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
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 in chapters and study groups
- how much confidence do you have in our system of practice (bearing in mind that the system of practice is all of life, not just meditation)?
- which areas of our system of practice feel strong/weak for you?
- do you know what to do next in your practice? What do you need?
- do you have energy for your practice, what’s blocking it?
- what are your sources of inspiration?
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 in chapters and study groups
- what is Bhante 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?
- do our actions suggest we look at life on the basis of 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 in chapters and study groups
- to what extent do we, in our community, exemplify the communication we are trying to share with the world? How could we do it better?
- what is the language of a new society or building the Buddhaland pointing to?
- are you inspired by the vision of building a Buddhaland? If so, in which ways?
- if not, what language works better for you?
- how is the Chapter the essence of a new society?
- what is the role of Kalyana mitrata in all this?
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 in chapters and study groups
- could you work there?
- what is the significance of the word ‘work’?
- why does Bhante often use language/metaphors of growth/plants?
- how do we make an attractive garden?
- how do we cultivate it together?
- are you prepared to pull out weeds or do some pruning?!
- how do we practice these if we’re not living/working with other Buddhists?
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
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
Link to the letter…
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 Buddhism for Today and Tomorrow (the original 1976 lectures); remastering Bhante’s talks project is launched; series of podcasts from the College begin;
Mainland Europe Order Convention
Features the Four Gifts
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.