Triratna News
Triratna News

The Observer interview: what I really said, by Munisha (Triratna Safeguarding officer)

By Munisha on Thu, 2 Mar, 2017 - 17:34

The Observer interview: what I really said, by Munisha (Triratna Safeguarding officer)

By Munisha on Thu, 2 Mar, 2017 - 17:34

As you may know, Triratna featured in the British newspaper The Observer on Sunday 19th February 2017, in an article referring to allegations of sexual misconduct in the FWBO in the 1970s and 80s.

As the person interviewed for the article, I thought I’d explain how this came about and what I actually said; in several places the article was misleading or quoted me inaccurately.

On 8th February a journalist emailed Adhisthana:

“Hi. I’m a journalist writing about what is going on within...

Triratna News
Triratna News

Responding To Triratna Controversy

By Centre Team on Sat, 18 Feb, 2017 - 22:31

Responding To Triratna Controversy

By Centre Team on Sat, 18 Feb, 2017 - 22:31

Many of our readers and friends will be aware that over the years Triratna has periodically needed to revisit troubling issues relating to events in our past. These derive in part from allegations of sexual misconduct by our founder, Sangharakshita, in his relations with a number of adults in the 1970s and ’80s. You can read about the general background here: Our Development & Values

At present there is a renewal of interest in these matters at Triratna Centres...

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...

Triratna News
Triratna News

Winter meeting of Triratna's European Chairs' Assembly

By Munisha on Thu, 19 Jan, 2017 - 15:04

Winter meeting of Triratna's European Chairs' Assembly

By Munisha on Thu, 19 Jan, 2017 - 15:04

This winter’s gathering of Triratna’s European Chairs’ Assembly ended last week at Adhisthana and was unusually large, with around 60 participants. This partly reflects a changeover in Chairs in around 15 centres and enterprises, the old and new Chairs attending together.

The topic this time was leadership, explored through a series of presentations and workshops. Listen to short interviews on this topic.

The Chairs also heard about the work done by the College, Bhante and Triratna’s communications...

Triratna News
Triratna News

A letter from Triratna's College of Preceptors

By Munisha on Thu, 19 Jan, 2017 - 13:51

A letter from Triratna's College of Preceptors

By Munisha on Thu, 19 Jan, 2017 - 13:51

Endorsing a Personal statement from SangharakshitaTriratna’s College of preceptors have released this letter, sent to all Order members on 15th January.

“Dear brothers and sisters in the Order,

On 31st December 2016 Bhante released a personal statement to all Order members via the Order Information Service. I am speaking on behalf of all Public Preceptors when I say how glad we are that Bhante has felt able to make this statement and how much we welcome the confessional nature of the contents. I believe...

European Chairs' Assembly
European Chairs' Assembly

European Triratna's Safeguarding rollout well under way

By Munisha on Sun, 15 Jan, 2017 - 15:35

European Triratna's Safeguarding rollout well under way

By Munisha on Sun, 15 Jan, 2017 - 15:35

At the end of this month’s gathering of Triratna’s European Chairs, there was a show of hands to establish how many centres now had Safeguarding officers and policies for the protection of children and “vulnerable adults”.

Of Triratna’s 35 urban centres and retreat centres in Britain, Ireland and the rest of Europe, 30 had Safeguarding officers and had adopted safeguarding policies, or were in process of doing so.

This is an extremely good rate of progress. We began talking...

Buddhist Centre Features
Buddhist Centre Features

A rich, full week at the European Chairs' Assembly

By Munisha on Sun, 4 Sep, 2016 - 17:42

A rich, full week at the European Chairs' Assembly

By Munisha on Sun, 4 Sep, 2016 - 17:42

Triratna’s European Chairs’ Assembly (ECA) and their guests have been meeting at Adhisthana since last Monday. They have spent the week creatively and very harmoniously, considering a number of matters to do with the future flourishing of Triratna.

Today we heard about the forthcoming publication of the first volume of Sangharakshita’s Complete Works – in English. Considering that just 5% of the world’s 70 million people are native English-speakers, we also heard of the work of the new,...

Triratna International Council
Triratna International Council

Day five at the International Council 2016

By Munisha on Sat, 6 Aug, 2016 - 23:10

Day five at the International Council 2016

By Munisha on Sat, 6 Aug, 2016 - 23:10

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...

Triratna News
Triratna News

Triratna: safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

By Munisha on Fri, 15 Apr, 2016 - 23:26

Triratna: safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

By Munisha on Fri, 15 Apr, 2016 - 23:26

“Ensuring the sexual, physical and psychological safety of young people and vulnerable adults involved in the activities of Triratna Buddhist Centres and other enterprises is an expression of the First Precept: the principle of non-harming, or love.”

So opens Triratna’s ‘Child protection general advice’ document for centres and enterprises in Europe, the introduction to a set of model policies developed over the last three years to help Triratna’s European Chairs meet their ethical and legal responsibilities to safeguard children and ‘vulnerable adults’.
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