The Order Office

A force for good in the world

The Order Office

A force for good in the world

What is the Order Office?

The Order Office is a working group of Order members, including the International Order Convenors and the Order Office Team, that operate from a number of locations around the world. We provide support for the International Order Convenors and manage the Order’s information, administration, support and development worldwide.

The Triratna Trust

The International Order Office is overseen by the Triratna Trust, which is entrusted with making sure that the money given through Order Dana is spent wisely. The trustees of the charity are elected each year and are its guardians. They have the legal responsibility to ensure that the charity operates in line with its charter and remains solvent.

The Trust’s objective is the advancement of the Buddhist religion. In particular:

1) To encourage Order members and others to live in accordance with the teaching of the Buddha.

2) To support ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Order.

3) To maintain close oversight of the Order Office’s work, with the guidance of the Triratna Buddhist Order and in co-operation with other groups.

Read the 2022 Annual Report

Read about our partnerships

What is the Order Office?

The Order Office is a working group of Order members, including the International Order Convenors and the Order Office Team, that operate from a number of locations around the world. We provide support for the International Order Convenors and manage the Order’s information, administration, support and development worldwide.

The Triratna Trust

The International Order Office is overseen by the Triratna Trust, which is entrusted with making sure that the money given through Order Dana is spent wisely. The trustees of the charity are elected each year and are its guardians. They have the legal responsibility to ensure that the charity operates in line with its charter and remains solvent.

The Trust’s objective is the advancement of the Buddhist religion. In particular:

1) To encourage Order members and others to live in accordance with the teaching of the Buddha.

2) To support ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Order.

3) To maintain close oversight of the Order Office’s work, with the guidance of the Triratna Buddhist Order and in co-operation with other groups.

Read the 2022 Annual Report

Read about our partnerships

Meet the Team

Utpaladhi – Assistant to the International Order Convenors

Born in Liverpool and brought up in the North West I have been a ‘seeker’ since I was a young teen. I was looking for meaning in life and I explored Buddhist writing for many years but without really taking action. In my mid-30s my partner and I were raising our young son, I was exhausted from working in the university sector, and I began to realise that I had little enthusiasm about my life. I went on a retreat at Taraloka and that was it – I really saw how the Dharma could change my life and give me the sense of purpose I had been missing. I worked for Buddhafield for almost five years and practice with the Southampton Buddhist Centre. I was ordained in 2021 and was given the White Tara sadhana. My name means ‘she who has the mind or intelligence of the blue lotus’ and reminds me to keep open, keep unfolding and to allow the mystery of the Dharma to change me.

Subhadassi – Ethics Order Convenor

I came across Triratna in Leeds in the late eighties. It did the trick, and I threw myself into work and practice. I was ordained in 1992 at Guhyaloka, when I was twenty four.

In 1993, I was one of four shiny Order members who headed north to Newcastle (UK) to establish a Buddhist centre.

In 2006, I moved to London. I continued working in the arts, primarily through writing and poetry, which I had begun doing in the 90s. In 2011, I moved to East Sussex, with my partner and baby twins. In 2015 I became chair of Brighton Buddhist Centre, a role I held until the end of summer 2020.

Being a ‘Subhadassi’ means that I have the ability to see potential in people, in institutions, in ideas, in words or in material objects. On a good day, I can help this beauty-in-potential to manifest. This seeing potential, and working to realise it, is something I want to bring to my work for the Order.

I have been Subhadassi since I was twenty four, and I continue to be inspired by Bhante’s beautiful vision of the Order as the thousand armed Avaloketisvara. I am keen to support the order, both individually and collectively, to close the gap between the realities of our lives, and that vision.

Amaradaya – Team Co-ordinator

I was born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, before moving to Manchester when I was 30. I had already been a Buddhist for 7 years before my involvement with Triratna, which began when I started volunteering some time to the Manchester Centre, and to Clear Vision. I graduated in factual film production, and so pretty soon started to work with Clear Vision full time, which for a decade enabled me to travel and visit many other Triratna sanghas in the UK and abroad, documenting the development of our Order and community. I was ordained at Guhyaloka in 2018, and was given the Prajnaparamita sadhana. I lived in Akashaloka mens community for 10 years before moving back to Newcastle in 2021 to become Chair of the Newcastle centre.

Lokabandhu – Finance Officer

I have been a member of Triratna Buddhist Order for over 30 years now and have worked more or less full time for the Movement since then, in all sorts of different capacities – from helping to found the Buddhafield Festival to serving as Subhuti’s secretary. These days I am mostly to be found bookkeeping various Triratna projects from my home of many years in Glastonbury, where I live with my partner, her son and two cats. I love building work and am also intimately involved in the renovation of Alfoxton Park into a retreat centre focusing on meditation, poetry, and the arts.

Shantavira – Shabda Compiler

I was brought up as a Quaker and lived in a large community in Bethnal Green for ten years before coming into contact with the Movement. I was ordained in Tuscany in 1984 at the age of 35 and worked as an editor and typesetter with Windhorse Publications, at first in Bethnal Green, then in Norwich and Sheffield, before joining the business team in Birmingham. Since January 2009 I have collated, printed, and distributed Shabda from an office in Moseley. I still assist Windhorse when required, and I am currently helping to prepare all Sangharakshita’s books, articles, and papers for publication as part of his Complete Works.

Shantavira

Shantavira – Shabda Compiler

I was brought up as a Quaker and lived in a large community in Bethnal Green for ten years before coming into contact with the Movement. I was ordained in Tuscany in 1984 at the age of 35 and worked as an editor and typesetter with Windhorse Publications, at first in Bethnal Green, then in Norwich and Sheffield, before joining the business team in Birmingham.

Since January 2009 I have collated, printed, and distributed Shabda from an office in Moseley. I still assist Windhorse when required, and I am currently helping to prepare all Sangharakshita’s books, articles, and papers for publication as part of his Complete Works.

Sadayasihi

Lokabandhu – Finance Officer

I have been a member of Triratna Buddhist Order for over 30 years now and have worked more or less full time for the Movement since then, in all sorts of different capacities – from helping to found the Buddhafield Festival to serving as Subhuti’s secretary. These days I am mostly to be found bookkeeping various Triratna projects from my home of many years in Glastonbury, where I live with my partner, her son and two cats. I love building work and am also intimately involved in the renovation of Alfoxton Park into a retreat centre focusing on meditation, poetry, and the arts.

Amaradaya

Amaradaya – Team Co-ordinator

I was born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, before moving to Manchester when I was 30.

I had already been a Buddhist for 7 years before my involvement with Triratna, which began when I started volunteering some time to the Manchester Centre, and to Clear Vision.

I graduated in factual film production, and so pretty soon started to work with Clear Vision full time, which for 10 years enabled me to travel and visit many other Triratna sanghas in the UK and abroad, documenting the development of our Order and community.

I was ordained at Guhyaloka in 2018, and was given the Prajnaparamita sadhana.

I have lived in Akashaloka mens community for 9 years now, and I am the most recent addition to the International Order Office team.

Utpaladhi

Utpaladhi – Assistant to the International Order Convenors

Born in Liverpool and brought up in the North West I have been a ‘seeker’ since I was a young teen. I was looking for meaning in life and I explored Buddhist writing for many years but without really taking action. In my mid-30s my partner and I were raising our young son, I was exhausted from working in the university sector, and I began to realise that I had little enthusiasm about my life. I went on a retreat at Taraloka and that was it – I really saw how the Dharma could change my life and give me the sense of purpose I had been missing. I worked for Buddhafield for almost five years and practice with the Southampton Buddhist Centre. I was ordained in 2021 and was given the White Tara sadhana. My name means ‘she who has the mind or intelligence of the blue lotus’ and reminds me to keep open, keep unfolding and to allow the mystery of the Dharma to change me.

Meet the Trustees

Achara

Joined the Triratna Trust in 2014

Achara lives in Sheffield and was ordained in 2000 by Padmavajra in India. He has contributed to Sheffield Buddhist Centre, Windhorse publications, Vajraloka, Windhorse Evolution and other situations around Triratna. Achara has a fascination with organisations and communication.

He says: “I have been captivated by the Dharma since I first discovered it as a schoolboy. It took me twenty years to find a teacher and when I encountered Sangharakshita and the Sangha I knew I was ‘home’.

I regard the Triratna Community as a rare and precious jewel and I want to contribute whenever I can. The Triratna Trust plays an important part in the health and continuity of the Order, so when I was asked if I would be a Trustee, I was pleased to accept.”

Aryajaya – International Order Convenor & Trustee of the Triratna Trust

I came across what was the FWBO in Kathmandu in 1993, as I was travelling around India and Nepal. I am Australian and on returning to Sydney, I began to engage with the Sydney Sangha but it wasn’t until 2000 that I made the leap to come to the UK to work in the Evolution shop in Cambridge.

I wasn’t aware of what I was getting myself into but I worked at Windhorse:evolution for 15 years, until it closed in 2015. I was inspired by the opportunity to live a Dharma life with other Buddhists, the incredible team work, the hard work and the creativity. I was often touched by the everyday kindnesses, co-operation and the friendship that was offered in that. It was also very challenging and I found those challenges stretched me and helped me grow personally and spiritually.

In 2006 I was ordained at a one off retreat in Dunkeld by Padmasuri and she gave me my name and the Vajrasattva practice.

After Windhorse:evolution closed I spent 2 years working at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre. I enjoyed teaching meditation, yoga, leading festival days and Sangha night. I was then approached to consider the role of International Order Convenor and after some serious thought decided that I could serve the Order in this way. It is a real privilege and delight to be able to meet so many Order Members from all over the Triratna world. I hope to help our Order flourish and be proud of the community Bhante has created, and that we keep growing and deepening with all our efforts towards the wisdom and compassion of Awakening.

Vajrapriya

I was ordained in 2002, and spent most of my Dharma life working in the Cambridge Buddhist Centre. I moved to Shrewsbury in 2016 with my partner, Vajradevi, and am now a trustee of the Centre there. I’m also a regional Order convenor for the Midlands region. One way or another, my energies have been directed into the Order and Movement since 1997.

I worked for the International Order Office as the manager for a few years from 2016, and rejoined in 2021 as a trustee of the associated charity, the Triratna Trust. I love being involved with these fine Order members, serving this largely unseen institution of our Order, which exists to strengthen the largely unseen “mycelial network” of kalyana mitrata within the Order.

Amoghavajra

I came across the Movement in Glasgow in the late 1970’s. Bhante and his Vision of life and Evolution answered many of my existential questions. The dynamic and inspired people that I grew to know gave me an excellent context to practice within.

I’ve been in many Triratna situations since then, helping wherever I could. These days I live in Ipswich and am wholeheartedly engaged with our community here. Currently I’m a Regional Order Convenor for the Eastern Region. It’s great to be able to support the health of our Order as a Trustee.

Sagarasri

I came across the FWBO (as it was then) in Birmingham in the 1980’s. I soon realised this was something I wanted to throw myself into and moved to the London Buddhist Centre where I lived in residential communities and worked in the Cherry Orchard, a ‘Right Livelihood’ cafe. In 2000 I moved back to Birmingham to work with Vajradevi fundraising for what became Akashavana. I was ordained during this time, in 2002.

Since that project ended, I have remained in Birmingham, working in the NHS, currently specialising in data protection.

I am inspired by both the myth and the reality of the Order.

Achara

Joined the Triratna Trust in 2014

Achara lives in Sheffield and was ordained in 2000 by Padmavajra in India. He has contributed to Sheffield Buddhist Centre, Windhorse publications, Vajraloka, Windhorse Evolution and other situations around Triratna. Achara has a fascination with organisations and communication.

He says: “I have been captivated by the Dharma since I first discovered it as a schoolboy. It took me twenty years to find a teacher and when I encountered Sangharakshita and the Sangha I knew I was ‘home’.

I regard the Triratna Community as a rare and precious jewel and I want to contribute whenever I can. The Triratna Trust plays an important part in the health and continuity of the Order, so when I was asked if I would be a Trustee, I was pleased to accept.”

Aryajaya

Aryajaya – International Order Convenor & Trustee of the Triratna Trust

I came across what was the FWBO in Kathmandu in 1993, as I was travelling around India and Nepal. I am Australian and on returning to Sydney, I began to engage with the Sydney Sangha but it wasn’t until 2000 that I made the leap to come to the UK to work in the Evolution shop in Cambridge.

I wasn’t aware of what I was getting myself into but I worked at Windhorse:evolution for 15 years, until it closed in 2015. I was inspired by the opportunity to live a Dharma life with other Buddhists, the incredible team work, the hard work and the creativity. I was often touched by the everyday kindnesses, co-operation and the friendship that was offered in that. It was also very challenging and I found those challenges stretched me and helped me grow personally and spiritually.

In 2006 I was ordained at a one off retreat in Dunkeld by Padmasuri and she gave me my name and the Vajrasattva practice.

After Windhorse:evolution closed I spent 2 years working at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre. I enjoyed teaching meditation, yoga, leading festival days and Sangha night. I was then approached to consider the role of International Order Convenor and after some serious thought decided that I could serve the Order in this way. It is a real privilege and delight to be able to meet so many Order Members from all over the Triratna world. I hope to help our Order flourish and be proud of the community Bhante has created, and that we keep growing and deepening with all our efforts towards the wisdom and compassion of Awakening.

Vajrapriya

I was ordained in 2002, and spent most of my Dharma life working in the Cambridge Buddhist Centre. I moved to Shrewsbury in 2016 with my partner, Vajradevi, and am now a trustee of the Centre there. I’m also a regional Order convenor for the Midlands region. One way or another, my energies have been directed into the Order and Movement since 1997.

I worked for the International Order Office as the manager for a few years from 2016, and rejoined in 2021 as a trustee of the associated charity, the Triratna Trust. I love being involved with these fine Order members, serving this largely unseen institution of our Order, which exists to strengthen the largely unseen “mycelial network” of kalyana mitrata within the Order.

Amoghavajra

I came across the Movement in Glasgow in the late 1970’s. Bhante and his Vision of life and Evolution answered many of my existential questions. The dynamic and inspired people that I grew to know gave me an excellent context to practice within.

I’ve been in many Triratna situations since then, helping wherever I could. These days I live in Ipswich and am wholeheartedly engaged with our community here. Currently I’m a Regional Order Convenor for the Eastern Region. It’s great to be able to support the health of our Order as a Trustee.

Sagarasri

I came across the FWBO (as it was then) in Birmingham in the 1980’s. I soon realised this was something I wanted to throw myself into and moved to the London Buddhist Centre where I lived in residential communities and worked in the Cherry Orchard, a ‘Right Livelihood’ cafe. In 2000 I moved back to Birmingham to work with Vajradevi fundraising for what became Akashavana. I was ordained during this time, in 2002.

Since that project ended, I have remained in Birmingham, working in the NHS, currently specialising in data protection.

I am inspired by both the myth and the reality of the Order.

Partnerships

The International Order Office – whose mission is to keep the Triratna Order connected – works in close partnership with The Buddhist Centre Online (TBCO), which handles general communications for the Triratna Community. This is a very significant partnership that has many elements to it and this is the first year that we’re offering a dedicated report on this area of our own work and development. We have collaborated on various pieces of work with The Buddhist Centre Online team since the platform launched in 2012.

This year’s projects have built on the technical improvements to Order systems in 2016 – which included making Shabda and Shabda Articles accessible on TBCO via a secure Order login system, creating summer Order Conventions spaces online, offering continuous coverage of the conventions themselves, enhancing the Order email information service and offering access to new Dharma teaching resources specifically intended for Order members. The year began with the need for in-depth online Order discussion around a variety of controversial issues, and the Order Office lent its support to and helped guide communications and response to and from the Order worldwide.

In 2018, in partnership with TBCO, we put in place an ambitious new system to improve the Order Register, which houses vital information on Order members and underpins so much of the work we do for the Order. This new online system, Maitrijala, allows easier storage and retrieval of Order information for our team and others who partner with us. It has a slick new interface and will also allow us to more easily track statistics on Order members around the world to serve them better, and will help to boost Order Dana giving. Maitrijala was built to be integrally connected with other Triratna platforms to make information transfer and editing seamless, and will improve the experience of Order members for all of Triratna’s online services.

It’s an interesting aspect of collaboration to move between establishing what we would like (expressed strictly in ‘layman’s terms’!) and then exploring the technical options with the patient and skilled team at the Buddhist Centre Online team who help us achieve our goals. We have just completed work with them on a new space for the upcoming 2018 International Order Convention in India, and we are currently planning a mobile application, discussing the future of Shabda, and planning expansions and new features on the Maitrijala system.

All this work takes time to develop because of the need for careful thinking about how new projects and systems will function best for everyone involved, and about how to make them user-friendly and stable to ensure they remain useful well into the future. Finding the resources to develop and maintain this kind of thorough approach has also been a part of our mutual work.

The Order Office also has a hand in other emerging projects that reflect the collaborative approach of many of Triratna’s international institutions. We work with those helping administer the International Council, the Preceptors’ College, and the ECA Development Team as part of a set of ongoing partnerships.

Partnerships

The International Order Office – whose mission is to keep the Triratna Order connected – works in close partnership with The Buddhist Centre Online (TBCO), which handles general communications for the Triratna Community. This is a very significant partnership that has many elements to it and this is the first year that we’re offering a dedicated report on this area of our own work and development. We have collaborated on various pieces of work with The Buddhist Centre Online team since the platform launched in 2012.

This year’s projects have built on the technical improvements to Order systems in 2016 – which included making Shabda and Shabda Articles accessible on TBCO via a secure Order login system, creating summer Order Conventions spaces online, offering continuous coverage of the conventions themselves, enhancing the Order email information service and offering access to new Dharma teaching resources specifically intended for Order members. The year began with the need for in-depth online Order discussion around a variety of controversial issues, and the Order Office lent its support to and helped guide communications and response to and from the Order worldwide.

In 2018, in partnership with TBCO, we put in place an ambitious new system to improve the Order Register, which houses vital information on Order members and underpins so much of the work we do for the Order. This new online system, Maitrijala, allows easier storage and retrieval of Order information for our team and others who partner with us. It has a slick new interface and will also allow us to more easily track statistics on Order members around the world to serve them better, and will help to boost Order Dana giving. Maitrijala was built to be integrally connected with other Triratna platforms to make information transfer and editing seamless, and will improve the experience of Order members for all of Triratna’s online services.

It’s an interesting aspect of collaboration to move between establishing what we would like (expressed strictly in ‘layman’s terms’!) and then exploring the technical options with the patient and skilled team at the Buddhist Centre Online team who help us achieve our goals. We have just completed work with them on a new space for the upcoming 2018 International Order Convention in India, and we are currently planning a mobile application, discussing the future of Shabda, and planning expansions and new features on the Maitrijala system.

All this work takes time to develop because of the need for careful thinking about how new projects and systems will function best for everyone involved, and about how to make them user-friendly and stable to ensure they remain useful well into the future. Finding the resources to develop and maintain this kind of thorough approach has also been a part of our mutual work.

The Order Office also has a hand in other emerging projects that reflect the collaborative approach of many of Triratna’s international institutions. We work with those helping administer the International Council, the Preceptors’ College, and the ECA Development Team as part of a set of ongoing partnerships.

Shrine cloth table behind the scenes at Triratna Order Convention

Flowers on table behind the scenes at Triratna Order Convention

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the work of the Order Office team or trustees, please let us know by emailing orderoffice@triratnaorder.org.

You can also call Amaradaya in the UK on UK: +44 7842 075577

If you have a technical issue using this web page please let us know by emailing support@thebuddhistcentre.com and we’ll do our best to help.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the work of the Order Office team, please let us know by emailing orderoffice@triratnaorder.org.

You can also call Amaradaya in the UK on UK: +44 7842 075577

If you have a technical issue using this web page please let us know by emailing support@thebuddhistcentre.com and we’ll do our best to help.

with thanks to prashrabdhi, sadayasihi, shantavira, vimalamati.

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