The International Order Office

Annual Report 2022

The International Order Office

Annual Report 2022

Through Order dana individual Order members all over the world support the work of the International Order convenors and Order Office. This report aims to give an idea of some of our activities that help the Order stay connected: organising conventions, supporting regional and Area convenors, producing the Order address list, compiling and distributing Shabda, and running the Order information service. We also register new ordinations and supply robes and kesas for ordination retreats.

A big thank you to everyone who supports our work.

Aryajaya – International Order Convenor

2022 Summary	Team check-in	Ethics Order Convening
The UK & Ireland Area Order Convention 2022	Lokeshvara’s time as IOC	India Order Office Report
Financial and Dana Reports	Convention pattern 2023-2028	Convening Teams across the Areas 2022-2023

International Order Office 2022 Summary

Welcome to the International Order Office 2022 Annual Report.

First of all, we thank you for your continued support through 2022 and wish all of you all the best for the year ahead.

This year saw us rejoice in reaching the 3,000th mark in terms of the number of people joining the Order since Bhante ordained the first person into the WBO in 1968.

With 135 ordinations in 2022 the Order Office produced and supplied all the new kesas and robes for the new Order members. This is one of our core activities and joys. We really do enjoy seeing the shining faces of new Order members in their robes and kesas, with the three jewels blazing. (And, if you ever need a replacement kesa, a gold kesa, or an ID card, we can also provide you with these through our website.)

Vandika continues to provide us, and the Order, with an ongoing supply of robes and hand stitched kesas, made expertly by our kesa queens in Manchester. A big thank you goes to them all. We are in the middle of shifting robe production to a new manufacturer, which is a complex process that Vandika is managing very skilfully with her significant expertise and understanding. She’s working with the Order Office team and the College to make sure we provide ordinands and preceptors with robes of high quality and practicality, including making some pattern adjustments based on feedback from this year’s ordinands.

A highlight of the year for us as a team was gathering at Wymondham College for the first time since before the pandemic, for the Combined UK and Ireland Convention. Entitled ‘Going Forth, Going Beyond’ this was a six day event that, among other things, celebrated the 75th anniversary of Bhante’s own ‘going forth’.

All the talks and other programme events, such as the the Mula Yogas and Subhadassi introducing our ‘How to Disagree Better’ online resource, are available to watch or listen here.

Aryajaya and Saraha enjoyed attending the Oceania convention in May at Vijayaloka in Sydney, as well as the Mainland European Convention in June at the marvellous Schlushoff. We are working to make those events available to the whole Order. Highlights from those events were an excellent talk by Ratnavyuha called ‘Transparent Conditioning + Rigid Spiritual Ideals: Can the Order Survive Them?’ and daily led practice sessions on Vasubandhu’s four factors of enlightenment by Prasadavati.

We continued to support the work of the International Council and the Area and Regional Order Convenors Networks. The International Council met for an inspiring and connecting ten days at Adhisthana in October-November. The Area Order Convenors have been meeting on zoom every month with the International Order Convenors, deepening friendship and connection of our Order internationally. It was wonderful to be able to meet with the majority of them in person at the International Council. The Regional Order Convenor Network in the UK continues to meet with the support of the International Order Convenors, with both holding meetings at Adhisthana in November.

The weekly Bodhicitta meditation sessions continued for its third year; still attended by about 150 people every week. A very warm thank you goes out to our Bodhicitta leaders and tech hosts, who make this possible for the all of us. Join the Bodhicitta practice every Sunday.

In collaboration with thebuddhistcentre.com we continued to release a monthly Order Highlights email to keep you all informed of what the breadth of Triratna is offering to help deepen practice. Don’t miss out and sign up to the Order highlights email here.

The recommended amount of Order Dana remains at £120 a year (or the equivalent in other currencies). However, many people tell us that is too little and they’d readily pay more. You are most welcome to do that! You can increase your yearly or monthly standing order at any time and thereby give us more opportunity to support the Order more fully – we are generally on a shoestring. Order Dana is our only means of income, and a little can go a long way in supporting our Order in so many ways. Please consider giving if you are not currently, or increasing your contribution where possible. You can visit our giving page here.

We continued to support and work closely with Subhadassi as Ethics Order Convenor. He talks more about his work below.

2022 was also another year of change for the team. After eight years, Lokeshvara came to the end of his time as an International Order Convenor. He had a significant impact on the Order during his time, and the team thank him very much on behalf of the whole Order.

He handed onto Saraha, after a consultation process with the Order was completed in April. This handover happened ritualistically during the Bodhicitta practice on Triratna Day.

Towards the end of the year however, due to personal reasons, Saraha had to come to the decision that he was not able to continue, and in this report he checks in and out. The appointment process for his replacement will take place in 2023.

After eight years of committed service to the Order Vimalamati moved onto new things in February, and Utpaladhi came in to fill her role, a job she is very adept at.

Our team of trustees also saw some changes, with Shantigarbha stepping down after many years’ service and new trustees Amoghavajra and Sagarasri joining.

Thank you to all our donors and supporters for all your help, and to the wider Order for creating the Order we enjoy serving!

ARYAJAYA | I spent the last day of 2022 at Nagaloka in India after a successful Indian Area Order convention. It marked the end of a year of big changes in the Order office and for me as International Order Convenor.

Most significant was Lokeshvara finishing his term of office and Saraha stepping into the realm with me. Little did we know that just two months later his father would become ill and that after his fathers death, the care needed for his mother would find him stepping down from the the role at the end of November. I’ve much gratitude to him for the time he gave to Order convening. 2023 will begin the process again of looking for an IOC.

Saraha and I had the chance to go to the Oceania convention in Australia and the European convention, held at Schlushoff, Germany. I really enjoyed spending time with the Order in both places, practising Dharma together through all the talks, meditations and communication that we had. The European convention was organised by a team of young Order members and they did a great job, with an excellent theme and events.

August saw the Order Office team create the UK & Ireland Order convention on Going Forth, Going Beyond. With our new IOC assistant Utpaladhi and new project manager for the event, Lilasuri. We saw a younger generation of Order members take on this work and do it so well. Working with the wisdom of previous generations like Vajrapriya, Tejasvini, Jayaraja & Lilamani.

The Indian Order Convention theme was the Four lineages and I gave a talk on inspiration which gave me the opportunity to share three things that have kept me inspired over 2022. I spoke about an exhibition of the 500 Arahants that I saw in in January. A beautiful collection of individually carved stone disciples of the Buddha uncovered in a South Korean temple complex and shown for the first time outside Korea at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. It was a complete joy to me to see the carvings – each with an individual expression and communication of the joys of Dharma life (including a grumpy and a sleepy expressions!). It connected me deeply with the lineage of practice right back to the Buddha. When I arrived back at Adhisthana into our shrine room and morning meditation together, it also connected me with the present lineage of practice that I am taking part of in this Triratna Order. I have been hoping to have 500 Order members on a convention this year – the UK & Ireland was just short at about 480 and the India at bout 460 – so we got close but the two experiences have been connecting me with the mystery of the Sangha and our Order over time.

Secondly, I spoke about the despair of hitting my limits in September and feeling the nature of continually stretching myself bouncing back into reality. I was met by the Buddha in the Shakyamuni Sadhana in that tendency and have enjoyed doing that Sadhana and connecting with the essence of the Buddha under the Bodhi tree and the qualities needed for that experience – calm, steady, determined, open. Earth, sky, tree and being, sitting under tree.

Thirdly, I spoke about the Order Sadhana and how I have been sharing that with different groups of people this year. It feels like uncovering a terma from Vessantara. The Order groups I have shared it with seem to respond to it very positively. I’ve been sharing it in India and it’s been really well received. I love the enactment of our Going for Refuge, the precepts as pillars of precious jewels, and reflecting on our Order names and the qualities that we can put in service of the Order and the world to dispel suffering. It reminds me of what the Order is an imaginative sense and in reality – if we take the thousand armed Avalokiteshvara literally.

I’ve needed the inspiration to keep working on the ethical issues and conflict situations that arise in the Order. It helps to be working with Subhadassi and I’m aware of the frustration of many Order members at the pace of the work but we are trying to find the bottlenecks and get the work moving more quickly.

There have been many deaths in the Order this year, and for me personally. As I write this I’m aware of Moksacitta’s funeral arrangements and that Dharmavajri and Vajrasuri are both entering the last stages of life. It is very sobering and I get lost in that easily. I need to very consciously remember the enormous contribution each and every Order member has made in their lives. All the steps towards awakening they have taken and rejoice in that. That brings joy and gladness to have known such wonderful people in my life.

I’m not sure what 2023 will bring but I do feel energy for it. I do hope someone would like to come and join me and the team in this work for the Order. Get in touch if you are interested in this rich realm of Order life.

Go well in 2023. Great gratitude to Bhante and all who help and support me to grow in my Order life.

SARAHA | My brief stint as Order convenor will influence how I think about the Order and what it means to practice and be part of a spiritual community. Meeting so many Order members engaging in such different ways inspired me and revealed the profundity and difficulty of the task of being an ongoingly relevant and Dharmically vital Order. I loved and was challenged by sharing responsibilities relevant to our collective life.

My new life of caring for my mum and focusing on retreats and friendship grabs me. Same choir, different voice. I feel deeply grateful that I could work with others as an Order convenor, and then let go of it when my mum’s needs surfaced, with such support and understanding from the team and the Order.

UTPALADHI | I joined the Order Office in February this year, having been ordained in May 2021. For me, it’s a perfect way to ‘step in’ to the Order, to learn more and to be of service. I had a wonderfully thorough handover from Vimalamati, whose expertise is hugely missed, and have been particularly supported by Aryajaya, who has ably answered my many questions. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the Order as an International Order, particularly through working closely with Aryajaya and Saraha, through monthly Area Order Convenor meetings, and through supplying robes and kesas for ordinations around the world. My highlight this year was the UK and Ireland Area Order Convention at Wymondham. It was my first convention, and to work on the organising team was an absolute joy. Seeing so many Order members gathering, practising and connecting was a delight, particularly after the restrictions of the previous two years. The event went very smoothly and we had excellent feedback. As my role develops and I gain confidence I’m stepping more into additional areas: leading on our Order Office Communications Strategy, supporting the women’s UK and Ireland Regional Order Convenors and assisting the Ahimsa Kula.

AMARADAYA | 2022 for me was a year of balancing. I felt like I was constantly finding a balance in life, between my work for the Order Office, my new role as Chair of the Newcastle centre, and the job of being a carer for my mother. It can be somewhat like spinning plates sometimes, but I also feel like I have enough support around me, and at times I have felt effective in these areas of my life. I didn’t retreat much in 2022, although I did go on solitary in the spring. I hope to retreat a lot more in 2023. It was very good to be back with a large number of the Order at Wymondham in the summer, where I seen friends new and old. Im happy to have kept the Bodhicitta practice going for its third year. About 100 people still pour into the zoom room every Sunday morning, and I even stepped out of the technical shadows one week and led the practice myself, as the whole idea of the Bodhicitta comes ever more alive for me personally.

SHANTAVIRA | I continue to enjoy hearing from Order members from around the world, and facilitating the thoughtful and often quite moving communication between us. I’ve heard no complaints for a while, and received much appreciation, which suggests people are happy with Shabda.

The number of paper Shabdas has remained stable over the past year at about 350 copies a month. About 1200 digital copies are downloaded from the website each month, about 100 less than last year, the PDF version being the most popular, closely followed by the epub version. There are currently 2503 Order members.

The number of contributors has dropped slightly, averaging 64 letters per issue (and that includes the large number of obituaries this year). Oddly, there has been a further decline in the number of threads and articles being submitted to Shabda, with only one article submitted during 2022. The number of first-time reports has increased from 24 to 34 this year, though there were about the same number of ordinations at just over 100, so we still wait to hear from many of those newly ordained.

LOKABANDHU | I’ve been working for the Triratna Trust as bookkeeper for a bit over a year now and feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to keep so closely in touch with the flow of money (which for me equals energy and generosity!) through the Order. It’s very clear to me that although we are a worldwide Sangha including all sorts of people, there’s a strong bond of unity and shared commitment linking us all.

Over course of the past year I’ve become very interested in the very early members of the Order, most of whom have long since resigned or died. Who were they? What were they like? Why did they leave? Not many people even remember them, but a few do, and I’ve started building up a little library of interviews with some of their peers. I’ve also been digging into order statistics, plotting the slow but steady rise in our average ages and the gradual attainment of gender balance throughout the Order. As our early statistics became more and more accurate, we were delighted to be able to confirm the 3000th ordination when it took place this autumn

DASSINI | 2022 was my first full year in the Order Office team. In January I took over from the excellent Sadayasihi. The biggest piece of my work is the Order Information Service, which is like an information gateway. It’s quite a remarkable job, letting the worldwide order know about ordinations, illnesses, deaths, Order resignations – all significant life events for the individuals and for us as a community. In don’t really think of that work as an admin job, but like being a sentinel at a gatepost, watching life come and go, and making sure the word gets out to our community. Working on this, on the Order Highlights newsletter and on our ongoing projects and systems is a quiet, reflective way of serving the good. The Order Office team has been so welcoming and encouraging, and I’ve really appreciated this team, and all the interactions with order members in my work this year. Thanks, everybody. I look forward to seeing what 2023 brings.

Subhadassi on his work as Ethics Order Convenor

December 2022 marked the two year anniversary both of the existence of the Order Ethics Convenor role, and of my being in the role. There have been some big changes this year – Lokeshvara’s departure as International Order Convenor; Saraha’s arrival as International Order Convenor, and then his departure so he was able to devote his time to look after his elderly mother.

Another significant event in terms of working in connection with the Order office was a team day that we had in the autumn at Adhistana, which I really appreciated. It was good to meet all of the people who work for/with the Order office, including the trustees of the charity. We shared our personal inspirations and motivations regarding our work, and developed an overview, and a plan, in terms of work for the Order Office.

In terms of my own work, I have continued to work with the Order convenors, the movement safeguarding team, members of the College and others – whether in responding to ethical issues that have arisen, or in considering how to better resource and action work in the area of Order ethics.

A highlight of my year was being part of the convention in Norfolk. I particularly appreciated the opportunity to run a session on it, in which I was able to introduce myself and an overview of my role as I see it. We also launched an online resource which we have created called “How to disagree better” which is compendium of tools and resources which aims to help us to work more effectively with disharmony, conflict and disagreement.

A key perspective that led to the development of the resource was that disagreeing, and managing disagreements, need not necessarily be problematic, but can be taken on as part of our spiritual practice.

I also shared some of my reflections – and invited reflections and discussions – regarding our ethical practice. You can see a video of the session here.

As well as inviting participants to consider the ethics of intention and ethics of effect, and to spend time considering a first step regarding a personal conflict, I spoke about the three key areas in the scope of my work that I see both as mutually supporting each other, and necessary for my work:

1: A need to further develop how we respond to ethical issues

Ensuring that we have people who have the time, skills and other resources to engage with serious ethical issues using clear systems, procedures and processes in a timely way.

2: A need to improve communication in relation to serious ethical issues in the Order

It is important that it is widely known what the processes and procedures are regarding serious ethical issues. In an area where things can be complex and can become so emotive, it is very important that there is clarity. This includes clarity as to who is responsible for doing what, and what is being done in a given situation, as well as clarity about who we can talk to when we have a concern or issue.

If our Order have more information about what happens centrally regarding serious ethical issues, my belief is that they will have more confidence in this, and so effective and harmonious communication will become easier.

I also think we also need to find ways to talk about serious ethical breaches and issues in the Order in ways that lead to clarity and harmony – so we can raise concerns and disagree in a way that’s less polarising than some of our current communication (especially online).

3: A need to deepen our individual and collective ethical practice

It is my belief that we need to find ways to support Order members – each other – to deepen our individual ethical practice. We need to become even more effective ethical resources to each other. We have so many resources at hand as Order members – whether the ten precepts, our chapters, conventions and other order events, or our friends.

Such support might include developing more effective confession practices where we can be more bold in drawing-out each other when a confession is made, as well as actively appreciating and rejoicing in each other’s ethical practice more, out of which a greater ethical sensitivity will arise.

Going Forth, Going Beyond : The UK & Ireland Area Order Convention 2022

We started planning the convention around February 2021 with the appointment of Lilasuri as Project Manager, Vajrapriya as Bookings Manager and Utpaladhi as Assistant to the Order Convenors. Neither Lilasuri or Utpaladhi had attended a convention and were recently ordained so there was a lot to learn. However Vajrapriya had worked on many a convention before and was very familiar with the management and coordination. As a team they worked together with the International Order convenors Aryajaya and Saraha to manage the event. The team were unsure how many people may want to attend due to the health concerns over Covid-19, so we didn’t know if we would struggle to fill the venue at Wymondham college. Thankfully within a month of the bookings being open we were already at around 250 bookings, which was a good sign for what was to come.

We had to manage things quite differently this year in accordance to mitigating against Covid-19 and made efforts to minimise the transmission of the virus by introducing; an outdoor seating area within a marquee, masks to be worn in the meal queues and while chanting in the shrine room, windows in public places to be opened for ventilation, and everyone was asked to do a Covid test prior to attending the convention and advised not to attend if it was positive. We were fortunate in that only 3 cases of Covid were reported after the event.

The convention attracted over 500 people and the feedback was positive with people commenting on the rich and diverse content of the programme including the fringe events, the opportunity to connect with each other, the smooth running of the event, and the warm and friendly atmosphere. A few suggestions being made around issues to do with tech / sound in the shrine room which we will correct for the next convention.

Overall it was a real success, and we were thrilled that so many people gathered to celebrate friendship within the Order.

Going Forth, Going Beyond - Area Order Convention 2022

Lokeshvara’s time as International Order Convenor

2022 was the year that Lokeshvara handed over his duties as Order Convenor, having been in the role for over seven years.

Lokeshvara circumambulated the globe seven times and described the aspect of his work he’d found most rewarding, “I have sat in a room many times in many different countries and asked Order members how their Dharma life is faring, do they have what they need, do they know the next step they need to take, how do they keep their sources of inspiration alive, and so on. It has also meant staying with Order members in their homes and oftentimes being taken out to the shorelines, woodlands, hills or temple ruins nearby. This work is local, therefore relatively unseen, but almost always deeply inspiring and satisfying.”

The most visible work for Lokeshvara, aside from organising and attending conventions, was engaging with some of the difficult conversations around the Order. This work led to the appointment of an Ethics convenor and his contribution to the Adhisthana kula, which brought the completion of a phase of this work.

On leaving, Lokeshvara expressed his appreciation of the Order Office team, the College chair and deputies, the Adhisthana community, the International Council steering group and foremost, his appreciation of Aryajaya, the women’s Order Convenor. Lokeshvara was an exemplary Order Convenor. He leaves a worthy legacy, and his contribution will be missed.

India Order Office Report

I am very delighted to write the report after organising successful Indian Order convention. We had a very good convention at Nagaoka Nagpur from 24-30 Dec 2022. Nearly 450 order members participated in this national Order convention. Bhante’s four lineages were the theme of this convention. Dhammachri Amrutdeep, myself, Amrutasiddhi and Dhammacharini Aryajaya gave a beautiful talk on this occasion. It was very great to have a convention at the beautiful premises of Nagaloka Nagapur. In this convention it was significant to have a handover ceremony. Dhammacharini Suprabha took the charge as a women order convener of India. We are very great to get Surpabha on the team. Dhammacharini Aryajaya performs the beautiful ceremony.

After the covid-19 once again we started in-person regular Order activities just as Order retreats, Order Weekends, Order Days, and retreats for regional Order conveners and Chapter conveners.

Order Day

Our all-regional Order convener organises Order Day every month. We have very successful Order Days at Nagpur, Mumbai, Pune Aurangabad, North India, Kokan, Amravati, Wardha, and Gujrat. Now Order Day become a very regular part of Order activities.

Order Weekend

Order Day has been organised at Bhaje more than 100 order members participated in this Order weekend. I gave the talk on “Bodhisattva Mandala”. Order members from Kokan, Mumbai and Pune participated in this event, Dh. Prajnaditya and Ratnavajra have done the hard work to organise this event. As well Order weekend has been organised at Nagaloka Nagapur, 65 order members were present for this Order weekend.

Order Retreat

Order retreat has been organised at Bhaje, Boradharan Dh. Ratnashil, Kumarjiva, and myself lead the Order retreat as well. It is great to have Sangharam retreat at Bhaje.

Chapter Retreat

It is great to have a Chapter convener retreat & meeting every year. This year we have organised a chapter convener retreat at Nagaloka, Nagpur which helps to build the chapter convener network and share their experience.

Regional Order convener Retreat

This year we have organised a regional Order convener retreat at Kalimpong. It was great to have a retreat in this beautiful place, this place has historical significance. It was a great honour to have our retreat at ITBCI; this is the place where Dhardo Rimpoche lived and Urgen Sangharakshita live and meet with most of his teachers. It was great to stay in this beautiful place and visit Triyavardhan Vihar which is known as English Monk’s Hut. We have got the theme for the convention from this retreat.

Still, we are running online meditation events every morning where more than 100 order members participated every day. We have introduced the Sangha Sadhana, Sangha Metta, and different Sadhana.

Specifically, I would like to thank all Order members and Abhayaratna trust to support generously to the Indian Order members. With the initiative from Abhayaratna trust, we have started a livelihood project and could support 25 Order members to establish their livelihoods and give support to do the retreat in this difficult situation. Specifically, I would like to thank Mahashraddha and Taradakini to coordinate with us.

Karmavajra

Financial Report for 2021

In 2021 there were no significant changes to the finances. There were small increases in Order Dana compared to the previous year, and therefore in Gift Aid too, as well as in the income generated from services to the Order.

There were also increases in our outgoings, in the financial support of convenors and support staff. Our partnership with Dharmachakra remained the same, as did what it costs us to provide the Order with Shabda.

Dana Report 2022

Order Dana are the gifts that Order members give to help us run the Order Office and the Order convening network. The Order supports the Order. Your generosity is our sole source of funding and we feel that we make this dana go a long way, as shown in the financial report on how it is used. An average donation of £120 per year is the amount that allows us to maintain our current support of the Order convenors work and Order office activities. Thank you to everyone who contributes.

Convention Pattern 2023 – 2028

The convention pattern is agreed by the Area and International Order convenors.

Convening Teams across the Areas 2022 – 2023