Celebrating Triratna's 50th Anniversary

This month we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Triratna Order and Movement, Llangollen Buddhist Centre is part of the Triratna community. 
Triratna is a Sanskrit term meaning Three Jewels - the Buddha, the Dharma (his teachings) and the Sangha (the community of all those who follow the teachings). Sangharakshita who founded the Order in 1967 considers Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels to be the defining act of a Buddhist. Founded 50 years ago in London, there are now Triratna centres and activities in 27 countries.
Triratna is not affiliated to any one tradition but draws inspiration from the whole stream of Buddhism. We are neither monastic nor lay, simply Buddhists at varying stages of commitment and understanding, adopting to the best of our ability in our lives the ethical standards of the Dharma.
​We started our celebration last week with a Dedication Ritual, and a Puja. This Thursday we'll be thinking about the movement in India, where it is very strong, and the work of the Indian leader Dr Ambedkar.
​Next week, we'll be looking at the Six Emphases, the particular features  of Triratna, and after that thinking about the Refuge Tree, all the teachers of the past and present from whom we have received the Dharma and take our inspiration.
Many of us are deeply grateful to Triratna and Sangharakshita for making the teachings of the Buddha available to us and applicable in our lives. For many of us, contact with Triratna has been life-changing. We have much to celebrate!
​Pen