Are you inspired to work at the heart of Triratna?

There are various groupings of senior Order members who have overlapping responsibilities that, between them, cover the whole Order and Movement [...]. There needs to be some liaison between them all so they are not each just going their separate ways or coming into some sort of conflict… We definitely need such a structure if we are to be effective… 

Sangharakshita, What is the Western Buddhist Order? 2009

This is your chance to make a real difference. 

We seek an Order member to join a new team as the Executive Assistant to the International Council (which replaces and expands the current International Council Convenor role).

Working directly with Mahamati (Chair of the College and International Council) and Vajrashura (Deputy Chair of the College), your responsibilities will overlap with those of the Executive Assistant to the College of Public Preceptors.

Inspired by Bhante’s vision, you'll play a pivotal role in connecting and uniting Triratna across continents and its key structures, fostering discussion and collaboration so that our efforts resonate as one powerful influence for the Dharma in the world.

Here's what you'll bring:

• a deep understanding and appreciation of Triratna's culture and core institutions
• a confident and proactive attitude
• exceptional oral/written communication, facilitation, planning, and organisational skills
• the ability to collaborate easily and effectively with diverse individuals
• the ability to engage constructively with complex issues

Being located at (or near) Adhisthana would be an advantage but isn’t essential. 

If you're ready to be at the heart of Triratna and make a positive difference, we want to hear from you!

You will be financially supported to live simply and give yourself fully to the role. This will include eight weeks annual leave, a retreat allowance, national insurance and pension contributions, and order dana.

Would you like an informal chat to find out more?  Contact Arthavadin at convenor@internationalcouncil.online

Express your interest by December 31st, 2024. 

Learn more about the International Council: internationalcouncil.online

• 0.6 role (3 days per week) - 3 years of funding agreed
• working from home, with some in-person meetings in the UK and elsewhere as necessary
• remuneration per annum: with retreat allowance and pension £13,639-£14,983 (location dependent) / €15,457-€16,981 (approx., location dependent) / $16,616 -$18,253 (approx, location dependent)
• closing date for applications: April 30th 2023. Interview dates from May 15th
• start date: as soon as possible, ideally by June 1st 2023

General notes

This role has been created, and will be managed, by the International Council’s Communications Working Group. Joining the International Council Staff, they will work collaboratively with the Working Group and other stakeholders to implement, articulate, and develop Triratna’s Communication Strategy, which aims to promote a harmonious, united, and proactive approach to how Triratna engages with its presence online and with the media. 

Key skills and perspectives: 

• an experienced Order member with a strong understanding of Order culture, and experience of working harmoniously across institutions, holding a collective vision emerging from diverse Order experience
• passionate about good communication and a champion for the International Council’s Communications Strategy, helping it unfold and manifest clearly and effectively
• highly proficient writing skills
• able to communicate skillfully and diplomatically, recognising nuanced personal perspectives and institutional complexity
• able to hold opposing views on strongly felt Communications-related issues, helping clarify and reconcile divergent views

Over the duration of an initial three-year contract, the successful applicant will: 

help set up conditions for effective and well-co-ordinated communications:

• co-ordinate the Communications Working Group which oversees the implementation and further development and implementation of Triratna’s Communications Strategy
• co-ordinate the Triratna International Communications Kula (TICK), which helps bring the strategy to life via practical, collaborative work across the major institutions of our Order and Movement
• participate in central conversations around Communications with other key stakeholders. And help the Communications Working Group provide support and perspective to relevant bodies, including Sikkha, Triratna Safeguarding teams, and FutureDharma Fund
• be an internal Communications conduit - helping facilitate the flow of Communications-related news and discussion within and across Triratna’s different Areas, Regions, Strands, and other structures
• initiate communications initiatives that further the strategic priorities of the International Council and the interests of Triratna more widely
• work to ensure that diversity and internationality are appropriately reflected in Triratna’s Communications policy and work, and in our online presence
• work with the Triratna Safeguarding team, Ethics Kula, Ahimsa Kula, and others to ensure Triratna’s online presentation in relation to ethical issues in our community’s history is accurate, consistent and confident
• attend national and international meetings as required as part of the International Council Staff Team

Help create and promote positive Triratna media and Dharma journalism:

• help develop and maintain the good name of Triratna online, and generate content that promotes a positive reputation when accessed by external media organisations
• act as an initial ‘go to’ person when any structure within Triratna is approached by external media sources
• explore how, as a community, we might further liaise and develop positive relations with mainstream media
• facilitate and help develop positive Dharma content and news stories for existing and new Triratna communication channels, internally and externally, including the Buddhist Centre Online
• contribute to editorial and content conversations at The Buddhist Centre Online, working with teams at Dharmachakra, the Order Office, and the International Council

The successful applicant will need to be experienced around fundamental aspects of Order and Triratna life online, as well as highly competent and confident with digital communication and social media. They will be capable of self-managing their work and able to engage creatively and harmoniously with various established institutions, working groups, and individuals holding responsibility in and around Communications in our sangha.

Apply by email to: assistant@internationalcouncil.online saying what inspires you about this role and why you are a good person for it. We welcome applications from outside the UK.

From The Abhayaratna Trust, FutureDharma Fund / India Dhamma Trust and The Karuna Trust

The Abhayaratna Trust, Karuna Trust and FutureDharma / India Dhamma Trust (IDT) are meeting every week during this crisis. They are collaborating with Triratna partners in India to coordinate relief to people and projects affected by this devastating wave of COVID. The situation is getting worse and worse and experts believe the official numbers of people dying in India, which has one of the world's poorest-funded healthcare systems, are hugely underestimated.

This latest update summarises the work each charity is doing. We’ve had some questions about which of these projects to support and what we are doing. Putting it very simply:

Karuna: provides large scale emergency response to 45 organisations across India, Nepal and Bangladesh | both Triratna and non-Triratna organisations with beneficiaries from Dalit/Tribal communities

Abhayaratna Trust: provides emergency funding to individual Order members in urgent need | Triratna only

FutureDharma/IDT: provides funding to Indian Ordination Team and senior leadership to support, counsel and guide the movement through the crisis and beyond | Triratna only

Watch A Coordinated Triratna Fundraising Response
 

Karuna: update from Padmadaka, CEO
Karuna has large networks to distribute emergency aid, support and advice and we are currently reaching tens of thousands of people from the poorest and most marginalised communities every day.

In Nagpur, Aryaketu is working with Triratna and Ambedkarite Buddhists. With Karuna emergency funding, they’re providing a free ambulance service to some of the poorest people in Nagpur's slums. The oxygen on board helps keep people alive while they wait in the long queues to get into hospital in 40C heat. They’re saving lives every day.

Karuna is making life saving emergency grants like these every week and we have just sent new relief funds to: 

Nagpur: funding to coordinate a team of 200 medical doctors to work with hundreds of COVID-19 patients and their families in the slums of Nagpur 

Orissa: Livelihoods support (cash for work) to 3,000 families  

Bihar: Food supplies and hygiene kits for 4,000 families

West Bengal: Food supplies and hygiene kits for 1,470 families

Pune: Emergency food supplies and health awareness camps for 350 Tribal families 

Mumbai: Food and hygiene kits, rent and utilities for 40 alumni girls (Girl rescue project)

We want to fund more projects like this and we need your active support. Please do these three things so that we can make sure the most vulnerable families survive this crisis:

• Make a secure donation on Karuna’s website – make a donation to Karuna's coronavirus crisis appeal
• Promote our appeal with your family, friends and networks
• Come to one of our regular webinars hosted by Sanghanath and hear firsthand experiences and updates from our Indian partners. Next event 28 May - Register for webinar with Sanghanath

Abhayaratna Trust: update from Mahasraddha, Director
In the past two months, we have lost 16 Order members in India to COVID-19; each death is felt in the Order as we unite in deep solidarity with our Indian brothers and sisters and the grief of their families.  

We are hearing poignant and heart breaking stories from India about desperate need, as I am sure you have been witnessing too, either through news broadcasts or from direct contact with friends in India. Many Indian Order members have lost their jobs so have no income coming into their family which is extremely distressing on top of everything else. 

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Triratna Order and Movement, we have raised over £180,000 to give to individual Order members who are in desperate need in India. Money raised in the Appeal is being distributed to Indian Order members by Karmavajra and a Team of very energetic and committed Indian Order Convenors; they have a very well established and extensive network across India to identify Order members in need and to get money to where it is needed quickly, which in life or death situations is vital.

Karmavajra and the Team have managed to get tangible support to hundreds of Order members from the Abhayaratna Trust Appeal funds. Many of those we are helping are now recovering. Our Appeal funds are being put to very effective use by providing money for medical and hospital costs, food, rent and oxygen. 

We are monitoring the situation in India very carefully via weekly Zoom meetings with Indian Order Convenors. They estimate that the impacts of the second wave will continue for at least a year, and we are working with them to put in place short, medium and long term plans so that we can continue to effectively support Indian Order members in need.

Our Appeal will remain live and active for as long as is necessary, and please click here if you are able to give. Thank you. I know that our Indian brothers and sisters are very grateful for our support and show of solidarity, and I think Bhante would have been very pleased to see the vision of care in the Order he expounded in A Case of Dysentery coming so vividly alive. 

Future Dharma & India Dhamma Trust: Update from Nandavajra, Director
In these challenging, distressing and fearful times for many in India, the Buddha’s teachings, the experience of Sangha, and wise counsel and reassurance are vitally important. The Indian Ordination Teams, and Public Preceptors Kula, are supporting the Corona Relief Work, and providing inspiration, encouragement, and counsel to the Order and Dhamma mitras. Our dedicated Indian Youth Coordinators are providing online support and Dharma teaching for hundreds of young people. This crucial work is made possible by the generosity of FutureDharma and India Dhamma Trust supporters and these teams will be a vital resource in our Indian Sangha's recovery in months to come.

Amrutasiddhi, the India Movement Coordinator, is a key member of the tireless Coronavirus Relief Work Team and he is also instrumental in helping Centres provide Dharma activities online – a source of much needed inspiration and support for hundreds, if not thousands, of sangha members. Again, your gifts make this possible.

Our sangha in India will need ways of coming together and rebuilding their communities when the devastation of the coronavirus eventually subsides. Our emergency funding of the Bhaja and Bordharan retreat centres means they are safe from the threat of closure due to loss of income. We are in communication with the Indian Area Council and Public Preceptors kula and will provide emergency funding for other projects facing financial difficulty.

FutureDharma works in partnership with the India Dhamma Trust. We are extremely grateful for the continuing generosity of our supporters and are committed to ensuring funding for India.  We encourage you to please give to FutureDharma as you will be giving the precious gift of the Dharma to people who are suffering right now. By giving today you will help them build a future in which our Sangha in India prospers and reaches out to more people in need.

https://futuredharma.org/

Act now
Please do give generously, and if you are confused about who to give to, please give to all three Charities.

From all of us, thank you for supporting all of these appeals and for standing in solidarity with our movement and everyone in need in India during this crisis.

Padmadaka, CEO: Karuna Trust. Mahasraddha, Director: The Abhayaratna Trust. Nandavajra, Director: FutureDharma / India Dhamma Trust. 

Read more about India Covid-19 Emergency: A Co-ordinated Triratna Fundraising Response

Here's Dhammarati with another beautifully made presentation giving the history and Dharma context for the formation of the Triratna International Council. 

This includes an audio recording (towards the end of the presentation) of Urgyen Sangharakshita, Triratna's founder, giving his thoughts on the essential work of the Council as part of a healthy succession plan for our community, in line with his intentions to pass on well his own duties, responsibilities and inspiration.

See all posts from the 2019 International Council

"From the moment of a person's first contact with our movement, he or she should be able to discover a balanced approach that is appropriate to them... The Karmic work of integration and developing positive emotion, and the Dharmic work of spiritual receptivity, death, and rebirth.

"The elements of the system... from the stage of Integration through to that of Spiritual Rebirth can be seen as the principal elements of the Dharma life at all stages, Indeed, if they are not practised at lower levels it is impossible to engage with them with full success at higher." Urgyen Sangharakshita

The Sikkha project is a great initiative to provide comprehensive, practically useful Dharma training to anyone who wants to engage with Buddhist approaches to life.

This slideshow about the Sikkha Project was shown at the Triratna International Council 2019. You can now also listen to the audio commentary that accompanied the presentation.

NB. The audio file may not play directly in all web browsers. Best download it to your device.​​

Follow the Sikkha blog for the latest updates  |  Get course materials from the Sikkha website

Watch the companion presentation on commonality of practice in Triratna

See all posts from the 2019 International Council

A great conversation with the quietly brilliant Abhayadana about her Buddhist work and practice in India. Her name means 'Giver of Fearlessness' - and this is something she has dedicated her life to, helping support and free women in her community from the stigma of social caste and the violence that often goes with it.

We hear about her personal approach via meditation and reflection on the Buddhist figure of Kshitigarbha (Jizo) who descends into hell realms to liberate suffering beings. And her experience of visiting Adhisthana, former home of her teacher Urgyen Sangharakshita, and the gratitude she has to his work and to the Dharma itself for what she describes as the chance to live as a human being. 

Recorded at the Triratna International Council, September 2019.

See all posts from the 2019 International Council

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Our longer form podcast, featuring great in-depth conversations with Buddhists from around the world. Inspiring stories that illuminate for modern times the Buddha’s example of how to live and find true freedom.

Subscribe to The Buddhist Centre Online podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On other podcast networks

News, event coverage, mantras and rituals, Dharma conversations among diverse voices from the Triratna Buddhist Community around the world, keeping you up-to-date with the latest in our sangha.
 

The 6th Triratna International Council is in full swing in England this week. Folk from around the world converging on beautiful rural Herefordshire to explore the work of making sure our community is united and available to all in the years ahead.

We're joined by our friends from New Zealand and Australia for a check-in around their take on the week and the relevance of international perspectives to their own communities and their experience of the Dharma life back home. Inspiring to hear connections being made that can cross oceans and great distances, carrying a sense of harmony that will resonate wherever you are.

See all posts from the 2019 International Council

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Subscribe to The Buddhist Centre Online podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On other podcast networks

News, event coverage, mantras and rituals, Dharma conversations among diverse voices from the Triratna Buddhist Community around the world, keeping you up-to-date with the latest in our sangha.

Subscribe to our Buddhist Voices Podcast: On Apple Podcasts | On others podcast networks  

Our longer form podcast, featuring great in-depth conversations with Buddhists from around the world. Inspiring stories that illuminate for modern times the Buddha’s example of how to live and find true freedom.

The third in a series of talks from the 2019 Triratna International Council. This year's theme is major elements from the Dharma biography of Sangharakshita, Triratna's founder, which are of wider relevance to anyone endeavouring to lead a Buddhist life. 

Lokeshvara recounts some of his own encounters with Sangharakshita and highlights some great quotes to delve into three key areas: setting up a context for people to share their lives; "the fundamental view" of Triratna's approach to the Dharma; and ways to make decisions. An excellent primer for our day's conversation at the International Council (we expect the conversations will last a lifetime).

See all posts from the 2019 International Council

The second in a series of talks from the 2019 Triratna International Council. This year's theme is major elements from the Dharma biography of Sangharakshita, Triratna's founder, which are of wider relevance to anyone endeavouring to lead a Buddhist life. 

Aryajaya explores Sangharakshita's relationship to his teachers, who form the lineage for the Triratna Buddhist Order. A lovely exploration of the experience of relationship to the Bodhisattvas of Buddhist tradition via meditations passed from teacher to disciple, evoking a wide open sense of connection to the great beauty they represent.

See all posts from the 2019 International Council

Here is the first in a series of talks from the 2019 Triratna International Council, with the whole event set in the context of the Council considering deeply and studying the Dharma together. 

This year's theme is major elements from the Dharma biography of Sangharakshita, Triratna's founder, which are of wider relevance to anyone endeavouring to lead a Buddhist life. To kick things off, Saddhaloka explores the key aspects of any practitioner's commitment, Going Forth and Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels, evoking how Sangharakshita engaged with these formative acts as foundations of his own practice in India at the end of the Second World War.

With an introduction by Dhammarati.

See all posts from the 2019 International Council