Ireland Men's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana, 4 November 2017

Bodhinaga speaks on 'What I Want from the Triratna Buddhist Order' during the UK & Ireland Men's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana, 4 November 2017

Dharmajit speaks on 'What I Want from the Triratna Buddhist Order' during the UK & Ireland Men's Area Order Weekend at Adhisthana, 4 November 2017

In August 2017 at the Combined Order weekend a new shrine was dedicated at Adhisthana.

Green Earth Awakening is a Buddhafield project which seeks to draw out the more 'Engaged Buddhism' element of the festival, where Buddhists, non Buddhists and activists and campaigners in various areas come together for a few days camping in the Blackdown Hills in Devon, UK.

Vajrapriya gives a talk on simplicity at the Green Earth Awakening Camp 2017.