Ethical Guidelines 2025

1. I undertake the training principle of abstention from harming living beings. With deeds of loving-kindness I purify my body

In principle all Triratna activities aim to support the awakening of the individual for the benefit of all beings. In all our dealings with one another we aspire to behave in a spirit of kindness, expressing kalyana mitrata, which we translate as spiritual friendship.

Our spiritual community has been defined by its founder, Sangharakshita, as a free association of individuals. While respecting this principle, it is important that individuals in positions of trust and authority as members of Triratna do not misuse their trusted position or authority – real or perceived – for their own benefit or to influence others inappropriately.

Wishing to minimise the harm we do to living beings, we affirm that physical violence and strong expressions of anger have no place among us.

Manchester Buddhist Centre (MBC) is vegetarian and vegan-friendly. We will work within our community, and with other like- minded groups, to reduce and minimise our impact on the environment, locally and internationally.

2. I undertake the training principle of abstention from taking the not given. With open-handed generosity, I purify my body

We wish to offer the Buddha’s teachings in a spirit of generosity, making them accessible to all. We aspire to express generosity by caring for our community and those who work and practise within it, finding ways to support those who undertake particular responsibilities in teaching and administration or serving as trustees or council members.

Those of us who handle money, property or other resources for the Centre will take care of them and avoid their deliberate misuse or misappropriation. Although misuse of charity funds is not a safeguarding matter, such concerns may be reported to our Safeguarding Lead or the Triratna Safeguarding team at safeguarding@triratna.community, who will ensure that they are addressed as appropriate.

3. I undertake the training principle of abstention from sexual misconduct. With stillness, simplicity and contentment I purify my body

Triratna is a community of people practising the Buddha’s teachings together with a strong emphasis on spiritual friendship. It is natural that close relationships should develop between us, and that some of these may be sexual relationships.

We encourage all members of our community to conduct their sexual relationships ethically, with awareness and kindness.

Those of us in teaching roles, supporting roles or with other positions of responsibility within the sangha have a particular responsibility in this area, particularly to those new to Triratna. We have a duty of care in respect to our conduct and position and to have due regard both for our precepts and to the requirements of our safeguarding policies.

We are aware that as a person starts to explore the liberation that Dharma practice can provide, it is easy to confuse strength of feeling for the Dharma with an attraction to the individual serving as their main point of contact with Triratna and to the Buddhist tradition more generally.

As such, we recognise that it is highly inadvisable for those leading Buddhist activities, or in positions of leadership, responsibility or spiritual mentoring, to enter into sexual relationships with those new to Triratna. Even where there is clear mutual attraction and wish to enter a relationship we will wait until the more experienced Buddhist is no longer a primary teacher / mentor to the person with less experience of Triratna, and until that person has formed other friendships in our sangha.

We ask that a proposed relationship between anyone in a teaching role and someone less experienced in Triratna should be discussed openly with senior Order members, particularly those who know them well. This includes their chapter for an Order member, or a Going for Refuge Group for someone training for ordination. We suggest also that such discussions be minuted for the benefit of all concerned should questions later arise.

See also the 2017 College of Public Preceptors Statement about relationships between preceptors and those they ordain and the MBC Safeguarding Adults Policy.