What is Sangha?

Sangha, the heart of the Buddhist Centre

Sangha means spir­itual com­munity, so the Manchester Buddhist Centre Sangha includes any­one who prac­tises with the Triratna Buddhist Community and comes to the Centre regularly

Our Sangha is made up of ordained mem­bers of the Triratna Buddhist Order, mitras, and friends who have not made any formal com­mit­ment but have com­pleted some Buddhism and med­it­a­tion courses here and feel involved with the Centre’s activ­it­ies and values.

A net­work of friendships

Sangha is a net­work of friend­ship where we try to share our efforts to become more than we cur­rently are. Trust can build up because we know that we are all at least try­ing to be eth­ical, to be aware of ourselves and oth­ers, to express metta, or loving-kindness.
Richard and Suryaka - people in front of MBC

Our Sangha isn’t per­fect — it is only when all indi­vidu­als have achieved a pro­found level of wis­dom, and thus free­dom from ego, that the Sangha finds its ulti­mate poten­tial. But even so, this side of Enlightenment it’s pretty good!
Women at MBC

Walking group at Stanage Edge - people in countryside

What is a Mitra?

Mitra is an Indian word for friend. Here, it means those who have made a formal com­mit­ment to prac­tising Buddhism within the con­text of the Manchester Buddhist Centre and the Triratna Buddhist Community, in a simple ceremony.

Two mitra con­ven­ors, Dayanandi and Arthaketu, co-ordinate and sup­port mitra activ­it­ies at the Centre

What is an Order Member?

Ordained mem­bers of the Triratna Buddhist Order com­mit to fol­low­ing the Buddhist path to Enlightenment, as the cent­ral point of their lives.

They under­take to prac­tise a tra­di­tional set of ten eth­ical precepts.

Study and going further

Many friends and mitras are involved in study groups at the Centre

Many mitras are pre­par­ing for ordin­a­tion and are some­times known as GFR mitras — Going For Refuge to Buddhism’s three jew­els, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha
Sangha Retreat Group of People

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