Tag: Public Preceptors

College of Public Preceptors
College of Public Preceptors

A Koan for our Times

By akasajoti on Thu, 21 Mar, 2024 - 12:18

A Koan for our Times

By akasajoti on Thu, 21 Mar, 2024 - 12:18

What does a Buddhist Order have to offer the world in times of conflict, violence and environmental destruction? How is the creation of spiritual community relevant to wider society? What would a genuine, adequate and radical response to the cries of the world look like? How do we ground a burning aspiration for liberation from suffering in a tangible path of practice? 

The Buddha’s teachings have both profound and pragmatic implications for living our life, addressing the root causes of suffering and...

College of Public Preceptors
College of Public Preceptors

Chair's Letter – February 2024

By Vajrashura on Thu, 29 Feb, 2024 - 23:59

Chair's Letter – February 2024

By Vajrashura on Thu, 29 Feb, 2024 - 23:59

This month’s letter is written by Vajrashura, who first came across Triratna in Ireland, in 1999, at the age of 22. He was ordained in 2007 in Guhyaloka by Kulananda, and since 2009 has been the men’s Mitra Convenor for Dublin where he lives in a men’s community. He now also works for the Sikkha Project on a part-time basis and joined the College in 2020.

Hear more from Vajrashura in a talk he gave on Sadhana, White Tara and...

College of Public Preceptors
College of Public Preceptors

Four Myths + Five Farewells

By akasajoti on Tue, 14 Nov, 2023 - 10:18

Four Myths + Five Farewells

By akasajoti on Tue, 14 Nov, 2023 - 10:18

Over the weekend, the College were joined by a number of retired Public Preceptors: Suvajra, Padmasuri, Sanghadevi, Saddhaloka; with Manjuvajra, Subhuti and Srimala visiting for some elements of the programme and to spend time together as ‘College Elders’. 

Jnanavaca led three sessions of stimulating, interactive study on the ‘four myths of the spiritual life’. He explored this model that Subhuti conceived and introduced in a talk on an international Order convention in 2003 (and was more recently explored by Jnanavaca and Maitreyabandhu...

College of Public Preceptors
College of Public Preceptors

A Community of Public Preceptors

By akasajoti on Fri, 10 Nov, 2023 - 13:38

A Community of Public Preceptors

By akasajoti on Fri, 10 Nov, 2023 - 13:38

The past two mornings of the College meeting have been taken up with the process of discovering who will take on the responsibility of College Chair when Ratnadharini’s term comes to an end next November. The College Members present have been moving through a consensus process, skilfully held by Ratnadharini. This will be returned to after an interlude, to be concluded in the final days of the meeting, following which the outcome will be shared with the Order. The afternoons...

College of Public Preceptors
College of Public Preceptors

Chair's Letter – October 2023

By ratnadharini on Wed, 1 Nov, 2023 - 13:00

Chair's Letter – October 2023

By ratnadharini on Wed, 1 Nov, 2023 - 13:00

Dear Order Members and friends,

I’m writing from Mexico, where preparations are underway for the Day of the Dead celebrations, and on the fifth anniversary of Sangharakshita’s death. I’m here for the fourth Pan American Convention, which is taking place in a Benedictine monastery on the outskirts of Cuernavaca as Chintamani retreat centre is unfortunately too small for the nearly 100 or so attendees. There are Order members from Canada, in the north, to Argentina, in the south...

College of Public Preceptors
College of Public Preceptors

Chair's Letter – September 2023

By ratnadharini on Sun, 1 Oct, 2023 - 00:00

Chair's Letter – September 2023

By ratnadharini on Sun, 1 Oct, 2023 - 00:00

Dear Order Members and friends,

As I write, the public ordinations of five women – two from Venezuela and three from Mexico – are taking place at Adhisthana in context of pilgrimage retreat for Spanish speakers; welcome to Varamaitri, Akasadhi, Silabhadri, Parashanti and Chandrakanti. The theme of pilgrimage has been growing, as Adhisthana celebrates its tenth anniversary. Parami invited me to join the retreat one evening for an informal conversation about the search for, and early days at, Adhisthana, and...

College of Public Preceptors
College of Public Preceptors

Chair's Letter – March 2023

By ratnadharini on Fri, 31 Mar, 2023 - 12:02

Chair's Letter – March 2023

By ratnadharini on Fri, 31 Mar, 2023 - 12:02

Dear Order members and friends,

Thanks to Maitreyabandhu for the evocative account of our network of friendships last month. 

First I’ll write with an update from the March College meeting – and end with a personal request.

At that point last month, I was involved in our annual Women Preceptors’ retreat at Adhisthana, which gets better each year as the body of experience grows and the connections between us become stronger. We’d decided to make it an ‘in person’ event, while making the study...

College of Public Preceptors
College of Public Preceptors

Chairs' Letter – January 2023

By ratnadharini on Tue, 31 Jan, 2023 - 22:56

Chairs' Letter – January 2023

By ratnadharini on Tue, 31 Jan, 2023 - 22:56

These letters are published here each month, as well as on preceptorscollege.online, and in Shabda, the Order newsletter, as a means to communicate the ongoing work of the College Chair and updates on current discussions and decisions. Responses are welcomed. You can comment below or write directly to preceptorscollege [at] adhisthana.org.

Dear Order members and friends,

I made the most of the lull in emails over the festive season, and spent a quiet couple of weeks...

College of Public Preceptors
College of Public Preceptors

Chairs' Letter – November 2022

By ratnadharini on Thu, 1 Dec, 2022 - 12:28

Chairs' Letter – November 2022

By ratnadharini on Thu, 1 Dec, 2022 - 12:28

Dear Order members and friends,

When I last wrote, a month ago, we had just marked the fourth anniversary of Bhante Sangharakshita’s death at Adhisthana. A meeting of the International Council was underway, and by the end of a very harmonious and enjoyable meeting we had clarified the purpose of the IC and agreed on strategic priorities.

A couple of days later, the annual international ‘in person’ gathering of the College of Public Preceptors began....

College of Public Preceptors
College of Public Preceptors

Chairs' Letter – September 2022

By ratnadharini on Fri, 30 Sep, 2022 - 22:03

Chairs' Letter – September 2022

By ratnadharini on Fri, 30 Sep, 2022 - 22:03

Dear Order Members and Friends,

I’m writing this month’s update from Aryaloka retreat centre, in the US. When I first became College Chair I planned to connect up with Order members outside the UK, but Covid restrictions put international travel on hold for a couple of years. Three weeks ago I set off on a road trip with Aryadrishti, one of the American Order Convenors, taking in some of the places I’ve not been to before: Seattle, Portland (Oregon), Missoula,...

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