It is not our job to protect Triratna from difficult truths, and we recognise and deeply regret the pain of those who suffered in any way as a result of their involvement in Triratna.
Learning from our history
Over the years Triratna has attracted some criticism and controversy around ethical issues from the past. These affected both the individuals who were involved and the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community as a whole. The fundamental ethical principle that we follow as Buddhists is the importance of taking responsibility for the consequences of our actions. We are committed to recognising honestly when things have gone wrong and learning from our experience.
Perhaps the strongest criticisms – from individuals who were affected and in the media – have focused on Sangharakshita himself and especially the period of his life between 1968 and 1985 when he was sexually active (for the rest of his life he was celibate).
Recognising that our teacher’s actions sometimes caused suffering has been a painful process for people in Triratna, prompting debate and soul-searching. Sangharakshita himself issued a statement in 2016 expressing "my deep regret for all the occasions on which I have hurt, harmed or upset fellow Buddhists, and ask for their forgiveness."
There has also been criticism around unhelpful ideas and attitudes in Triratna in the past, concerning sex, gender and lifestyle, that have left a legacy of pain and distrust.
Over several years through 2020, a group of senior Order members based at Adhisthana, a central retreat centre in the UK, worked together to establish what had happened, how and where problems arose, and to draw conclusions. The group published their findings in a detailed report entitled 'Addressing Ethical Issues in Triratna', which is available online. They also put in place mechanisms for reconciliation where that was possible, and laid out next steps towards tracking our progress as a community in dealing with these issues and their consequences.
Comments and questions can be sent to the working group who oversee the next phase of this work: email the Next Steps group.
During this same period, a comprehensive system of safeguarding was established for Triratna Centres, and clearer procedures developed for what happens in the case of ethical breaches. We are committed to ensuring that Triratna’s culture and practices protect everyone: including ethical guidelines for teachers at Triratna centres and people conducting ordinations.
