Buddhist Centre Features
Buddhist Centre Features

An Account of Croydon Buddhist Centre in the 1980s by Vishvapani

By Vishvapani on Thu, 9 Feb, 2017 - 17:48

An Account of Croydon Buddhist Centre in the 1980s by Vishvapani

By Vishvapani on Thu, 9 Feb, 2017 - 17:48

In the wake of recent testimony, I am re-posting here an article I wrote for Dharma Life magazine in 1998, which describes my experience at the Croydon Buddhist centre in the 1980s

In September 1997 The Guardian published a critical article about the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (now called the Triratna Buddhist Community) – that included a long description of an FWBO centre that went wrong. It was ‘a cult’, I read, characterised by ‘collective...

Croydon Buddhist Centre
Croydon Buddhist Centre

Opening up the Space, Bringing in the Sky

By Carol Robertson on Mon, 6 Feb, 2017 - 17:13

Opening up the Space, Bringing in the Sky

By Carol Robertson on Mon, 6 Feb, 2017 - 17:13

We’ve come to the end of week 2 and things are moving fast. New skylight windows are appearing, bringing in the sky, a wall has vanished into space, leaving – more space. Every day brings more decisions – some large, some detailed

After much discussion with the builders, the structural engineer and the building control inspector we have had to modify our initial idea for the ceiling in the shrine room for many technical reasons, (in layman’s term-...

Croydon Buddhist Centre
Croydon Buddhist Centre

The shrine project, the story so far ........

By Carol Robertson on Sat, 28 Jan, 2017 - 14:17

The shrine project, the story so far ........

By Carol Robertson on Sat, 28 Jan, 2017 - 14:17

On Monday 23rd January 2017, Vijayasri and myself were so happy to finally be able to say that the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Appeal, was coming to fruition. With a planned start date of a few months ago, it has been understandable for people visiting, to feel that nothing has been happening. We can assure you that there has been so much going on behind the scenes, trying to get this project off the ground. We plan on providing a regular blog...

Triratna News
Triratna News

Croydon's Meditation for Peace

By Munisha on Thu, 27 Oct, 2016 - 13:39

Croydon's Meditation for Peace

By Munisha on Thu, 27 Oct, 2016 - 13:39

Vijayasri reports from Croydon Buddhist Centre, in south London, UK.

“21st September was the International Day of Peace. As Buddhists, one of the great contributions we can make to peace is is our practice of metta. We experience the difference that metta makes in our own community; we have a vision of spiritual community; importantly we have a means to overcome conflict and disharmony.

Sangharakshita asks us to imagine a society where the metta bhavana meditation is regularly practised...

Buddhist Centre Features
Buddhist Centre Features

European Chairs’ Assembly talks money and many languages

By Munisha on Tue, 6 Sep, 2016 - 19:04

European Chairs’ Assembly talks money and many languages

By Munisha on Tue, 6 Sep, 2016 - 19:04

Moving towards the end of their weeklong meeting at Adhisthana, the European Chairs offered puja books in many European languages in an international puja in which we recited the positive precepts in nine languages. You’ll find the international puja book collection on a new shelf at the back of the shrine room.

They also reviewed their finances (see below) and enjoyed a series of very short, spontaneous ‘pop-up’ talks on topics including:

Triratna East Surrey
Triratna East Surrey

THE HEART OF ART

By Padmapriya on Mon, 4 Jul, 2016 - 08:51

THE HEART OF ART

By Padmapriya on Mon, 4 Jul, 2016 - 08:51

Heart of Art Exhibition

4-14 July 2016

The Heart of Art is an emerging group of friends who wish to explore the Arts as a vehicle of spiritual development. We have been working together for ten months, one outcome of which will be our first Art Exhibition at the Croydon Clocktower.

We would like to invite the Sangha to our private view on Saturday 9th of July from 1-3 pm. The Exhibition serves to launch the project, which is soon to include a Drumming Circle, Singing, Dance,...

Croydon Buddhist Centre
Croydon Buddhist Centre

BUDDHIST ACTION MONTH AT THE CROYDON BUDDHIST CENTRE 2016

By Carol Robertson on Thu, 26 May, 2016 - 15:57

BUDDHIST ACTION MONTH AT THE CROYDON BUDDHIST CENTRE 2016

By Carol Robertson on Thu, 26 May, 2016 - 15:57

THEME : the theme will be TRANSFORMING SELF AND WORLD echoing our Sangha Morning class theme which is balancing transformation of self through exploring the Seven Fold PUJA with themes of transforming the world mainly through Buddhist Action Month.

CENTRE ACTIVITIES
Activities will mainly be focused on Saturday morning classes:

4th June : Amarapuspa will introduce Buddhist Action Month including the possibility of taking a precept for the month....

Croydon Buddhist Centre
Croydon Buddhist Centre

Croydon Digital Archive Project

By Carol Robertson on Thu, 27 Aug, 2015 - 09:51

Croydon Digital Archive Project

By Carol Robertson on Thu, 27 Aug, 2015 - 09:51

Croydon has been home to FWBO / Triratna Buddhist communities and centres since 1968. Many early talks by well known speakers were recorded, both at Aryatara since 1979 and at the “new” Croydon Centre from 1981. These are now being transferred from their crumbling cassettes to digital format, as part of the Croydon Digital Archive Project, and are being made available to everyone.

We want to celebrate Bhante’s 90th birthday by releasing a previously unheard recording, made in 1990 at the...

Buddhist Action Month 2015
Buddhist Action Month 2015

The truth about copper, bronze and brass

By TommyC on Sat, 20 Jun, 2015 - 23:34

Thinking about commissioning a bronze rupa? If so, you might want to consider the social and environmental impact of bronze against alternative materials. The attached factsheet was compiled by a former NGO activist on environmental and human rights issues, and member of the Croydon sangha, Karen Luyckx.

File NameSize
bronze_facts_18.06.2015.pdf474.47 KB
Buddhist Action Month 2015
Buddhist Action Month 2015

Earth metta quiz

By TommyC on Sat, 20 Jun, 2015 - 23:19

We are all familiar with the notion of climate change. But how much do you really know about our collective impact on the planet and your personal carbon footprint? Pit your wit against the Earth Metta Quiz compiled by members of the Croydon sangha. Answers to be revealed at the end of the month. In Croydon we’re making this into a quiz with opportunities to win eco-products for winning entries.

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