Buddhist Voices
Buddhist Voices

Fifty Years, Fifty Voices: Sobhanandi (Highlights)

By Zac on Thu, 15 Sep, 2022 - 11:58

You come to a bridge. You look down. You see fish swimming in the water. But the fish don’t know you’re there, because that’s not their world. So the fish, their world is the water… You are conscious of the fish, seeing them, but it’s not your world. If you put the fish on the bridge, they’ll die. If you’re in the water, they die. That’s the world you live in, but it’s not the only world, because for the

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Triratna News
Triratna News

Ordinations in Metta Vihara, Holland

By Sadayasihi on Sun, 25 Apr, 2021 - 09:40

Ordinations in Metta Vihara, Holland

By Sadayasihi on Sun, 25 Apr, 2021 - 09:40

We very happy to announce the first Public Ordinations on Saturday, 24th April 2021, of the Joint Online Mainland European Ordination Retreat.

Karin van Kesteren from Diemen, The Netherlands, becomes Abhayanetri (long final ‘i’) a Sanskrit name meaning ‘she who leads from fearlessness’.

Anna van den Heuvel from Arnhem, The Netherlands, becomes Hrdayamaitri (dot under the first ‘r’, long final ‘i’) a Sanskrit name meaning ‘she whose friendship is from the heart’.

Riet Dhuyvetters from...

Triratna News
Triratna News

Ordination at Metta Vihara, Holland

By Sadayasihi on Mon, 2 Nov, 2020 - 17:58

Ordination at Metta Vihara, Holland

By Sadayasihi on Mon, 2 Nov, 2020 - 17:58

We are very happy to announce the Public Ordination of ex-Sandra Lanckman from the Ghent Sangha, Belgium, at Metta Vihara, Holland, today November 2nd, 2020.

Sandra becomes Maitrivirya (long second and third ‘i’, long final ‘a’) a Sanskrit name meaning ‘she who has the energy of love’

Tarini was the Private Preceptor and Kulanandi the Public Preceptor.

Sadhu!

Watch the public ordination of Maitrivirya on YouTube

Triratna News
Triratna News

Triratna Amsterdam's new Buddhist centre

By Munisha on Tue, 17 Oct, 2017 - 13:37

Triratna Amsterdam's new Buddhist centre

By Munisha on Tue, 17 Oct, 2017 - 13:37

Gunabhadri writes from Amsterdam with a five-minute video about the Amsterdam Buddhist Centre’s move (by bicycle!) to new premises in an old hospital (also home to Mokshagandhi).

“On the full moon evening of Wednesday 6th September the new Amsterdam Buddhist Centre officially opened.

For the last time, we shared an evening meal in our old centre in the Palmstraat and then a lamp was lit and transported to the new location by bicycle, together with a painting of Akshobya...

Triratna News
Triratna News

Death of Vajragita

By Munisha on Sat, 29 Nov, 2014 - 21:54

Death of Vajragita

By Munisha on Sat, 29 Nov, 2014 - 21:54With sadness we report the death from cancer of Dharmacharini Vajragita, who died very peacefully at home in Amsterdam at around 18.00 local time today, in the company of her community. She was 76 years old.

Vajragita was ordained by Sangharakshita in 1981 in Seaford, Sussex, UK. Her yidam was Padmasambhava. A founder member of the sangha in the Netherlands, she lived and worked at Taraloka (UK) for several years. She recently became a Public preceptor.

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Triratna News
Triratna News

Metta Vihara celebrates family retreat

By lokabandhu on Fri, 9 Aug, 2013 - 05:23

Metta Vihara celebrates family retreat

By lokabandhu on Fri, 9 Aug, 2013 - 05:23

Jan Deckers writes from Metta Vihara, Triratna’s new and beautiful retreat centre in the Dutch countryside. He says - “We had a wonderful working retreat at Metta Vihara, one where we learned again that Buddhism teaches us that everything is subject to change - including our retreats…! What had initially been announced as a youth retreat eventually turned into a working family retreat, and as many as 30 people (aged between one and seventy!) came over to Metta...

Triratna News
Triratna News

Arnhem Triratna moves into city centre

By lokabandhu on Mon, 22 Oct, 2012 - 06:05

Arnhem Triratna moves into city centre

By lokabandhu on Mon, 22 Oct, 2012 - 06:05Sobhanandi writes from the Dutch city of Arnhem, where the small Triratna Arnhem Buddhist Centre there has just moved - into the city centre! She says - “A few lines about the Arnhem Buddhist Centre for Triratna news. We just moved into new premises! After four years in the Rietgrachtstraat we had unexpectedly to leave that address on short notice. But we found a new place in the Spijkerstraat! We are now situated in the city centre, in...
Triratna News
Triratna News

Opening of Metta Vihara retreat centre

By lokabandhu on Fri, 13 Apr, 2012 - 06:18

Opening of Metta Vihara retreat centre

By lokabandhu on Fri, 13 Apr, 2012 - 06:18For the past year Triratna’s Dutch and Belgian centres have been working hard on the construction and finishing of Metta Vihara, their brand-new retreat centre. It’s nearly done, with the official opening scheduled for 11-13 May.

And to celebrate, they’ve made a video showing volunteers from the Sanghas and their friends painting and furnishing the building. Enjoy… And if you’re in the area for the opening, you’re warmly invited.


Triratna News
Triratna News

Metta Vihara (new Netherlands Retreat Centre) now nearly ready!

By lokabandhu on Tue, 7 Feb, 2012 - 15:18

Metta Vihara (new Netherlands Retreat Centre) now nearly ready!

By lokabandhu on Tue, 7 Feb, 2012 - 15:18Jan Deckers writes from Ghent, in Belgium, with the excellent news their new retreat centre Metta Vihara is nearly ready. Triratna’s Dutch and Belgian Sanghas have for many years been fundraising, property-searching, planning and seeking official permissions for a new Buddhist Retreat Centre in the South of the Netherlands - and it’s nearly here! He says -

“We can hardly believe it ourselves: the building is nearly finished. If the gods allow it we will take possession...
Triratna News
Triratna News

New music CD in aid of Metta Vihara retreat centre

By lokabandhu on Mon, 8 Aug, 2011 - 06:00

New music CD in aid of Metta Vihara retreat centre

By lokabandhu on Mon, 8 Aug, 2011 - 06:00Meynard Vasen writes with news of a new music CD to sold in aid of Triratna’s Metta Vihara retreat centre in the Low Countries. He says -

“On Sunday the 3th of July, Triratna’s Sangha in the Low Countries saw the birth of a new CD featuring the guitar music of Ed Stokman, an excellent guitar player.

“The inspiration of his music comes from nature, from his family and from meditation. He likes to sit and...