This is going to be a shorter piece than I have given you of late, so apologies or maybe you will see it as good fortune? It is interesting how a thing, an event can be viewed in opposing ways depending on our own personal ideas, thoughts or emotions at the time. So how objective can we really be when we make judgements of the things that are happening around us?
Anyway, the reason for my brevity is that I am focused on one of the Triratna Institutions at the moment. It is an Institution that spans all aspects of Triratna and is called the International Council. This Council consists of just 36 delegates. All volunteers from around the world who meet up regularly to talk about many of the delights and issues that a large Buddhist Tradition like ours, inevitably encounters. This time we are talking about Communications, and how we can better communicate the Dharma and Triratna to the World. It is an interesting an engaging topic. Unfortunately it is a Zoom conference. Not ideal but as the delegates are from all around the world this is the most effective way of meeting. Attending these Zoom events takes me back to the Covid times of only a few years ago when meeting face to face was not possible. Luckily for me it is not all Zoom calls as we hold a yearly, longer, in-person conference. Next year we will be holding the in-person meeting in India at one of our large complexes, called Nagaloka near the city of Nagpur. It is a great opportunity to spend time (nearly 2 weeks) with other Order Members and hear about how they are leading a Buddhist life in their own countries. The Ipswich Pilgrimage in 2023 visited Nagaloka as part of its tour of some of the Indian Triratna institutions.
The Ipswich Buddhist Centre is well represented on the International Council with Amoghavajra as well as myself being members for the UK & Ireland Area. The world of Triratna is divided into six Areas. Amoghavajra is an Order delegate, as he is a Regional Order convenor and I, as a Centre Chair have become a Movement delegate. This is a continuation of a tradition in the Ipswich Sangha of getting fully involved and help shape the Buddhist Tradition that we are so deeply committed to. Over the years, many of the Ipswich Order Members, past and present have taken on positions of responsibility in different aspects of Triratna, as well as leading the way in spreading the Dharma to the people that need it the most.
That all may sound a bit complex, so If you would like to know more about the International Council then please ask Amoghavajra or myself, and we will be happy to talk more.
I have just heard more good news for the Ipswich Sangha. Andy Madel has just been Ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order. His new Order name is Bodhisetu, which means: “He who is a bridge to awakening”. What a great name for a great man. A man who has already helped many people understand Buddhism and will surely help many more on their spiritual journey towards Enlightenment.
He is the third Ipswich Mitra to be ordained this year. A bumper and fruitful crop. Many of you will have met Bodhisetu from his support of classes; recently on the Friends Night and Foundation Year teams. Back in August we said goodbye to ‘Andy’ at his Going Forth event. This was a very moving event at the Centre, where we were able to rejoice in ‘Andy’s many qualities. Soon after that evening ‘Andy’, as he was then still called, left for the mountains of Spain. As Kamalsiha and Visvabandhu before him had done, he travelled to the Guyhaloka Men’s retreat Centre. There he spent a month on retreat with the other 9 men from various parts of the Triratna world. Dayasara, his Private Preceptor also travelled to Spain to perform the Private Ordination.
I have probably mentioned this before but as a recap, there are two parts to a Triratna Ordination. The Private Ordination happens first, when you are Ordained and take on the 10 ordination vows. Then, about a week later, there is the Public Ordination where you are accepted and welcomed into the world-wide Triratna Order. Then you become part of a Tradition, that although newly formed, has its wide roots stretching back to the time of the Buddha, and is firmly grounded in the Buddha’s teachings.
I have been asked whether only men can get ordained as all our public classes in Ipswich are run by men Order Members. The three new Order Members may confirm that view. But that is not the case, and in fact the first Order member, within our Tradition was a women. Within the Ipswich Sangha we have some very fine women Mitras who are working hard to progress towards Ordination. The time that takes depends on those individuals as we are all different and what we need to address on our Spiritual journey varies. Sometimes it is the conditions we find ourselves in and sometimes it is the conditions that are outside of our direct influence that makes that journey longer than is necessary. You have probably heard the news that a new Ordination training Centre for women is being purchased. The price has been agreed and contracts are being drawn up, so with fingers crossed in a little while, the training for Ordination for women will be improved with significantly larger facilities.
But it is worth mentioning that not everyone who comes along to the Buddhist Centre wishes to be an Order Member. Most are content to be Friends, learning about Buddhism and starting to apply the Dharma in their everyday lives. Some do wish to take the next step and deepen their commitment to Buddhism and Triratna by becoming Mitras. Becoming a Mitra is a big and important step on the road to Enlightenment and at the end of this month we will have a ceremony to mark that step for some of our Friends. Do come and support them.
Dharmachari Bodhisetu will return to Ipswich at the beginning of this month. It will take him some time to get used to being back in Ipswich, but once he has settled we will be having a celebratory event to welcome him back into the Ipswich Sangha. I look forward to seeing you then, if not before.
Bodhivamsa
