What is Sangha?
Sangha, the Heart of the Buddhist Centre
Sangha is a Sanskrit word for community. Traditionally it refers to all the enlightened men and women who have come before us, and in the East it usually means the community of monks and nuns. In our Triratna Buddhist Community, Sangha is our community of practitioners – the people we share our spiritual lives with.
The guidance of more experienced friends, and the support and friendship of others on the path are very important because Buddhism is an approach to life, not an abstract philosophy. The Buddha once said that spiritual friendship is the whole of the spiritual life, and we see friendship as the whole of the Triratna Buddhist Community.
Ananda: Lord, I think that half of the Holy Life is spiritual friendship…
The Buddha: That’s not so; say not so, Ananda. It is not half of the Holy Life, it is the whole of the Holy Life
Upaddha SuttaA Network of Friends
Our Centre isn’t just a place for teaching meditation, or learning about Buddhism. Everything we do together here supports a network of spiritual friendships, whether it’s meditation, study, ritual, going on retreat or looking after the building. When we share our efforts to become more than we currently are, trust can build up as we all at least try to be ethical, to be aware of ourselves and others, to express metta, or loving-kindness.
Of course, our Sangha isn’t perfect. It is only when all individuals have achieved a profound level of wisdom and freedom from ego that the Sangha finds its ultimate potential. But even so, this side of Enlightenment it’s pretty good!
Joining in
Starting to feel Part of Things
The Manchester Buddhist Centre Sangha includes anyone who practises with us and comes to the Centre regularly. It is made up of Friends, Mitras and Order Members.
Many other people just come to the Centre for yoga classes, to eat at the café or attend occasional events, because they like it!
About Friends
We consider someone a Friend when they have been to some introductory classes, and now come to the Centre to join in other activities, sometimes volunteering here. There is no pressure to take their involvement further, and some people remain Friends for many years, making a valuable contribution to our community.
About Mitras
Mitra is a Sanskrit word for friend. Here, it means deepening your friendship with the Triratna Buddhist Community, and making a formal commitment to practising Buddhism within the context of the Manchester Buddhist Centre in a simple, public ceremony.
Some Mitras go on to ask for ordination into the Triratna Buddhist Order. They prepare for this through around five years of training, including retreats, peer support groups, study, and deepening friendships with local Order members. They are sometimes known as GFR Mitras – as they are trying to deepen their Going For Refuge to Buddhism’s Three Jewels, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
Two Mitra convenors, Acharashraddha and Vishangka, co-ordinate and support Mitra activities at the Centre. Speak to them or any other Order member if you are wondering about taking this step.
- Triratna Guide to becoming a Mitra – pdf format or read it on Issuu
- More about Mitra study
About Order Members
At the heart of the Triratna Buddhist Community is the Triratna Buddhist Order. Order members commit to following the Buddhist path to Enlightenment, as the central point of their lives. Their understanding of the Dharma is based on the teachings of our founder, Sangharakshita.
They undertake to practise a traditional set of ten ethical precepts and have all been in a long period of training before joining the Order. At ordination they are given a new name in Pali or Sanskrit, often relating to qualities they have or aspire to.
The Order is neither lay nor monastic – some Order members have families, some are celibate practitioners, or anagarikas. Some live and work in Triratna’s residential communities and team-based working situations, others work in non-Buddhist settings. Order members’ spiritual commitment is the crucial thing, not their lifestyle. Above all they try to share their spiritual lives, and co-operate in practising and spreading the Dharma. The Order is open to any man or woman, regardless of age, race, class, gender, sexuality, caste or any other criterion, who is sincerely and effectively committed to practising the Dharma.
- More about Order members from Triratna’s website
- Guide to the Ordination training process at Manchester and Liverpool Buddhist Centres – pdf format. Although written for local women, the general principles apply to men and women across Triratna
Working Together
Sharing in the work of running the Centre is a great way of feeling part of things – read more about joining in and giving your time.
If we learn to relate to our friends with metta, we will gradually learn to respond to the whole world with metta, with unselfishness. It is in this way that spiritual friendship is indeed the whole of the spiritual life
SangharakshitaFestivals and Ritual
Engaging Heart and Mind
Our festival days are important times for Sangha members to come together:
- Parinirvana Day in February
- Buddha Day in May, sometimes known as Wesak
- Dharma Day in July
- Sangha Day in November
At festivals we celebrate an aspect of Buddhist practice with devotional practice and rituals such as Puja. We also celebrate significant figures in the Triratna Community, including Padmasambhava in September and Dr Ambedkar in October.
What is Puja?
A Puja is a set of verses invoking gratitude to the Buddha and aspects of his teaching. We usually chant them in call and response here, with the words and translations available, and with no pressure to join in. The Buddhist path isn’t just about intellectual understanding – Puja can help us engage with our emotions and imagination too.
In the Buddha’s time, the full moon gave the Sangha a regular opportunity to gather for teachings, Puja and meditation, and this tradition continues in the Buddhist world today. We usually celebrate on the weekend nearest to the full moon day, or sometimes at Triratna Night, our weekly Sangha gathering, when we also usually hold Full Moon Pujas between festivals.
More about Puja
- Triratna’s Puja Book has texts, translations and an introduction to the place of ritual in our practice. Copies available in our bookshop and reference library
- Some traditional verses chanted by members of our Sangha
- Garavachitta introduces Puja
Festivals and Rituals coming up
Pujas are beautiful – I feel I’m connecting to Buddhism with both heart and mind
Sangha Retreats
Going on Retreat
On retreat, you can deepen your meditation, cultivate mindfulness, and learn more about Buddhism.
When Manchester Buddhist Centre has organised the retreat, there’s also a chance to develop friendships with other people who come to the Centre. Our retreats are usually held at outdoor centres in beautiful Derbyshire countryside.
We also sometimes hold urban retreats, providing many retreat-like conditions while being non-residential and taking place alongside ordinary life.
Retreat Fund
Sangha members who cannot afford a retreat may be able to get help from our retreat bursary fund. Or if you can, please join in and give to the fund so everyone gets the chance to go on retreat.There was just a sense of space that was fantastic and I felt like I could be me
Retreats coming up
Find more retreats at all levels across the UK, open to individual bookings, at Goingonretreat.com
Who’s Who at the Centre?
These are some of the people at the heart of Manchester Buddhist Centre’s community. Most of our Trustees and the people who run the Centre are here, along with some of our teachers and a few of our volunteers. These people have committed to the Buddhist path in some way, either by joining the Triratna Buddhist Order (when they are given a Buddhist name that evokes their qualities and aspirations) or by becoming a Mitra. Order members wear a white sash called a kesa, which shows the commitment they have made.
Acharashraddha
Women's mitra convenor, teacher and trustee
(Ach-a-ra-shrad-haa) “Immovable faith”
Anita
Centre team temp, reception
(Ann-eat-uh) “Graceful”
Bridie
Volunteer at the Centre
(Bride-ee) “Mythological Celtic goddess of fire and poetry?”
Jayadevi
Teacher
(Jai-a-dave-ee) “Goddess of victory”
Mahasraddha
Teacher
(Ma-ha-shrad-ha) “Great faith”
Padmadarshini
Teacher, study leader, trustee, yoga teacher
(Pad-muh-dar-shin-ee) “She who sees the lotus”
Ratnasagara
Teacher, study leader
(Rat-na-sarg-a-ruh) “Ocean of jewels”
Silabodhi
Teacher, trustee
(See-la-bo-dee) “Enlightenment through virtue”
Sumnadipa
Teacher
(Sum-na-deeper) “She who possesses a lamp of benevolence and grace”
Varasakhi
Teacher
(Vara-sack-ee) “Noble Friend or Companion”
Aparajita
Teacher, helps with this website
(App-er-raj-itter) “Unconquered”
Arthapriya
Our beloved president
(Art-er-pree-er) “Lover of the meaning/good”
Chandana
Teacher and works for the Centre Team
(Chan-dun-a) “Sandalwood”
Dharmakarunya
Teacher, trustee and study leader
(Dhar-ma-ka-roon-ya) “She whose compassion comes from the Dharma”
Judith
Volunteers on reception at Centre
(Joo-dith) “Woman of Judea!”
Michael
Reception volunteer
(My-cull) “He who is like God”!
Vidyapala
Centre team (publicity), teacher
(Videea-pala) “Protector of wisdom”
Sara
Treasurer in Centre Team
(Seh-ruh) “Princess!”
Sthirajyoti
Teacher
(Steer-ra-joe-tee) “Steady light”
Sundeep
Centre Team, IT
(Sun-deep!) “Goodness and obedience!?”
Vilasavajra
Teacher
(Vill-as-uh-vaj-ruh) “Playful thunderbolt”
Amoghalila
Lives in women's community and helps with women mitras
(Am-o-ga-lee-la) “Playfully invincible”
Arthavadin
The centre's Chair, trustee and teacher
(Art-er-var-din) “He who speaks the good/meaningful”
Dayamala
Teacher
(Die-a-mar-ler) “Rosary of kindness”
Garavachitta
Teacher
(Gah-ra-va-chit-ta) “Mind of humility / reverence”
Maggie
Volunteer at Centre
(Mag-gee) “Pearl!”
Mokshajyoti
Teacher
(Mock-sha-joe-tee) “Light of liberation”
Prasadu
Teacher, trustee
(Pra-sar-doo) “An offering”
Sarasuvanna
Teacher
(Sar-uh-sue-van-uh) “She whose innermost nature is like gold”
Steve
Centre Team, maintenance, health & safety
(Steeve) “He who encompasses!”
Taravandana
Teacher
(Tar-ruh-van-dun-na) “She who salutes Tara”
Vishangka
Men's mitra convenor, trustee
(Vish-ank-her) “Fearless”
Annie
Volunteer on reception
(Ann-knee!) “Favour, or grace!”
Arthaketu
Teacher, now left Manchester
(Art-ha-kay-too) “Comet of meaning/the good”
Dayanandi
Public preceptor, teacher, trustee
(Die-a-nan-dee) “Bliss of kindness”
Amaradaya
Teacher
(Am-ar-a-dye-a) “His kindness is undying”
Mahabodhi
Teacher
(Ma-ha-bow-dee) “Great Enlightenment”
Nishpara
Teacher
(Nish-puh-ruh) “Boundless”
Ratnaguna
Teacher
(Rat-na-goon-a) “Precious qualities”
Satyamuni
Teacher
(Sat-ya-moon-ee) “Sage of truth”
Suryaka
Centre manager, safeguarding officer, teacher
(Soo-re-ah-kuh) “She who is sunny”
Upekshapriya
Teacher
(Oo-peck-sha-pree-uh) “Lover of equanimity”
Opening Times & more
Opening Times:
Mon - Thurs: 10am - 7pmFri: 10am - 5.30pm
Sat: 10am - 5pm
Bank hols - see calendar
Charity reg no: 514937
MBC
16-20 Turner Street, Manchester M4 1DZ