Anathapindaka Vihara holds foundation stone laying ceremony

Amitayus writes from central India with news of the foundation stone laying ceremony for the new Anathapindaka Vihara and Social Work Center at Triratna’s Amaravati centre. He says -

“ I have the privilege to inform you that the Dhammachari Lokamitra has laid the foundation stone of the Anathapindaka Vihara and Social Work Center in Amaravati. The ceremony started with the offerings to Buddha and Dr. Ambedkar fallowed by chanting by Dhammacharinis and with singing by the Ashvaghosh cultural team.

“The ceremony went very well in enthusiastic atmosphere and in presence of hundreds of Buddhists, non-Buddhists, well wishers, Mitras, and friends along with local leaders from various political and social organizations.

“In his talk Dhammachari Lokamitra appealed to people to contribute in the development of the Vihara as this would be the place of human empowerment and a place of Dhamma Revolution as well as a center from where people can learn and propagate Dhamma.

“Also Urgyen Sangharakshita sent his message to the ceremony which was read out as soon as the foundation stone was laid. In his message he said -


 ‘I am delighted to learn that, with the help of the Dhammamitras, the Dhammacharis and Dhammacharinis of the Vidharbha region are establishing a centre where the Dhamma can be taught and from which social work can be carried on.

 ‘I heartily congratulate all those who are involved in bringing this noble and worthwhile project to a successful conclusion. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Dhamma revolution has brought the Buddha’s sublime message to millions of people who were living in darkness and it is our duty to continue the mission he started.

 ‘Social work must be based on the principles of the Dhamma, and the Dhamma must find expression in social work. The institution you are establishing therefore has this double function, i.e. to be a place where the Dhamma is practiced and taught and from which social, educational, and medical activities are conducted. I am confident that with the support of all concerned it will be a source of blessing to hundreds of thousands of people within the Vidharbha region’.

“Dhammacharini Jayamani introduced the Anathapindaka Vihara which will consist of the Dhamma teaching and meditation hall, an educational residential hostel for boys, and a women child and youth empowerment center, along with a library.

“Finally there was rejoicing of merits (done by clapping hands) for those donors who have donated online and were not present on the occasion. All are invited to visit our on-line fundraising page www.justgiving.com/AnathapindakaVihara.

“Jai Bhim and metta to all,

Amitayus

video blogging from Windhorse:Evolution's month-long working retreat

Sugarbha writes from Windhorse:Evolution, the largest Right Livelihood business in the Triratna Buddhist Community. In their Cambridge warehouse they’ve been holding a month-long working retreat, video-blogging as they go.

He says - “Here, in part three, Arthapriya, the Windhorse Mitra Convenor, talks about work as practice and the importance of team based right livelihood as a Buddhist practice. There’s also clips of Vidyavajra leading the warehouse team in ritual around the giant Stupa in the centre of the warehouse. This is part three, the next clip will be the last in the series”.


New Developments @ Windhorse Part 3  on Vimeo.

The direct link is www.vimeo.com/10872944

Windhorse: Evolution is a successful business, trading ethically in giftware. It is the largest team based right livelihood business in the Triratna Buddhist Community, employing approximately 250 people in total. About 100 people work in the warehouse in Cambridge and a further 150 in the 18 Evolution shops around the UK and Ireland.

They sometimes have vacancies for men and women seeking to work in a Buddhist Right Livelihood environment; please check Triratna Jobs for the latest, or contact Windhorse direct.

News from Metta Vihara

 Akasasuri writes from Holland with news of their new retreat centre, Metta Vihara.  She says “here's some news on our retreat centre building work - seems a never-ending Mara-story!”  and goes on to explain -

“In September 2009 the Triratna Sanghas from the Low Countries (Holland and Belgium) bought a property in the South of Holland with the aim to establish our own retreat centre. In 1972 Vajrayogini (who recently died at the age of 93) organised the first FWBO retreat in Holland, led by Sangharakshita. Over the last 4 1/2 years about 20 retreats a year have been held in Holland and Belgium. And we thought, about time we had our own place!

“After much fundraising, the place we bought is a modern-looking white-washed farmhouse with lots of pigstables which needed to be demolished as they contained a lot of asbestos, especially on the roof. Due to the cold winter we had to keep postponing the removal of the asbestos as one is not allowed to handle it when the temperature sinks below 5 degrees!

“Finally in March we saw the demolishing of the barns. Unexpected draw-back is the appearance of new asbestos in the foundations. The regulations for the removal of asbestos are very strict here in Holland. Large new costs are looming as we are waiting the results of the new asbestos-survey!

  

“However our spirits are still up even though we have to face some serious financial consequences with the new-found asbestos.

“Meanwhile the architect is drawing his plans while we are establishing friendly contact with the people in the village and lots of volunteers from the Sangha come out to help.

With metta,

Akasasuri

  

Jan Deckers from the Dutch Sangha made a video of the demolishing of the pig stables, and set it to the chanting of the Pali Buddha Jaya Mangala Gāthā  (the The Verses of the Buddha's Auspicious Victories), part of which goes like this -

            Creating a form with 1,000 arms, each equipped with a weapon,
            Mara, on the elephant Girimekhala,
            uttered a frightening roar together with his troops.
            The Lord of Sages defeated him by means of such qualities as generosity:
            By the power of this, may you have victory blessings.

May Metta Vihara too have victory blessings!

Moksananda writes with news of the recent meeting of Triratna's College of Public Preceptors at Taraloka .  The College is a body of senior members of the Order, responsible for overseeing ordinations, helping men and women move towards joining, and performing the public ordination themselves.

It’s clear that their gatherings are far more than simply a meeting - Moksananda concludes his report by saying

“A report on the recent meeting of the College of Public Preceptors' sounds so prosaic, doesn't it? Couldn't I be allowed to call them 'Dispatches from the Edge of the World', or 'Glimmers of a Glacier'?  Or maybe just this once, ‘Birdcall from the Realm of Tara’?”

He goes on to explain the idea that the meeting might best be called 'Glimmers of a Glacier', saying “some of us watched 'Encounters at the End of the World' by Werner Herzog. The documentary is about people who spend half the year living in the Antarctic, mainly eccentric scientists and travellers who like to discuss such things as the beginnings of evolution or cosmic energies that permeate all things. A pretty wacky, but somehow very inspired and positive bunch of men and women. In some ways, not unlike a few of the public preceptors I thought…”

Among many other things they discussed the principles for making communication and decision-making within the Order and movement more effective; also  mitra study (and the need to perhaps strengthen some elements in the course), the Sangharakshita land project (the visions behind it and how it's going), the changing of the name of the Order and movement to Triratna, young people and how we can encourage them in the ordination process, and preceptor reviews.  India was on the agenda, as was fundraising and the need to find a more effective and long-term means of finding funding for the work of the College. 

You can read his report on the College blog here http://preceptorscollege.blogspot.com/2010/04/report-on-recent-meeting-of-college-of.html.

Poetry East coming up at London Buddhist Centre

 Fiona Sampson,
reading poetry
at the LBC
on April 24th

Maitreyabandhu writes with news of the next event hosted by Poetry East - the London Buddhist Centre ‘s bi-monthly poetry forum. He says -

“Our next event is coming up on Saturday 24th April; we’ll be welcoming Fiona Sampson.

“Fiona has published seventeen books, most recently Poetry Writing (2009) and A Century of Poetry Review (PBS Special Commendation, 2009). She’s won the Newdigate Prize, been short-listed for the Forward single-poem and T.S. Eliot Prizes, received writers’ awards from the Arts Councils of England and Wales, and in 2009 received a Cholmondeley Award.

“She is published in more than thirty languages, and her ten books in translation include Patuvachki Dnevnik, awarded the Zlaten Prsten (Macedonia). Having started life as a violinist, she collaborates regularly with composers as well as visual artists and this year gives the Newcastle Poetry Lectures under the title Music Lessons. She is the editor of Poetry Review, a regular broadsheet reviewer, and Distinguished Writer at the University of Kingston. Forthcoming are Rough Music (May, Carcanet) and the Faber Poet to poet Shelley (2011)

The event starts at 7.30pm at the London Buddhist Centre in East London.

More details on the Poetry East website at www.poetryeast.net

International Retreat news: collective Triratna name change ceremony

The FWBO’s largest retreat, the bi-annual International Retreat, is coming up soon - next month, May 28 - June 1st to be precise. Following the recent announcement of our change of name to the Triratna Buddhist Community, Jnanarakshita writes with some important additions to the retreat programme. Bookings are coming in more and more rapidly, so we’re asking people to book fairly soon if they want to come.  Details are on the retreat website.

He says -
“As you know, the WBO has now changed its name to the Triratna Buddhist Order. Following on from this, on Buddha Day 2010 the Movement around the world will be changing its name to the Triratna Buddhist Community (and local versions thereof).

“There will be an opportunity for those on the International Retreat at Taraloka to join in the celebrations of our precious Sangha and take part in a large-scale puja led by Padmavajra to ritually mark this significant change.

“The main part of the International Retreat programme will still be dedicated to exploring the theme of Buddha Day. In many and various ways we’ll be uncovering the spiritual implications of the incident when Shakyamuni overcame Mara’s army, turning their arrows into flowers.

“We’ll also be looking how to transform some modern-day demons with the help of three key-note talks:

• Vajradarshini on 'Everything Matters - Turning Consumerism on its Head'
• Jnanavaca on 'An Essential Matter - The Demon of Materialism’
• Saddhanandi on ‘Individualism - Hearing the Demon's Comforting Whisper’

We greatly appreciate all your help so far with publicity and have had another noticeable increase in the rate of bookings over the last month. Please reassure people that there are still some places on the International Retreat, especially for those who wish to camp and who are able to bring their own tents and bedding.

Book soon!
“At this stage, there are only a few places left for indoor accommodation. Priority is going to those with medical and/or mobility difficulties, to those travelling from overseas, and to early bookings.

“We’re aware that a number of centres have followed up our suggestion to make a space on the centre's notice board for people to arrange transport to and from the event. This may be stating the obvious, and no doubt you’ve already done this, but please could you remind people that writing their name on the lift-share sheet at the Buddhist centre isn’t sufficient to secure a place on the retreat!

“It would be a shame if people missed out through not sending us a deposit either by post or by booking online. It looks quite possible that the retreat will book up completely. Event licensing terms mean we can only cater for a maximum of 500 people.

“This retreat promises to be a momentous occasion. If you would like to be present, please send your deposit in soon to avoid disappointment. You can book on-line (in 5 languages!) at www.internationalretreat.fwbo.org

with many thanks
Jnanarakshita
Development Team Assistant

Vishvapani's 'Thought for the Day' on the UK election

Vishvapani - a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4's 'Thought for the Day' program - writes to say:

"My Thought for the Day from Saturday is now online. It struck me that the situation of voters perplexed by competing election candidates [in the upcoming UK General Election] is quite like that of the Kalamas, who told the Buddha they were confused by the claims of rival religious teachers..."

You can listen to his piece, or read a transcript, here -

Listen now: www.bbc.co.uk/religion/realmedia/thought/t20100417.ram
Read: www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/thought/documents/t20100417.shtml

An archive of his contributions to the programme is available on the BBC website here.

FWBO becomes the Triratna Buddhist Community

Last week we reported that the Western Buddhist Order was becoming the Triratna Buddhist Order. We’ve now heard from Vajragupta, writing on behalf of the FWBO Chairs Assembly, announcing a matching change of name to the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - which becomes the Triratna Buddhist Community.

He says -
“As you know, the Order Convenors have now written to the Order saying they think the overwhelming majority of Order members are in favour of the Order changing its name to the Triratna Buddhist Order and that it is best to go ahead.

“We therefore suggest that the Movement’s name change also now goes ahead and that we do become the Triratna Buddhist Community.

“We’ll be ritually marking and celebrating the new name at the FWBO International Retreat in late May, and will be asking Bhante if he’d like to take part in this. More details to follow”.

We’ve been in touch with FWBO/Triratna centres around the world asking how they’ll be translating Triratna Buddhist Community into their local languages - here’s what we’ve collected so far….

Dutch: Triratna Boeddhistische Orde | Triratna Boeddhistische Beweging
English: Triratna Buddhist Community (surprise surprise!)
Estonian: Triratna ordineeritud budistide ühendus | Triratna budistlik kogukond
Finnish: Buddhalainen yhteisö Triratna
Flemish: Triratna Boeddhistische Beweging
French: Communauté Bouddhiste Triratna
German: Buddhistische Gemeinschaft Triratna
India: Triratna Bauddha Sangha (for the Order) and Triratna Bauddha Mahasangha (for the movement)
Italian: L'Ordine Buddista Triratna | La Comunita' Buddista Triratna
Norwegian: Triratna Buddhistorden | Triratna Buddhistfellesskap
Polish: Wspólnota Buddyjska Triratna.
Russian: Триратная Буддийская Община |Triratnaya Buddhiskaya Obshchina
Spanish: Orden Budista Triratna
Swedish: not yet known
Turkish: Triratna Budist Topluluğu'

May we prosper and thrive, for the welfare of the many!

Over the next few weeks you’ll notice a transition in our various public media - FWBO News, FWBO People, FWBO Photos, Facebook, and so on. FWBO.ORG is itself due for a makeover and you’ll start seeing changes there soon.

'AVATAR' Animation comes to Indian Buddhists

Shakyajata writes with news of a coup at the Aryaloka Computer Institute - Triratna’s computer training institute for young Dalit Buddhists, located in Nagpur, central India.  She says -

  

Aryaloka's Seminar on Animatoiin

“An extraordinary new phase in the development of the Aryaloka Computer Institute, Nagpur, India, took off at the end of February. Ben Lambert, an Animator and trainer from the prestigious Framestore Company in London, is a highly skilled 3-D modeller who has worked on Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, Avatar, and many other worldwide hit films.

“He visited Nagpur for 5 days of intense input, training the tutors and students of the Animation Course at A.C.I. in his skills, and running 3 public seminars for Aryaloka's benefit...he showed us how he does it, it's mind-boggling!

“Ben Lambert was with us due to the good offices of Sharon Reed, a Mitra who also happens to be a director of Framestore. Much gratitude to her. Ben's energy and enthusiasm, and caring and commitment, were very moving. He filled the days with sessions teaching the tutors and the students the hands-on techniques he specialises in, and was very impressed by how quickly they learned and how hard they worked. He even challenged himself with the HOTTEST of Indian food!...and was unfailingly friendly and kind.

“The public seminars were attended by present and potential future Animation course students, young people from local Art Colleges and Animation specialists...all were quite blown away by this behind-the-scenes exposition of how it is done at the top of the profession.

“The students learning Animation at the A.C.I. come from marginalised communities, from all parts of India, and are committed to implementing Dr Ambedkar's vision of a 'Peaceful Revolution'; a just society free of caste prejudice, based on ethics and compassion. They have suffered much discrimination and poverty in the past, and most of them are supported on the course by charitable donations.

“Their Animation training will help to give them earning power; also many of them want to use their skills to develop materials to spread the message of Buddhist values that will give dignity and hope to their communities. On Ben Lambert's final evening, with much satisfaction and glee, the first TBMSG Buddhist comic was launched, which the students and their teachers have produced....it's great, watch out for it! (available in English from shakyajata@googlemail.com, in Hindi from aryaketu@yahoo.com ) Profits from this will support students from poor families on the next course.

“So, Ben Lambert's visit was like something from another world....boosting the reputation of Aryaloka Institute and the future opportunities of young people from very poor backgrounds...and best of all, he has promised to CARRY ON training them through assignments and feedback, and wants to come again! Thank you Ben, thank you Sharon, thank you Aryaketu who set all this up, thanks to the young trainees and tutors too, you are the real stars”.

Shakyajata

Exeter FWBO – the story so far

Viramitra writes from Exeter UK, where the FWBO/Triratna have had a presence for the past 14 years. He offers a glimpse into what it takes to start and maintain a group - and news of their new permanent premises. Here's what he says -

“There has been an FWBO presence in Exeter since 1996, beginning with a meditation group run by Amoghavajri (then Linda). A small group met on a weekly basis and numbers ebbed and flowed, as they do. During this time some Order Members, travelled down to lead day retreats with the group. Three of us found the East Down Centre on the edge of Dartmoor which enabled us to invite Order Members down, including Viprassana, to run retreats and this continued until Linda left in 2000.

“I moved to Exeter in late 2000 and continued to run classes, for a while running groups in Bridport, Wellington, Crediton and Exeter. After that I had a two year break when I stepped back to reconsider what it was that I wanted to do – to reconnect internally after going out so much! Exeter is a small city where there is a wide range of Buddhist groups to choose from – I think there are 8 other groups here.

“After my break I began more secular meditation classes in a Community Centre in a busy part of the city. These classes are now more overtly Buddhist-centred and over time a sangha has evolved, which also includes many people outside of Exeter - people come from as far afield as Saltash, North Devon and Taunton.

'Ehipassiko', new home of the Triratna Community in Exeter

“The recent months have borne the fruit of the effort of all those involved with the Exeter situation since its inception 14 years ago. A local mitra has generously allowed the sangha to use a house he owns - we have named it ‘Ehipassiko’, meaning “come and see”, and are still settling into this environment and becoming accustomed to the freedom of our own space.

" There’s work to be done in the garden and other changes will be made gradually, but we can all now share and contribute to this in a way that wasn’t possible in a more public space. I imagine what I’m saying here has been said before by many other Order Members! But it hasn’t stopped there - a sangha member moved in a month ago and will be acting as guardian or pala for the house; we had a small ceremony to mark the beginning of this lineage! This is a huge step forward and will enable us to meet the financial commitments of a permanent base.

“The mitra community here continues to expand, with two more ceremonies taking place last Saturday, adding to the existing 5 who had had their ceremonies in the earlier phase. We’re hoping to resume mitra study now the weather has improved.

“In addition to our programme of practice days, meditation classes and retreats, I am also making links with the Exeter University Meditation Society and have enjoyed being invited to talk to the students and discussing practice with them.

“We also have two websites – one is a NING site that is just open to the local Sangha and is great way to stay in touch for a wide spread community. The second is www.exeterfwbo.org.uk, where you’ll find our first newsletter.

“Thank you to everyone who has been involved over the years in sowing the seeds of this sangha to bring us to this point”.

Viramitra

119th Ambedkar Jayanti celebrated at London Buddhist Centre

Dharmashalin writes from the London Buddhist Centre with news of their celebrations marking the 119th Ambedkar Jayanti.  He says -

"The fourteenth of April is the birth date of the great Dhammic and Social revolutionary leader, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. All across India millions of people, hailing from the most downtrodden communities, will be celebrating his life and what he did for them.

"The most significant act of his life was his conversion to Buddhism, just 6 weeks before he died, it was through his Buddhism that he came into contact with Urgyen Sangharakshita. It is through this connection that the Indian Branch of our movement, with over 400 Order members and several thousand Mitras came into existence.

"On Sunday the 11th, Subhuti led an Ambedkar Day celebration at the LBC. Attended by many of our Indian brothers and sisters as well as members of the LBC Sangha, we celebrated Dr Ambedkar's life and his mission. This included personal talks from Indian's and Westerner's about his significance for them and a talk from Subhuti about how Dr Ambedkar's approach to the Dhamma is applicable in the West.

"It was an uplifting and inspiring day for all, if you'd like to know more check out the links below:



LBC Sangha members talking about their impressions of the day:
.    www.videosangha.net/video/Saddhasura-sharing-his-impressi
.    www.videosangha.net/video/Suzie-talks-about-Dr-Ambedkar
Dharmachari Amalabodhi telling us 'what Dr Ambedkar did for me':
.    www.videosangha.net/video/Amalabodhi-talks-about-What-Dr
Audio of Subhuti's talk 'Dr Ambedkar's significance for the West':
.    www.freebuddhistaudio.co.uk/talks/details?num=LOC332
Video of Subhuti answering a question about the depth of practise amongst Indian Buddhists:
.    www.videosangha.net/video/Subhuti-on-levels-of-Going-for
Video of the concluding Puja:
.   www.videosangha.net/video/Mantra-during-Ambedkar-Day-Puja
Ambedkar - the movie.  Download the definitive 3-hour film story of Ambedkar's life - with English soundtrack! .    http://zinemaya.com/zinemaya/movie?movieCode=ambedkar

If you'd like to know more about Dr Ambedkar and our work in India either read 'Ambedkar and Buddhism' by Sangharakshita or search under Ambedkar or India on www.freebuddhistaudio.com.

Subhuti and Vidyaruci in Hungary

Vidyaruci, an Order Member based in Birmingham UK, who currently works as Sangharakshita’s secretary, writes to say -

“In the last week of January I accompanied Subhuti to Hungary to visit our friends from the gypsy Buddhist community, with whom Subhuti has been in contact for some five or six years. It was my fourth trip to Hungary, and I was very glad to see my friends there, especially Janosh and Tibor, who form the core of the Jai Bhim Network, a small, but growing, Buddhist organisation, which takes as its inspiration Dr Ambedkar’s vision of social change through the practise and propagation of the Dhamma. From the Dr Ambedkar High School in Northern Hungary, where we stayed, Subhuti met with students and teachers from that school and others nearby, and taught them about Buddhism and Dr Ambedkar.

Members of the Jai Bhim network in Hungary

“Hungary is a deeply divided country. The gypsies are the largest minority in the population, and are subject to widespread prejudice and discrimination. Though I had learned this much, and seen evidence of it, on previous visits, there was one particular incident on this trip which brought this home with particular force. In recent years there has been a worrying growth in the popularity of an extreme right wing political party, which is explicitly racist, known as Yobbik. Yobbik had recently been campaigning in a town near to Sojokaza, where the Dr Ambedkar High School is situated, and there had been trouble between gypsies and Yobbik thugs, resulting in the arrest of some gypsies.

"While we were there it transpired that Yobbik were planning to come to Sojokaza. Understandably the gypsies were very worried, even frightened. A meeting was arranged between the gypsy community and the mayor of Sojakaza and police chief, which Subhuti and I were able to attend. The tension and fear in the room was palpable while the anxious looking mayor told the gypsies that Yobbik were a legal political party exercising their democratic rights, and that there was to be no trouble from the gypsies. Though clearly frightened, the gypsies generally expressed themselves with admirable restraint, which may in part be due to the influence of the Jai Bhim Network, and the sense of empowerment that it has given them.

“One example of this is empowerment is the ‘women’s sangha’, which is a group of gypsy women who have weekly meetings to try to find solutions to some of their difficulties. We were able to attend one such meeting, which included what was in many ways the highlight of the trip, which was a ceremony to mark the conversion to Buddhism of one of the young gypsy boys. ‘Cubu’, as he is nicknamed, has been a presence on each of my trips to Hungary, and it was a real pleasure to see this delightful young man make his first formal commitment to the practise of the Dhamma, and to see the positive pride it gave him afterwards to repeatedly state ‘I am a Buddhist!’.

“I feel greatly privileged to be able to witness the activities of the Jai Bhim network in Hungary. Tibor and Janosh, and all those dedicated to the same cause, deserve our admiration and support.”

Vidyaruci

For more information check their website www.jaibhim.hu

update on 2nd FWBO/Triratna International Retreat - coming up in May

‘Turning Arrows into Flowers’

Friday 28th May to Tuesday 1st June 2010

www.internationalretreat.fwbo.org

Jnanarakshita writes from Birmingham UK with an update on the FWBO/Triratna's largest retreat - the International Retreat.  Coming up soon, in May, it's a great chance for our internationalSangha to gather, practice, and celebrate. Full details (in five languages) and booking info is all on-line at www.internationalretreat.fwbo.org

He says -

"We’ll gather at Taraloka on the full-moon evening of May, when 2500 years ago, the Buddha gained Enlightenment. According to legend, he meditated through the night, overcoming Mara’s army and turning their arrows into flowers. During the weekend, we’ll unpack the meaning of this story, and explore the spiritual transformation of our own lives and the world we live in.

The programme and organisation are really starting to take shape. Several more experienced teachers have confirmed that they will be taking part, so the latest line-up now looks as follows:

Puja and ritual led by Akasati, Saddhanandi, Vajragupta, and Padmavajra…
Meditation input from Sona, Tejananda, Vidyamala, and others…
Talks on “turning arrows into flowers” in our contemporary world from Jnanavaca, Saddhanandi, and Vajradarshini…
Study, workshops and discussion led by Maitreyabandhu, Padmavajra, plus others to be announced…
Writing workshops on “turning arrows into flowers” led by Manjusvara…
Story-telling from Akasati, Lokabandhu, and Ratnaprabha…
Children’s activities for different age groups led by experienced and qualified folk … games, art & play tent, bushcraft and more…and also teenagers’ activities…

WHAT AND WHERE
Held every two years, at Taraloka Retreat Centre in Shropshire, the International Retreat is the FWBO/Triratna’s largest retreat. In 2008 500 people gathered from the UK, Europe, India, and elsewhere - we’re hoping for more of us this time. It’d really help our planning if you could book now - just go to www.internationalretreat.fwbo.org

See you there!

Western Buddhist Order becomes Triratna Buddhist Order

In January FWBO News carried a story announcing Sangharakshita had suggested a change of name to the Order and Movement, and that he had asked the Order and Movement to adopt the new names of the Triratna Buddhist Order and the Triratna Buddhist Community respectively.

Parami and Mahamati, the two International Order Convenors, have now written with confirmation that the Order has adopted Sangharakshita’s suggestion, and officially became the Triratna Buddhist Order on April 7th, the 42nd anniversary of the founding of the Order. They say “This means that we can celebrate the founding of the Western Buddhist Order and the renaming to the Triratna Buddhist Order on the same day now and in the future”.

The Movement is expected to follow suit, and indeed a ceremony to mark the adoption of the name “Triratna Buddhist Community” is being planned for the International Retreat at the end of May - watch this space for more details.

Mahamati and Parami continue with a couple of specific requests from Sangharakshita, saying -

“In India there is no suitable exact translation into modern Indian languages for the term “community”. So that the names in India will match the rest of the world as closely as possible, and after considering several possibilities that were suggested to him from India, Bhante has decided on Triratna Bauddha Sangha for the Order and Triratna Bauddha Mahasangha for the movement. Also Bhante has asked that we don’t use initials (e.g. TBO and TBC in English) but use Triratna when referring to the Order and Community”.

Triratna means "Three Jewels", specifically the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, which are the central foci of a Buddhist's life and practice. They've long been represented in our logo and on the kesas worn by Order Members, we're delighted that our name will now reflect them as well.

News from Canada

The small FWBO/Triratna Sangha in Eastern Canada continues to grow, with a recent visit from Harshaprabha. He writes to say -

“I visited Guelph (a little way outside Toronto) twice between November 2009 to mid February 2010, on both occasions staying with various friends who have an appreciation of the Triratna Buddhist Community.

“We ran 4 newcomers events over the weekend 28 and 29th November - and I was delighted to be assisted by Jayasiddhi. He had spent several months at Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia and just completed a solitary retreat in Newfoundland. He made good connections with those he met and liked being in the City of Guelph.

Jayasiddhi is one of just four Order Members who have visited us in Guelph over the years. The others being Vibhatika and Hasavajra in 2004 (but both before they were ordained!), and Khemavira in 2005. I do hope other Order Members will manage to visit in the coming years.

“Readers might be interested to know that Anagarika Dharmapala was the first significant Buddhist visitor to Guelph in November 1896 when the population was approximately 18,000 - now it’s about 115,000! On his way there from Chicago he wrote in his diary “If the Canadian trip succeeds the future is good. This is the burden of my concentration”. Once in Guelph Dharmapala attended private gatherings and gave talks on the Dharma, emphasizing brotherhood and also on the threads that are common to all religions.

“I would still like to spend a larger part of my year in Guelph and Toronto spreading the Dharma. To date, life’s conditions have not conspired to allow that to happen but we do have a website and an on-line fundraising page where well-wishers can donate to this good cause - you’ll find it at: www.justgiving.com/harshaprabha”

“Metta

“Harshaprabha”

Following the FWBO’s change of name to Triratna, they’ve been quick off the mark to rename their website, and are now to be found at www.triratnabuddhistcommunityontario.com

Changing Self Changing World - upcoming young men's weekend

News is just in from Jonathan Heddle and Ivan Trujillo from Windhorse:Evolution in Cambridge of an upcoming Buddhafield East weekend for young men.

We don’t usually advertise details of specific events here but there’s always room for an exception - they seem to be catching a wave of new energy for Buddhist practice as changing the world - as well as the self of course.

Aryapala, one of the organisers, says -


"Calling all men in their teens, 20's and 30's to a weekend camping in the wilds of Norfolk. Set in a beautiful field in Tuttington Norfolk, the venue has excellent facilities including a large round house with a wood stove, hot showers & sauna, a large tipi with a fire pit, and a woodhenge.


"We'll be contemplating Sangharakshita's radical vision of changing self and world and how we are living it. 
There will be a talk by Padmavajra (a senior Order member who has been a practicing Buddhist since he was 16) helping to expand on this vision of transforming oneself and the world around us.

"The weekend is open to men with some experience of FWBO meditation practices.

"Please invite anyone you know who would benefit.  Price £20/£35/£50 (you choose depending on what you can afford)"


More details on Facebook or the Buddhafield East website.  Dates are April 16-18. Book soon!

Lots more stuff for younger people on the Young Buddhists Facebook group for instance an invitation by Saraha for men to join him a week of wandering and wild camping in the Pyrenees straight after the International retreat.

Enjoy...

Foundation stone laying ceremony for Amaravati sangha

Big news is just in from Amitayus at the FWBO/TBMSG’s thriving sangha in Amaravati, central India, where they have big plans for a new social/dhamma centre to accommodate their growing activities.

The new centre has just received its name from Sangharakshita - it’ll be known as the Anathapindaka Vihara. They are celebrating by conducting the foundation stone laying ceremony this 14th April - which Indiaphiles will recognise as the 119th birth anniversary of the great dhamma and social revolutionary Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Amitayus writes -

“Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birth anniversary and foundation of new Anathapindaka Vihar and Social Work Centre at Amravati will be marked by laying the foundation stone by the auspicious hands of Dhammachari Lokamitra the pioneer of TBMSG-FWBO in South Asia.

Urgyen Sangharakshita named this project and gave us his blessing in the following words -

"I am delighted to learn that, with the help of the Dhammamitras, the Dhammacharis and Dhammacharinis of the Vidharbha region are establishing a centre where the Dhamma can be taught and from which social work can be carried on.

“I heartily congratulate all those who are involved in bringing this noble and worthwhile project to a successful conclusion.

“Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's Dhamma revolution has brought the Buddha’s sublime message to millions of people who were living in darkness and it is our duty to continue the mission he started.

“Social work must be based on the principles of the Dhamma, and the Dhamma must find expression in social work. The institution you are establishing therefore has this double function, i.e. to be a place where the Dhamma is practised and taught and from which social, educational, and medical activities are conducted. I am confident that with the support of all concerned it will be a source of blessing to hundreds of thousands of people within the Vidharbha region.

(sd) Sangharakshita"

“Anathapindaka was a leading disciple of the Buddha. His name means ‘He who gives food to those who are without a protector’, i.e. to orphans and to those who were destitute. Thus he is associated with both the teaching of the Dhamma and with helping the poor and distressed.

“The venue for the ceremony is our proposed site, at Bhumiputra Colony, Congress Nagar, Amaravati. It will be great to see you on this event.

“At Amaravati we serve urban, rural and tribal Buddhists - in fact we are the second biggest Dhamma and social centre after Nagaloka in Nagpur. The need of our new centre arises due to the long-lasting demand of infrastructure from the local Buddhists and those who want to know and practice the Dhamma - both new Buddhists and non Buddhists.

Children's activities at Amaravati

“This new infrastructure will replace the existing rented building that we use for our social activity including HOSTEL, YOUTH, WOMEN AND CHILD Empowerment programmes. Other needs that this building will satisfy are

• Shelter for the hostel boys from rural tribal areas  seeking Residence for their education
• Women’s and children training and guidance centre
• Youth empowerment, training and employment centre .
• Community Hall.
• Bahujan Hitaya project office.
• Vihar and residence for guest and trainees.

“The local sangha appeal and request all of us to bless and contribute to this project by supporting financially, giving time and skills which will highly be welcome.

If it is easy for you to donate online then please just click www.justgiving.com/AnathapindakaVihara. Your donation will be highly helpful.

Please reply your support, involvement, and feedback to dhammachari_amitayus@rediffmail.com

Introducing the Sangharakshita Land Project

Mokshapriya writes from Birmingham, UK, with news of a major new initiative in the FWBO - the Sangharakshita Land Project. It will see a major move of some of the FWBO’s central institutions - and Sangharakshita himself - away from the Birmingham suburbs to a new, as yet unfound, piece of land and property somewhere in the British countryside.

He says -

“Many may have heard that Bhante is interested in finding a new country centre to form a focal point for our mandala. Karunika, Vajrasadhu and Mokshapriya, in dialogue with the Trustees of FWBO Central and others, have started a search for a sizeable piece of land as Bhante has proposed.

“For those who would like to keep in touch with the progress we're making with this project or to have an easy way to share thoughts and ideas, I’ve created a blog at the following address: www.sangharakshitalandproject.co.uk.

In the blog itself, under ‘Working out the essentials’, he goes on to explain some of the thinking behind the new project -

“We know there’ll be an appropriate new home for Bhante and his support community. There’ll also be his ‘library’ which I put in inverted commas because it’s not the right word. Actually I don’t have a single word because apart from his books we have his archives, letters, documents relating to his personal history and the Movement’s history, and his treasures. This ‘library’, which he wants to personally supervise, is a veritable treasury embodying our Order’s spiritual history.

“Next to that goes a Dharma Training Centre which focuses, naturally, on Bhante’s teachings with study, exploration and practice. This will be primarily aimed at the Order.

“We will also need to house the administrative work: FWBO Uddiyana, Order Office, Tiratna Trust, Liaison Office, FWBO Development Office etc, etc - sounds like a lot but it’s just a few people really.

“There will also be space for single sex communities. Perhaps just two initially but I guess that all depends on who wants to live there. Bhante has suggested communities for senior Order members both active and ‘retired’ (that’s probably my word). Perhaps I should say senior Order members no longer involved in direction but who are clearly ‘points of reference’ and Kalyana Mitras and widely respected - i.e. a source of spiritual support who other Order members naturally go to for guidance.

“Then there’ll need to be guest facilities to ensure people from around the world can visit comfortably.

“We also need land.

“I’m really happy that Bhante has specified elemental and sublime landscape (rather than pastoral). We need a place that uplifts, inspires and supports meditation. A mythic environment which is, in itself, a place people will want to be and can make their own. Land brings other opportunities too - apart from beautiful gardens we can grow fruit and vegetables which could even lead to market gardening if there were interested folk. I guess what happens will depend on Order members coming forward with their own energy and enthusiasm.

“In many ways the most important element of all in this project hasn’t yet been mentioned and it’s so crucial I’ll start a new entry called ‘pilgrimage’”.

If you want to find out more you’ll have to visit the blog itself - you’ll find it at www.sangharakshitalandproject.co.uk. And does anyone know anywhere suitable that’s for sale? - seriously!

New painting of the Order's Refuge Tree

For the past six months or more Chintamani, an Order Member from the FWBO’s London Buddhist Arts Centre, has been working on a new and large painting of the Order’s ‘Refuge Tree’. We’re delighted to bring you this update on the project.

A Refuge Tree - common in Tibetan Buddhism - depicts all those figures from the Buddhist tradition from which the Order and Movement derive their primary Dharmic inspiration.

He says -

“The painting of the Refuge Tree is progressing well - although there is still quite a long way to go before it is finished. The canvas measures 8ft high by just under 6ft wide - a size that seemed right if all the figures in the composition were to be clearly visible and not too cramped. As can be seen from the areas of pink, there is a lot of what is called 'underpainting'. This means that the various parts of the image are painted over coloured 'grounds' so that the final colours are, to some extent, harmonized by what is underneath.

“The central image of Sakyamuni is derived from the 'historical Buddha' image that was recently painted for the Mexico City Buddhist Centre. The main thing about it is that it shows how the Buddha might have actually looked, rather than how he appears in the conventional, archetypal form with all the 'marks' and 'signs' which, ultimately, derive from pre-Buddhist, Vedic symbolism.

“Sangharakshita has emphasized the historicity of Buddha Sakyamuni - and this image, with its portrayal of ragged garments, and a month old growth of hair on head and face (the monks traditionally only shaved once a month) attempts to capture this. There is a precedent for this kind of image of the Buddha in Chinese Buddhist art.

“In some ways a photograph of an unfinished painting can be quite misleading as what is seen 'in progress' often bears no relation to how the finished piece will look. But at least this photograph shows that something is actually happening!”

The project has been funded by donations - these are still being accepted, so if you’d like to contribute please visit www.justgiving.com/refugetree.

Karuna launches first ever One Year Appeal

The FWBO’s Karuna Trust have just announced their first-ever ‘One Year Appeal’ – a year-long appeal which they hope will bring in 1,000 new donors, allowing Karuna to significantly expand their social and Dhamma funding across India.

The 1YA (as it’s known in Karuna) will be a combined community and Right Livelihood of five men who will, from September, be both living and working together in South London, spending their evenings door-knocking the streets fundraising for Karuna.

Amalavajra, head of the Individual giving team at Karuna reports –

“After a successful ‘taster weekend’ in January, Jayaraja has offered places to Silajala, Bodhiketu, Sanghanath and Peter Hannah. They have all accepted, and we feel confident that this is a very strong team, with room for one more if a suitable candidate comes forward”.

The five men will all be coming to the appeal from very different situations – Bodhiketu has been living for some years at the FWBO’s Guhyaloka retreat centre in the Spanish mountains; Sanghanath is an Indian Order Member who has been part of the Windhorse:Evolution business in Cambridge. Peter Hannah currently works for Karuna in London, and Silajala has been a freelance fundraiser in Bristol – before which he was part of Buddhafield. Jayaraja himself has had a long association with Karuna, as well as working freelance.

Karuna currently have some 7,000 individual donors who together contribute just under £1million per year to Karuna’s work. Karuna has for many years run six-week doorknocking appeals for both men and women, which have consistently brought in around 400 new donors per year – however this has been matched by a more-or-less equal rate of ‘donor attrition’ where people find for one reason or another that they cannot continue.

Hence the significance of the 1YA. Amalavajra comments –

“We are delighted that donor attrition fell in 2009 to 421, which equates to 6% of our pool of 7,000 committed donors, and continues to compare very favourably with the sector’s average attrition of approximately 15-25%. Our current programme of four appeals per year is only sufficient to replace these lost donors, hence the importance of the 1YA in allowing us to grow our donor pool again, at the rate of about 1,000 donors per year”.

Look out for them on a doorstep near you!