Triratna Buddhist Community

Triratna Buddhist Community
Formation1967
TypeBuddhist modernism
Leadership
Triratna Buddhist Order
Key people
Sangharakshita
Dharmachari Subhuti
Websitewww.thebuddhistcentre.com
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The Triratna Buddhist Community, formerly the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO), is an international fellowship[1] of Buddhists. It was founded in the UK in 1967 by Sangharakshita (born Dennis Philip Edward Lingwood)[1] and describes itself as "an international network dedicated to communicating Buddhist truths in ways appropriate to the modern world".[2] In keeping with Buddhist traditions, it also pays attention to contemporary ideas, particularly drawn from Western philosophy, psychotherapy, and art.[3]

Worldwide, more than 100 groups are affiliated with the community, including in North America, Australasia and Europe. In the UK, it is one of the largest Buddhist movements,[4] with some 30 urban centres and retreat centres.[5] The UK based international headquarters is at Adhisthana retreat centre in Coddington, Herefordshire. Its largest following, however, is in India, where it is known as Triratna Bauddha Mahāsaṅgha (TBM), formerly the Trailokya Bauddha Mahasangha Sahayaka Gana (TBMSG).[6]

The community has been described as "perhaps the most successful attempt to create an ecumenical international Buddhist organization".[7] It has also been criticised for lacking "spiritual lineage"[8] and has faced allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse during the 1970s and 1980s.[9][10][11]

  1. ^ a b Irons, Edward A (2008), Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Checkmark Books, p. 206, ISBN 978-0-8160-5459-6
  2. ^ "The Friends of the Western Buddhist Order", official site
  3. ^ Queen, Christopher S (2005), Engaged Buddhism in the West, Wisdom Publications, p. 377, ISBN 978-0-86171-159-8
  4. ^ Kay, David N. (2004), Tibetan and Zen Buddhism in Britain: Transplantation, Development and Adaptation, Routledge, p. 25, ISBN 978-0-415-29765-3
  5. ^ Queen, Christopher S (2005), Engaged Buddhism in the West, Wisdom Publications, p. 378, ISBN 978-0-86171-159-8
  6. ^ Partridge, Christopher (2004), Encyclopedia of New Religions, Lion, p. 193, ISBN 978-0-7459-5073-0
  7. ^ Oldmeadow, Harry L. (2004), Journeys East: 20th century Western encounters with Eastern religious traditions, World Wisdom, Inc, p. 280, ISBN 978-0-941532-57-0
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Coleman 2001 81 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Bunting, Madeleine (27 October 1997). "The Dark Side of Enlightenment". The Guardian.
  10. ^ Doward, Jamie (21 July 2019). "Buddhist, teacher, predator: dark secrets of the Triratna guru". The Observer. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  11. ^ Crook, John, "Dangers in Devotion: Buddhist Cults and the Tasks of a Guru", Western Chan Fellowship, Paper Presented at the Conference 'The Psychology of Awakening' at Dartington Hall, UK, October 1998, retrieved 29 June 2020