Tag: International Council 2016

Final day of the International Council 2016

The International Council’s 4th meeting closed yesterday with much appreciation for the great hard work and skill of everyone involved in running the event, from the facilitators to the cooks. Many of us were already looking ahead to the next meeting, in early 2018, in India.

Even before we had all left, Adhisthana was welcoming early arrivals for the next event, much bigger than ours: the international Order convention for men, including a group of Dharmacharis from India.

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Day five at the International Council 2016

International Council members woke today to the best kind of lush, golden Herefordshire summer morning: pigeons cooing; deep green oak trees in full leaf.

The day was devoted to the theme of conflict resolution and related matters. Dhammarati presented the document “What is a Triratna Buddhist Centre?” As the result of the Council’s first-ever worldwide consultation, this is a landmark.

Saddhaloka introduced new draft model ethical guidelines for the Order and Munisha introduced the latest version of the model ‘Safeguarding’ documents regarding the protection...

Day Four at the International Council

Today there’s a large marquee in Adhisthana’s green field, ready for the international Order convention next week. After days of cloud and rain the sun has been shining.

Meanwhile, through talks and questions, the Council heard about Triratna’s College of Public Preceptors, the body of senior Order members who ensure common standards of ordination worldwide.

We heard short personal talks on their experience of being in the College from Saddhaloka, Chair of the College, and Yashosagar from India. Saccanama, who provides the College...

Day Three at the International Council 2016

Today the Council looked at Triratna’s System of Practice.

The day began with collective practice of the Manjughosha stuti sadhana in front of Sangharakshita’s Manjughosha rupa which watches over the atrium of the Sangharakshita Library. (This is a visualisation meditation practice given to Sangharakshita by his teacher Jamyang Khyentse in October 1957.)

In the morning session, Dhammamegha presented the Sikkha Project, intended to deepen our understanding of what and how we practise and teach within the Triratna community, and develop an explicit shared framework to talk about it. 

Listen to a recent 15 minute interview with Dhammarati...