Triratna Events in Glasgow

Triratna Order Day

Last Sunday, 20th April saw almost 50 Order Members gather in Berkeley Street to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the Triratna Buddhist Order (WBO as it was). Founded in 1968, there were 12 people ordained thus forming a new Buddhist Order. Now, 57 years later there are over 100 in Scotland alone.

In his remembering those first Ordinations, Bhante Sangharakshita said:

The twelve people who made up the Western Buddhist Order had `taken' the Three Refuges and Ten Precepts from me, - had been ordained … by me, - and their understanding of the meaning of Going for Refuge coincided with mine, at least partly. 

Like one lamp lighting a dozen others, I had been able to share with them my realization of the absolute centrality of the act of Going for Refuge and henceforth that realization would find expression not in my life only but also in theirs. Not that the realization in question was something fixed and final. It could continue to grow and develop, and find expression in a hundred ways as yet unthought of.

History of my GFR (1988)

During our celebration, 3 Order Members shared their thoughts and reflections of the Order: Smritiratna spoke of the Order past; Candrika of the present and Amayaraja of the future.  All were positive and, particularly I think Amayaraja’s thought provoking.  A strong sense of gratitude was expressed by all the speakers.  The day was beautifully organised and held by our Regional Order Convenors Satyavandana and Smritiratna.

Triratna Scotland meeting

On Monday 21st, 10 of us met for our twice a year Triratna Scotland meeting. Apologies were recieved from 5 others. This meeting is for those of us holding responsibilities within Triratna in Scotland; chairs of centres and groups; mitra convenors; Order convenors. It’s great to hear from the different areas and we rejoiced particularly on developments in Edinburgh and in Fife. As well as keeping us all in touch with how things are going, the meetings are an opportunity to share best practice and to look at areas where we might support and help each other.  While each centre or group have their own identity, it is also inspiring to have a sense of being part of something larger.

Death of Pope Francis

As chair of Triratna Glasgow, I wrote to the Archdiocese of Glasgow offering condolences on the death of the Pontiff. I received a graceful acknowledgement and thanks from Mgr Paul Murray, Chancellor of the Archdiocese.