order members in the triratna context
The Triratna ("Three Jewels") Buddhist Order is a spiritual community of people who have committed themselves to working toward Enlightenment. In more traditional terms, Order members have made Going for Refuge to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, the central point of their lives. There are over 1,500 Order members all over the world.
Order members are not necessarily 'teachers', nor do they engage in any particular prescribed lifestyle. Some Order members work in the nonprofit community, some in business, some are artists, some are given partial support to work full or part-time at a centre, some are married and live with their families, some are celibate, some are gay, some live with spiritual friends, and some live alone. The possibilities reflect our capacity for diversity. Whatever the situation, within the Triratna community the emphasis is on spiritual commitment, not lifestyle. It is neither monastic nor lay.
In a sense Buddhism is a path of individual commitment and collective practice which involves acting for the good because one has taken responsibility for one's own thoughts and actions. We aim to be a free association of individuals working toward a common 'goal'. Whilst there are principles there are no rules per se. Ordination includes the voluntary practice of ten precepts in order to reduce suffering in one's own life and in the world. At the heart of Buddhist ethics is non-violence or loving-kindness and the realisation of non separation and all that involves. All Order members take the same precepts, and practice on an equal basis.
Anyone who feels they would like to orient their life around Buddhist practice in this context can ask for ordination, and then attend the retreats that make up the ordination training course. Though there are two dedicated retreat centres in the UK, these retreats are held around the world including in the U.S. Presently there are over a thousand people around the world who have requested ordination and are engaged in the ordination training process.
Order members are not necessarily 'teachers', nor do they engage in any particular prescribed lifestyle. Some Order members work in the nonprofit community, some in business, some are artists, some are given partial support to work full or part-time at a centre, some are married and live with their families, some are celibate, some are gay, some live with spiritual friends, and some live alone. The possibilities reflect our capacity for diversity. Whatever the situation, within the Triratna community the emphasis is on spiritual commitment, not lifestyle. It is neither monastic nor lay.
In a sense Buddhism is a path of individual commitment and collective practice which involves acting for the good because one has taken responsibility for one's own thoughts and actions. We aim to be a free association of individuals working toward a common 'goal'. Whilst there are principles there are no rules per se. Ordination includes the voluntary practice of ten precepts in order to reduce suffering in one's own life and in the world. At the heart of Buddhist ethics is non-violence or loving-kindness and the realisation of non separation and all that involves. All Order members take the same precepts, and practice on an equal basis.
Anyone who feels they would like to orient their life around Buddhist practice in this context can ask for ordination, and then attend the retreats that make up the ordination training course. Though there are two dedicated retreat centres in the UK, these retreats are held around the world including in the U.S. Presently there are over a thousand people around the world who have requested ordination and are engaged in the ordination training process.