Triratna Buddhist Community International Council - A High Degree of Commonality

â??A high degree of commonality

A community needs a high degree of commonality of practice to make progress together on the path.

Sangharakshita, What is the Western Buddhist Order

2013 A High Degree of Commonality paper from College Wide Order consultation and a lot of feedback

But some good questions

2013 How do we maintain that high degree of commonality, while remaining open to the evolution of our system?

How do we make sure that new approaches are faithful to the spirit of the Order, have collective acceptance, while allowing for creative development?

2013 How do we maintain that high degree of commonality, while remaining open to the evolution of our system?

How do we make sure that new approaches are faithful to the spirit of the Order, have collective acceptance, while allowing for creative development?

2014 International Council revision

principles

Right View

Kalyana Mitrata.

In accord with the Dharma.

Early, friendly communication among those teaching and training

In accord with Bhante’s presentation of the Dharma

process

Most developments will be discussed in the course of ‘ordinary life’.

Fostering a culture of kalyana mitrata Early, voluntary dialogue , so developments happen naturally in our shared system.

Any OM engaging in dialogue when they have found something useful to them that they would like to disseminate more broadly

In extraordinary cases, some developments will be significant enough to need discussion in more depth.

Gathering information

Making recommendations

The College’s responsibility

to be well informed about significant developments

to guide those developments

‘Public Preceptors need to discuss these matters carefully, and come up with some way of sorting out what is valuable from what is not…

Other Order members need to cooperate with them.’

Bhante, What is the Western Buddhist Order

how+who

‘ordinary life’ how and who?

Fostering a culture of kalyana mitrata Centre Teaching Kulas Dialogue with KMs Chapters Preceptors Teacher training Colloquia Order Forums + Retreats

In extraordinary cases, how and who?

Gathering information

Making recommendations

The College’s responsibility

College has responsibility, but can delegate

Working Group makes recommendations to College, and to Steering Group.

after College review, recommendations are communicated to three strands, Order, Movement and Preceptors

convenes ‘Teaching Kula’ / working group of experienced order members with relevant experience

In accord with the Dharma.

A culture of Kalyana Mitrata.

In accord with Bhante’s presentation of the Dharma

Early, friendly communication among those teaching and training

2018 clarify criteria for who teaches at centres

The lineages of teaching and practice: “What is taught and practiced at Triratna Centres is founded on Sangharakshita’s particular presentation of the Dharma…

It comes from the common body of material derived from Sangharakshita and evolved through the procedures on Commonality of Practice agreed by the International Council, under the guidance of the Public Preceptors.

“Centres offer a progressive training at all levels, encouraging a deepening Going for Refuge to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha through the progressive stages of commitment as Friend, Mitra and Order member.

Individual Centres work in harmony with those with broad responsibility for the various aspects of training in Triratna.

In particular‌ with the Preceptors College which holds a special responsibility to preserve and develop Sangharakshita’s presentation of the Dharma.

“Participation in Centres should be open to all Order members who understand and support the spiritual principles of the Triratna Community, are in harmony with the spirit of the Order, active in the Order’s life, have no serious conflicts with other Order members that have not been addressed. in good standing with their own Preceptors + Kalyana Mitras, and not involved in any major breaches of the precepts.�

A proposal Adapted for the Insight Inquiry project They understand and support the spiritual principles of the Triratna Community; and our system of practice and training; have an effective spiritual practice of that framework themselves; Able to work in harmony with those with broad responsibility for the various aspects of training in Triratna, particularly with the College. are in harmony with the spirit of the Order, active in the Order’s life, have no serious conflicts with other Order members that have not been addressed. in good standing with their own Preceptors + Kalyana Mitras, and not involved in any major breaches of the precepts. have the understanding of the material and the teaching skills they need to communicate effectively at the level they’re teaching.