For many years, ethical issues from Triratna’s past have affected the individuals who were involved and the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community as a whole, and a number of people have come forward with accounts of the suffering they experienced within Triratna. Some of these issues involved the sexual behaviour of Sangharakshita, Triratna’s founder.

The Adhisthana Kula arose from a wish to acknowledge openly and respond effectively to these issues. The members of the Kula worked together over the course of nearly four years to review these difficulties in our community and find ways to address their lasting consequences. They investigated what had happened, inviting people to share their experiences, especially those who were directly affected; and worked with others to create fresh structures that could address past difficulties and help prevent future problems.

Towards the end of 2019, they published an update on the Adhisthana Kula webspace, stating an intention to summarise the work, making it clear what had been done so far and outlining next steps. It was a complex piece of work and has taken longer than was intended, but the report has now been published, and can be read here. 

“As the Adhisthana Kula concludes its work in 2020, this site shares its findings and reports on progress. For all our efforts, we wish to acknowledge the wounds that have not yet healed, the stories that have not yet been told and the pain that has not yet been recognised. This is a report on unfinished business, and we suggest how this work can be taken forward in the future.”

With the publication of this report, the Adhisthana Kula is stepping aside and Triratna’s International Council Steering Group is commissioning a working group to oversee the next phase of this process. Anyone who has comments and questions can contact the working group at next.steps@triratna.co.

Triratna is committed to responding openly to any difficult issues within our community, and we encourage anyone else who has been hurt or harmed in any way to come forward. Anyone with Safeguarding or other ethical concerns in Triratna, past or present, is welcome to email safeguarding@triratna.community

Read the report on the work of the Adhisthana Kula, August 2020 

Read the Triratna Model Safeguarding policies and Ethical Guidelines 2020

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