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 essentially a network of friendship in which we try to communicate and share our efforts to become more than we currently are. A level of trust can build up because we know that other members of the Sangha are at least trying to be ethical, to be aware of themselves and others, to express metta, or loving-kindness.
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!
The Sangha is the real heart of the Buddhist centre — without it, it is simply a building.
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 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
