More about Buddhism

The Triratna Buddhist Order and Community is a worldwide movement, founded by the British born Buddhist Sangharakshita in 1967. Triratna is a Sanskrit word meaning three jewels.

Traditionally there are three jewels at the heart of a Buddhist life: the Buddha, his teachings (known as the Dharma), and the community (known as the Sangha). You can find out more about Triratna and its history on the main Triratna website.

There are around 2,000 ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Order worldwide. It is one of the principal Buddhist movements in the UK, India, and Australasia, as well as being increasingly well-established in Western Europe and the USA. There are around eighty Triratna urban centres, retreat centres and activities in over twenty countries.

One of Buddhism’s strengths is its ability to adapt to each new culture it encounters. Throughout its history, it has evolved and taken on many new forms, while at the same time retaining its essential truths. The Triratna Buddhist Community bases its approach on the perception that the varied and divided Buddhist tradition has an underlying unity. It seeks to return to these underlying principles and to find ways of living them out in the context of the modern world.

In the UK there are local Buddhist Centres in many towns and cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling. There are also small groups of practising Triratna Buddhist groups in the Borders and Fife. If you would like to find out more about a group near you, please email info@edinburghbuddhistcentre.org.uk

If you are interested in going on a Buddhist retreat for a few days or weeks, there are also retreat centres across the UK. Dhanakosa Retreat Centre near Balquidder in the Trossachs runs a series of week-long retreats throughout the year.