Four Gifts :
Triratna’s Vision for Today — and Tomorrow
a theme for triratna
in 2026
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In the mid-1970s, Triratna was emerging as a bold new Buddhist movement. Sangharakshita set out its offering in his poem The Four Gifts and a series of lectures later published as Buddhism for Today — and Tomorrow.
Together, these express the core of Triratna’s vision: a creative presentation of the Buddha’s teaching, rooted in tradition and shaped for modern life.
Fifty years on, the International Council invites centres and Order members worldwide to explore these sources and ask what they mean today. In a world marked by rapid change and deep division, these gifts remain Triratna’s distinctive contribution. But how should they be lived and shared?
Why have a shared theme?
This will be the first time those involved in Triratna as a whole have been invited to explore a common theme, connecting people across the world. Members of The International Council hope this will encourage a stronger, shared engagement with Triratna’s core vision and greater clarity about, and confidence in, what Triratna offers.
Sangharakshita giving a lecture in 1976 | © Triratna Picture Library
Four Gifts
I come to you with four gifts.
The first gift is a lotus-flower.
Do you understand?
My second gift is a golden net.
Can you recognize it?
My third gift is a shepherds’ round-dance.
Do your feet know how to dance?
My fourth gift is a garden planted in a wilderness.
Could you work there?
I come to you with four gifts.
Dare you accept them?
Sangharakshita talks to Saddhanandi
about the poem
original advert for Sangharakshita’s lectures 1976
1st Gift: A lotus flower
representing Dharma practice and
personal transformation
This gift is linked to the lecture
A Method of Personal Development
1st gift: questions to consider
Sangharakshita’s thinking expressed in this talk evolved into what we now call our System of Practice:
- what are you working with in your personal Dharma practice at the moment?
- what do you see as your strengths and weaknesses with regards to the whole System of Practice?
- what simple things could you do that might help you to balance out your practise so you don’t neglect the areas you’re less keen on and rely too much on your strengths?
- how does your personal practice relate to collective practice?
2nd Gift: A golden net
symbolising the Buddhist vision of existence and insight into interconnectedness and conditionality
This gift is linked to the lecture
A Vision of Human Existence
2nd gift: questions to consider
- what is Sangharakshita trying to communicate by outlining pratitya samutpada as ‘A Vision Of Human Existence’?
- what’s alive, or what are you curious about, in your Dharma life now?
- what Buddhist figures or symbols from the Buddhist tradition do you find yourself responding to?
- what texts from the Buddhist canon do you find yourself responding to?
- what are some of your experiences of ‘spiral conditionality’?
3rd Gift: A shepherds' round-dance
of Sangha and the New Society
This gift is linked to the lecture
A Nucleus of a New Society
3rd gift: questions to consider
- why do you think Sangharakshita considered it important to explain the foundation of the Order in this talk?
- what is the language of a ‘new society’ or ‘building the Buddhaland’ pointing to?
- is ‘building a Buddhaland’ an inspiring vision for you, an overwhelming one, or something else?
- what other ways can we talk about the vision of what we are trying to do together in Triratna?
- what does it mean in 2026 for Triratna to be neither lay nor monastic?
4th Gift: A garden planted in a wilderness
representing our aspiration to benefit the world
This gift is linked to the lecture
A Blueprint for a New World
4th gift: questions to consider
- how can Triratna most effectively make a positive difference in the world?
- Sangharakshita famously said ‘the Dharma is perhaps as much caught as taught’. How do we catch it?
- why does Bhante emphasise the importance for Buddhists of working together in teams?
- the world of work has changed greatly in the last 50 years – what new ways of working together are now open to us?
Let us know how you’re exploring the theme
Write to assistant@internationalcouncil.online with some details and we will add it to the timeline below
Simharava unpacks our theme
An excellent introduction to the Four Gifts and the associated lectures given during the Central European Order Forum. Listen below or read transcript.
Parami launches the theme at the Glasgow Centre
She explains how the four gifts in the poem relate to the four lectures
College Chairs letter launches the theme
Discussion
All are invited to discuss the Four Gifts (perhaps using the questions above) in whatever context they have: chapters (for Order Members), Going for Refuge groups (for those training for ordination), study groups etc
Men's UK/Ireland Area Order Weekend
Exploring the Four Gifts and includes a talk by Vishvapani
Oceania Order Convention
Features the Four Gifts
Triratna Day
Launch of a new edition of Buddhism for Today — and Tomorrow; remastering Bhante’s talks project is launched; series of podcasts from the College begin
Four public lectures in Brighton
Four senior Order Members revisit the material from the original lectures – more details to follow
Order seminar at Adhisthana
Jnanadhara leads a seminar for Order members exploring the 4 lectures
UK/Ireland Area Convention
At Wymondham, the Four Gifts will be a major theme.
Summer Sanghas at Adhisthana
Parami, Nagabodhi and team lead this combined Sanghas retreat focused on the 4 lectures.