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Finding a video of a Mitra ceremony from the past this week seemed a good prompt to let you know about a further step into a digitally connected future with our first ever online Mitra Ceremony! Our friend Brian Groves has been attending twice-weekly meditation sessions on The Buddhist Centre Online for the past couple of years. He lives in Modena, Italy, and asked to become a Mitra (by paper letter!) a while ago. We’re delighted to announce that his Mitra Ceremony will take place onAugust 23rd at 7pm in the Brighton Buddhist Centre, England. If you’re in the area, come along and support Brian. And if you’re not, as befits a Mitra in a primarily online context, we’ll be streaming his ceremony live. :) Tune in via Periscope by checking our Twitter account for details of the stream (we’ll post them here too). If we can get the bandwidth/data at the Buddhist Centre on the night we’ll try and also stream on Facebook Live.

'Angry Buddha' - Coming Soon As we move toward the 60th anniversary of Dr Ambedkar’s conversion, we hear news of a documentary film about the curious and inspiring story of the Hungarian gypsies who were inspired to start Dr Ambedkar High School, to help young Roma/gypsies to a better life. Due for international launch and screenings later this year, ‘Angry Buddha’ is the work of Austrian filmmaker Stefan Ludwig. Giving a picture of life in a Hungarian gypsy community, it tells the story of Janós Orsòs, a gypsy secondary school teacher (and mitra), his colleagues and pupils and their inspirations and fears: the Buddha, Dr Ambedkar, Subhuti, Triratna India and the Hungarian Far Right. View the trailer with German subtitles. If you are interested in arranging a screening of the film later this year, please email Christa Auderlitzky.

Read about Karunagita’s (Sarah Burns’) book on family as a Buddhist practice: A path for parents.

Maitreyabandhu interviewed him. He writes: “We invited Dr Rowan Williams - Archbishop of Canterbury 2002-12, currently Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge -  to talk about poetry, faith, religion and suffering. Here he is in the main shrine room of the LBC, talking to me about his life, his poetry and his faith. He read from his two collections of poetry with Carcanet. It was wonderful to meet him. I was moved and deeply impressed by his seriousness, humanity and and his compassionate outlook.”

Subhuti at home in Snowdonia

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Over the weekend of 18th and 19th October 2014, Triratna’s Brighton Buddhist Centre celebrated its 40th anniversary. Centre Chair Mokshini writes: “Our sangha and guests had a very moving couple of days together. The place was packed, and it was a very strong experience to have practitioners from all generations coming together to share their stories and practise together. You can watch, listen and read further about the event following the link at the bottom of this piece. We heard from former Chairs Mangala, Yashodeva and Khemanandi, as well Ratnaprabha, the current President, who had come along whilst a student at Sussex University in the 70s; and Jinapalita, men’s mitra convener for many years. Indrabodhi, Jnanottara and Sripada shared stories of joy, excitement, friendship and ideals as well as disappointments and hurt. What learning we’ve done over years of practice! Padmavajra gave a cracking talk. He had come along in 1974, aged 17, shortly after Buddhadasa started FWBO classes there – and was ordained just two years later. We very much appreciated the presence of Buddhadasa himself, our founder, who had given the money to rent our first Centre in George Street, Kemptown, including the Windhorse Bookshop, later the Windhorse Emporium. Devaraja, too, was rejoiced in, in his absence. Earning well, he had given virtually all his money to the Centre, while living very simply. Karunavira, Vessantara and Vijayamala regaled us with tales of secret bookshelves, 1970’s-style politically incorrect male attitudes to women and early attempts to deliver Dharma talks which stalled when the speaker’s notes turned out to be a shopping list! There appeared to have been a lot of magic around in the early days: on one occasion Bhante gave a talk and a psychic in the audience asked who the man in red standing behind him was, describing a figure very much like Padmasambhava. On another occasion people clearing out a bread oven from the Centre premises at George Street, which had been a baker’s, found an initiation vase! Others talked of the witch who frequented the Windhorse shop, who sounded positively frightening. It is probably fair to say that all the women who spoke, who had been around in the early days (Khemanandi, Sripada and Vijayamala) highlighted that although this weekend was a time for celebration, it was also a time to acknowledge hurt and disappointment. In the light of this, I led a forgiveness meditation before puja on Sunday afternoon. We had wonderful cake on both days, and much laughter. To end the celebrations, Vessantara, our first President, let off 40 golden balloons bearing messages of well-wishing, echoing the balloons let off when the Centre opened in Tichborne Street in 1999. May the Dharma flourish, may all beings be well and happy, may the Brighton Buddhist Centre continue to spread the Dharma and may the Bodhicitta arise!” Hear the talks; see more pictures. Visit the Brighton Buddhist Centre’s website. Follow Brighton Buddhist Centre on The Buddhist Centre Online. Make a donation to the Brighton Buddhist Centre.

Two recent publications from Sangharakshita and his editor Kalyanaprabha offer a view on the early stages of the development of his teaching of the Dharma. Early Writings: 1944-1954 Anagarika Dharmapala: A Biographical Sketch and Other Maha Bodhi Writings Visiting Kalimpong last year, I met a German academic who was researching the encounter of western Buddhists with Tibetan teachers in Kalimpong in the 1950s – and the effect of this on those teachers and the development of the teaching of Tibetan Buddhism in the west. Though it was obvious that Tibetan teachers had affected the lives of the westerners they taught, I had never thought of that encounter affecting the thinking of their teachers. These two early volumes from Sangharakshita help us to understand how this could be. Both are joint publications from Ibis Publications, Bhante’s own imprint, and Triratna’s publishers, Windhorse Publications. Early Writings: 1944-1954 is a collection of pieces written over a 10-year period crucial to the development of Sangharakshita’s thought and expression. In these articles, visionary or deeply reflective, we hear voice of the writer of A Survey of Buddhism. He ranges over entire field of Buddhism and the encounter of Buddhism with western culture and modern life. He brilliantly explains the implications for humanity of the Buddha’s teaching of selflessness. Anagarika Dharmapala: A Biographical Sketch and Other Maha Bodhi Writings tells the life story of one of Buddhism’s leading figures – responsible for reclaiming the Maha Bodhi temple at Bodhgaya as a Buddhist holy site - with vividness and passion. The volume also includes a series of pieces written under the pseudonym ‘Himavantavasi’, which were first published in India’s Maha Bodhi Journal in the 1950s. Follow Windhorse Publications on The Buddhist Centre Online. (Click +Follow top left.) Visit the Windhorse Publications website. Online orders Personal orders and e-books: Please order via the link for each title above. Wholesale orders: please order via BookSource. (Please be aware that ordering via Amazon drastically reduces the profit to these small Buddhist publishers.)

With sadness we announce the death of Dharmachari Vivekapriya who died in hospital in the evening of Tuesday 28th October. Vivekapriya was 66 years old and lived in Maharashtra, India, where he was connected with the Triratna centre in Wardha. He had suffered with asthma for several months. He was ordained on 16th October 1988 and Bhante was his private and public preceptor. Becoming involved with Triratna he gave up his job and contributed many years to develop the Bordharan Retreat Centre, and to build the sangha in Vidharbha. His funeral programme will start from his home on 29th October, at 5pm.

With sadness we announce the death of Dharmacharini Mokshapushpa, who died in the evening of Monday 27th October in a hospice. Her last hours were spent with her brother, a good friend and Suchitta, her private preceptor. Mokshapushpa, who was 63 and lived in Hereford, UK, had been suffering with an aggressive form of cancer for several months and had been facing her death with courage and grace. She was ordained on the first day of the European Women’s Order Convention at Adhisthana in late August this year, following a small private ordination retreat at Taraloka. Her name means ‘She who is a Flower of Liberation’. Suchitta writes: “Mokshapushpa didn’t want a funeral, she wanted her public ordination to be the celebration of her life - and it was.”

Sangharakshita recently visited his new library at Adhisthana, as his 11,000 books appeared on the shelves at last. It’s hard to remember that the Adhisthana project began as the “SLP”: the Sangharakshita Library Project, a home for Bhante’s books. This gradually became the Sangharakshita Land Project: a long search for land and buildings for a retreat centre and library. Vidyadevi is one of Bhante’s editors. She writes: “Thanks to the building and decorating efforts of Yashodeva, Ratnadharini, Dayamala and many others, the library was at last ready for books. With the serendipitous gift of bookshelves from the famous London bookshop, Foyles, and sage advice from Dayaka, who works in book conservation for the British Library, I and a team of other women Order members recently spent two weeks shelving them, both Buddhist and non-Buddhist. Bhante’s collection began with the hundred or so books he brought back from India in the 1960s. We enjoyed hunting for these, now worn and faded but with a certain wabi-sabi beauty, to be given pride of place. It’s striking to reflect that Sangharakshita’s teachings sprang from those very books, which at one time represented a large proportion of the Dharma study material available in English. The central arched space is to reserved for quiet reflection. To begin dedicating the space, we had fun working out how to transport a large Manjughosa rupa into the building, and improvising a shrine made from copies of the Encyclopedia Britannica. On our last morning, Bhante came to view our work and join us for our tea break. (Luckily, he wasn’t shocked by our outrageous use of encyclopedias for shrine-building, commenting, ‘People get their information in different ways these days.’) He commented later by email, ‘I really enjoyed my visit to the Library yesterday. The last time I visited it, many weeks ago, the shelves were empty and dusty. Now they are full of books and the Library is ready to function as a centre of study and reflection. You and your little band of helpers are to be congratulated on what you have achieved. I must also say how much I enjoyed the tea party, which was my first social engagement, so to speak, since moving to Adhisthana, and as such it represents a real step forward for me.’ The library still needs finishing touches and we are discussing how best to welcome visitors, but it already has vitality, warmth and stillness.The official opening is planned for the new year.” Pictures by Vidyadevi and Suvajra. Visit the Adhisthana website. Follow Adhisthana on The Buddhist Centre Online. Follow Adhisthana on Facebook.

I’ve been visiting Ontario since the 1990s when my father moved there. Having been Chair of the Colchester Buddhist Centre in Britain, I was ready for a new project. I remember going for a run one morning near where my father lived and thinking, “Wouldn’t it be great to have a Buddhist Centre here in a bungalow with a basement?!” The seed was sown. The friends I’ve made there are lively, loyal and kind. What they lack (as was also the case in Colchester) is the experience of sangha and what it means to Go for Refuge. The place is like a big spiritual supermarket but it is difficult to nurture what is special about Triratna without being there full time. Like Colchester, it needs time, patience, kindness, generosity, persistence; the ability to face setbacks. My friendship with Sangharakshita has been key, a grounding that has been inspiring, encouraging and insightful. Our friendship goes back to 1975 I believe, and he has been hugely patient and kind. The biggest financial support has been my father, though he has been dead for three years. I am living on the money he left me, and I’m also grateful to a number of generous donors. It’s certainly the toughest project I have taken on. I wonder where it will lead!” Support Harshaprabha with money. Visit Triratna Ontario online. Visit the Vancouver Buddhist Center website.

Ukraine is sadly best known lately as a war zone - but that’s in the east. In the south there are seven mitras. British public preceptor Saddhaloka recently made a one-week visit to Odessa, Ukraine’s third largest city, on the shore of the Black Sea. He writes: “Back in 2000 Dima Hovansky and a group of friends who practise the martial art Shorinji Kempo were pursuing their interest in Buddhism. On an alternative book stall in an Odessa market. they came across a copy of the Russian translation of Sangharakshita’s A Guide to the Buddhist Path. On the strength of the book Dima wrote to Sangharakshita on behalf of the group, asking him to become their teacher. It took a while for the letter to reach Bhante, but he sent a warm and encouraging reply. He passed their letter on to me as I’d made a few visits to St. Petersburg and was involved with the Triratna Russian Dharma translation project. Letters were exchanged and in 2002 I made my first visit to Odessa. Nagadakini from Germany has also made several visits, and Padmadhara accompanied me once. In summer 2013 Triratna’s Polish sangha held a retreat near Krakow, also attended by members of Triratna’s Russian and Ukrainian sanghas. Since then the international connections have been growing, with further Ukrainian participation in Polish retreats. There were three mitra ceremonies at the end of my last visit, so there are now seven mitras in Odessa. They meet every Sunday to meditate and discuss the Dharma, and even without an ongoing Order presence their determination to pursue a life in the Dharma is striking. Dima Hovansky asked for ordination at the end of the retreat in Poland last summer, and will attend his first Going for Refuge retreat at Padmaloka next month. Studying English, he has his sights set on Guhyaloka. His wife Ira and their four year-old daughter Sofia are keen to find out more about family retreats.” Read about Russian-language translations of Dharma books and other materials.  Read about Sangharakshita’s poetry in Russian. See the Odessa group’s own space on The Buddhist Centre Online.

Though the Fund is usually oversubscribed, 2014 was a quiet year and these five grants left a surplus to be carried forward to 2015. Where does the money come from? Growth Fund money comes from the ECA’s Development Fund, which is supplied mainly by the annual donations of Centres across Europe. However, some money is generously donated by Centres as far away as north America and Australasia, in recognition of the fact that much of the work supported by the ECA benefits Triratna people all over the world (for example, Free Buddhist Audio, Windhorse Publications, Clear Vision/VideoSangha and this very website). Watch this space for news of Growth Fund applications in 2015! Click +Follow top left if you’d like to receive email notifications for new stories on Triratna News.

Uddiyana was an ancient land famous for rich, fertile plains, soaring mountains and an abundance of natural environment and culture. Sounds a long way from the streets of Leytonstone, east London, UK? A long-established Triratna men’s community there has just adopted “Uddiyana” (Royal Orchard) as its new name. As they explain, “Uddiyana was the mythical birthplace of Padmasambhava. He’s an important figure for our community, and has a central place on our shrine. Actually, though, our neighbourhood is very green and peaceful for somewhere within such easy reach of central London. The edge of part of Epping Forest is literally at the end of our road. So perhaps it’s not quite as far from ancient Uddiyana as one might think!” The community was also inspired by the most famous account of ancient Uddiyana, that of the famous 7th century Chinese Buddhist pilgrim and teacher, Hsuan Tsang. He found the people there to be gentle, happy, appreciative of culture and lovers of learning, and especially noted how “all the people greatly reverenced the profound teachings of the Buddha.” “We like the sense of ease, plenty and enjoyment associated with the name, as well as its mythic resonances, because it’s a good balance to the more down-to-earth, practical side of our life together: daily meditation at 7am; eating together every day; weekly community night; being on retreat together a couple of times a year; most of all, an ongoing attention to the friendships between us as they grow and change. And, on a more mundane level, keeping the place shipshape and balancing the books. All of us take these things pretty seriously.” Uddiyana men’s community in east London currently has a vacancy for someone who wants to make living in community a part of their practice. Interested? Visit their website for more information. Jyotivana women’s community in Manchester, UK, also has a vacancy. Contact Taravandana.

If you’d like more detail, here’s a very visual slideshow summary beautifully designed by Dhammarati, including the priorities the Council set for their work over the next two years. Or view the summary as a web pdf. For a lot more detail including daily interviews and daily video summaries from the event as it happened check out theCouncil’s page on The Buddhist Centre Online, where you may also click + Follow to keep up to date with the Council.

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