Tag: European Buddhist Union

Triratna reports from the European Buddhist Union meeting 2020

As usual on the last weekend of September, the European Buddhist Union is holding its annual meeting - at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Tuscany, Italy. Sadly most of the roughly 40 participants from many traditions all across Europe are on Zoom this time, for obvious reasons (and your trusty Liaison Officer, Munisha, is sitting in a little hut in Sweden.)

The morning has begun with a presentation from the hosts and the local mayor, followed by the...

Buddhists in Europe and COVID-19

Across Europe (and much of the rest of the world) Buddhists of all traditions are deeply affected by the arrival of the new Coronavirus, COVID-19, just like everyone else.

Triratna is a member of the European Buddhist Union, whose president wrote to all members today.

In the UK and much of the rest of Europe Buddhist temples, centres and retreat centres area closed. Many countries are in ‘lockdown’, people required by law to stay at home most of the time.

Here in Sweden where I...

European Buddhist gatherings 2019

The end of September saw, as usual, the annual gatherings of the European Buddhist Union, and Buddhist Teachers in Europe.

This year the venue was Sangha Activa, a Spanish group in the Sakya lineage of the Vajrayana Tibetan tradition in the countryside an hour north of Barcelona. I attended both meetings as Triratna’s Liaison officer and Vajratara (who lives and works at Tiratanaloka) joined me for the Buddhist Teachers in Europe.

Sangha Activa several years ago took...

Safeguarding in Triratna: an update

Since 2015, ‘Safeguarding’ has become an integral part of the life of Triratna organisations in the UK, and indeed those in many other countries, even where Safeguarding as understood in Britain is unknown. (See below for an explanation of Safeguarding.)

All Triratna centres in the UK now have Safeguarding policies and named Safeguarding officers. Triratna centres in other countries are encouraged to do the same, or to do whatever is required locally; and many have done so.

Earlier this year Triratna’s Ethics kula...