An evening at the Saddhamma Pradeep Retreat Centre in Bhaja, India, to greet people from all around the world, gathering to look at how to take forward in unity an international, multi-lingual, cross-cultural spiritual community as it moves into its second fifty years…

Dhammarati introduces the meeting with a helpful summary of the International Council’s history and aims, namely:

• kalyana mitrata
• shared ethical and spiritual standards 
• unity and harmony
• guidance and support
• effective decision-making and co-ordination
• consultation and participation.

And there was also a special Triratna dedication ceremony with offerings of light from all six areas: South Pacific, India, Mainland Europe, UK and Ireland, USA and Canada; Latin America & Spain. All to the beautiful resonant sounds of the Shakyamuni Buddha mantra chanted in the Indian style.

On Day 1 of the 2018 International Council at Bhaja we looked at the flow of the meeting as it will unfold through the week, with particular reference to the topics requested by Area Councils. We also heard from Dhammarati about developments with the Sikkha project and had a chance to find out more in smaller groups about all three of the areas of inquiry the project is actively exploring as part of its work to clarify the Dharma and teaching bases of our Movement.

In the video Vajrajyoti from New Zealand, Nagapriya from Mexico (via England), and Vajrashura from Dublin, Ireland talk with Dassini in an this informal look back at people’s personal impressions of the full first day, with a sense of why the International Council really matters…

Studying the Mind-Training Verses

First up we have Dhammarati’s excellent overview of the text, followed by Saddhaloka’s look at the first two verses. We then have Ratnadharini’s inspiring, down-to-earth consideration at verses 4-6. Parami explores the final 2 verses for us in the light of Bodhicitta practice and tonglen. And the series is rounded off by Viveka looking at the final verse as a signpost to the true liberation and deeply energized compassion that is to be experienced through insight into what is actually happening. 

Uncompromising, brilliant, long considered a classic of the Lojong mind training school, Langrithangpa’s pithy text bears daily reflection and can fuel a lifetime of Dharma inquiry and practice.

Mind Training and What a Community Needs to Grow Around the World

Dassini introduces today’s video stars from the 2018 International Council: Aryajaya from Australia and the UK, Candradasa from the UK and US, and Karmavajra and Ratnashree from India. A day of Dharma study looking at Eight Verses for Training the Mind from the Lojong tradition, as well as discussion of how to support community growth in India and around the world. 

All wrapped up with a lovely song by Ratnashree on how to step forward in the Dharma on behalf of the world…

On Self and Other and the Structures that Allow Friendship to Flow

Our guests review some great Dharma study and work that dives deeper into the whole area of transformative models of love and friendship. How do we practice to undermine our inherent tendencies to selfishness? And what can we set up so all our institutions serve the needs of the community and allow a genuine and enduring culture of friendship to flourish?

Join Dassini to talk it all through with Khemadhamma and Ratnajyoti from Australia, and Sucimani from the UK.

Resolving Conflict, Restoring Harmony

At the midway point of the 2018 Triratna International Council, a beautiful day looking at practical and effective ways to resolve conflict and restore harmony in any community, based on sound Dharma principles.

Dhiramani from Australia, Tarahridaya from India and Viradhamma from the USA join our host Dassini to reflect on harmony and friendship on an international scale. And we also get to hear about a chance encounter with a snake as well as a very special Bodhi tree…

Podcast with New Zealand & Australian members

We’re joined by our friends from New Zealand and Australia for a check-in around their take on the week and the relevance of international perspectives to their own communities and their experience of the Dharma life back home. Inspiring to hear connections being made that can cross oceans and great distances, carrying a sense of harmony that will resonate wherever you are.

Here is Prajnaketu’s inspiring presentation on the next phase of work to strengthen engagement from young people with the possibilities of a strong Dharma life.

The last in our series of talks from the 2019 Triratna International Council. This year’s theme is major elements from the Dharma biography of Sangharakshita, Triratna’s founder, which are of wider relevance to anyone endeavouring to lead a Buddhist life.

This talk begins with Dhammarati’s intimate account of his immediate personal experience of the death of his teacher. From there, this talk blossoms into a deeply felt manifesto about the practice of harmony as way to cultivate insight into the nature of reality as a community, and as an individual within a community. It’s also about how sanghas can survive the death of their founder and flourish. 

Taking in Sangharakshita himself on the future of the Order he founded, William Blake, the Cetokhila Sutta, and the Karaniya Metta Sutta, Dhammarati offers a condensed, down-to-earth guide to working with others as a practice that conduces to the good of all.

A great conversation with the quietly brilliant Abhayadana about her Buddhist work and practice in India. Her name means ‘Giver of Fearlessness’ – and this is something she has dedicated her life to, helping support and free women in her community from the stigma of social caste and the violence that often goes with it.

We hear about her personal approach via meditation and reflection on the Buddhist figure of Kshitigarbha (Jizo) who descends into hell realms to liberate suffering beings. And her experience of visiting Adhisthana, former home of her teacher Urgyen Sangharakshita, and the gratitude she has to his work and to the Dharma itself for what she describes as the chance to live as a human being. 

Towards the end of the 2019 meeting of the International Council, both the Strands and the Areas clarified what they will take forward as action points.

On the final day of the 2019 International Council, Dhammarati sums up the meeting and looks forward to the work ahead.