Month: December 2023

Lily Colonna

Aryaloka Buddhist Center is a retreat center founded in 1985 as part of Triratna Buddhist Community (TBC). It is located in the Seacoast Region of New Hampshire and is surrounded by the Piscassic River. The founder, Manjuvajra, relocated to Boston from the UK and taught Buddhism and meditation classes there before purchasing Aryaloka and establishing it as a retreat center, living community, and Right Livelihood project. The purchase helped maintain the momentum of the expanding Buddhist community in New England.  Studies at Aryaloka explore the Buddha’s Threefold Way of Ethics, Meditation, and Wisdom, and Mahayana and Vajrayana texts; as well as ritual, mythology, the arts, yoga, tai-chi, hiking, snow-shoeing, veganism, and non-violence. They have hosted many Triratna teachers, including its founder, Urgyen Sangharakshita.  The center is managed by many employees and some volunteers. Connections made at Aryaloka have led to the formation of Triratna groups in Portsmouth, Portland, Lubec, Boston, and New York City.

The first members of Aryaloka lived in the domes in the lower rooms, led retreats, and worked in the woodshops. The barn (Akashaloka) was renovated to be used as living space, after which the domes were used for retreats. In 2014, a stupa was built on the grounds in remembrance of Sangharakshita’s teacher, Dhardo Rinpoche, whose remains have also been spread amongst stupas in New Zealand, England, Germany, Spain, and Wales. Akashaloka now offers bedrooms, a small meditation hall, a kitchen, and a lounge. The main building also includes bedrooms and a kitchen, as well as a larger meditation hall and lounge, a multi-purpose room, a reference library, and a bookstore.

Triratna (Sanskrit for Three Jewels)  is an international collection of Buddhist communities, businesses, projects, and centers. It was founded by the Venerable Urgyen Sangharakshita (1925-2018) and was initially called The Friends of the Western Buddhist Order. Sangharakshita was a monk in India for 20 years and studied with teachers of different traditions before moving west and founding the TBC in London in 1967. The movement aimed to bring Buddhism to the West in an “approachable, inspiring, and engaging” manner. Members of Triratna believe the defining act of a Buddhist to be going for refuge to the Three Jewels: the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. They do so through traditional practices like meditation, study, and ritual, as well as through other outlets, such as friendship and the arts. 

There are about 2,500 members of the TBC worldwide. Ordination can be requested by anyone. It requires participation in the ordination training course, which consists of retreats and structures led by Order members and typically takes multiple years to complete. Ordinations are performed during ordination retreats by a senior Order member called a Preceptor. Triratna Order members are neither lay nor monastic; they are not ordained into a specific tradition and have differing lifestyles. Members meet weekly in spiritual workshops called chapters and discuss their challenges and insights in the Dharma practice, as well as offer assistance to one another. There are also regional meetings over the first weekend of every month for members to participate in collective Dharma practice, and three-week long international Conventions every two years. These meetings are intended to boost communication and encourage kindness and friendship. Most members have regular jobs, but some work in Right Livelihood businesses or at their Triratna center.

Some practitioners at Aryaloka and other TBC centers have the title of mitra, which is Sanskrit for friend. According to Aryaloka’s website, “Becoming a mitra is an expression of connectedness to the ideal of spiritual community. It represents an individual’s commitment to going deeper with their practice.” This title is reflective of the importance of spiritual friendship in TBC. One must be able to make three declarations if they intend on becoming a mitra: 

1. I feel that I am a Buddhist.
2. I am trying to practice the Five Precepts.
3. I feel that the Triratna Buddhist Community is the main context in which I want to deepen my practice.

Becoming a mitra is celebrated with a ceremony, after which one can study the Dharma Training Course for Mitras and attend special workshops and retreats at any Triratna center.

Aryaloka’s Ethical Guidelines are based on the Five Precepts and are listed as follows:

1. I undertake the training principle of abstention from harming living beings. With deeds of loving-kindness, I purify my body. 
2. I undertake the training principle of abstention from taking the not given. With open-handed generosity, I purify my body. 
3. I undertake the training principle of abstention from sexual misconduct. With stillness, simplicity and contentment, I purify my body. 
4. I undertake the training principle of abstention from false speech. With truthful communication, I purify my speech. 
5. I undertake the training principle of abstention from intoxication. With mindfulness clear and radiant, I purify my mind.

Triratna has faced controversy in more recent years surrounding Sangharakshita’s sexual relations with other subordinate community members, some of which were under 21, the legal age of consent at the time. The Adhisthana Kula, a group of senior members of the Triratna Buddhist Order, was formed in 2017 to address these and other past controversies. They issued a report in 2020 outlining the findings from their investigation of Sangharakshita’s behavior and its impact, the progress made and the introduction of restorative processes, and an apology on behalf of the members, as well as Sangharakshita’s statement published in 2016.

“I being its founder, Triratna sometimes bears the mark not of the Dharma but of my own particular personality. That personality is a complex one and in certain respects I did not act in accordance with what my position in the movement demanded or even as a true Buddhist. I am thinking in particular of the times when I have hurt, harmed or upset fellow Buddhists, whether within Triratna or out of it. 

These thoughts have borne all the more upon me in the course of the last week, when I was in hospital with pneumonia. As I was well aware pneumonia can be fatal to a man of my age and I knew that I could die, even though I did not feel that I was dying, despite being very ill. 

I would therefore like to express my deep regret for all the occasions on which I have hurt, harmed or upset fellow Buddhists, and ask for their forgiveness.”

-Urgyen Sangharakshita, 2016

Works Cited

Aryaloka Buddhist Center official website, https://aryaloka.org/

The Buddhist Centre, https://thebuddhistcentre.com/

The Trijang Buddhist Institute, often referred to as TBI, is a community located in central Vermont that practices Tibetan Buddhism. The community repurposed 1800s-era buildings of the closed Seitz Dairy Farm to create a “campus” including a dining hall, offices and even a bookstore for their purposes. The setting of Vermont aims to create a haven where anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism, regardless of religious affiliation, can come to learn. The community holds advanced teachings for more experienced monks and Buddhist figures, but also keeps a schedule of meditation workshops to allow an opening for anyone to come and experience what they offer. From 9-5 each day they always have a resident monk or volunteer at the Institute willing to answer questions to anyone who is willing to stop by. Along with this, this position helps direct and coordinate visitors who come to learn from the Spiritual leader, His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche.

The community was founded by Rae Ann Barkley, a teacher of peace education at Norwich University, in 1986. The group was originally founded as the Institute of Visionary Leadership and was located in Northfield, Vermont. Through the guidance of His Eminence Domo Geshe Rinpoche, the Institute was relocated to the 354-acre plot where it now resides. In 2004, Rae Ann Barkley was officially ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun and became known as Ani Tsering Lhamo. In 2005, the Institute for Visionary Leadership was gifted to His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche and became known as Trijang Buddhist Institute.

The Institute practices Tibetan Buddhism, particularly the Gelug lineage. The Gelug school, as with the rest of the Tibetan Buddhist Schools, has its origin with the Buddha Shakyamuni. The Gelug school of Tibet puts a stronger emphasis on philosophical studies than the other schools of Tibet. These studies are intensive, and last years. The particular focus of the studies is on the “Five major treaties.” Through this system, monks will thoroughly study ideas about the perfection of wisdom, the middle way, valid cognition, phenomenology, and monastic disciplines. The Institution is officially backed by the one hundred and first Gaden Tripa Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal, the spiritual leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism appointed by His Holiness the fourteenth Dalai Lama. Along with that, the Trijang Buddhist Institute has the blessing of His Holiness the fourteenth Dalai Lama that the “Buddhadharma will flourish, that all sentient beings may receive the precious Dharma and that they may live in happiness and virtue.” The Institution is very proud about the blessing, which is written on a signed picture of the Dalai Lama that was gifted to the institution in May of 2007.

The Spiritual Director of Trijang Buddhist Institute is His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche. His Holiness comes from a lineage of Indian and Tibetan Buddhist masters and is fourth in the line of Trijang Rinpoches. “Rinpoches” is a Tibetan word which loosely translates to “precious one.” The title shows that one has been recognized as the reincarnation of a prominent and great teacher, and is applied to the end of one’s name. Trijang Rinpoche was recognized as the reincarnation of Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang, the tutor of the 14th Dalai Lama. 

The Community of TBI aims to be diverse and inclusive. The demographic of teaching often changes depending on how advanced the teaching is, or if company retreats are currently being held.

As mentioned before, the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Buddhism places a strong focus on philosophical studies in order to help all sentient beings. This is the type of studying that the devoted monks of the Institution are often seen prioritizing. TBI hopes to create an environment to promote such activity, and provide monks with everything they need to focus on their studies. This includes books, meals, places of study and calm scenery.

TBI wants to serve all who have interest in Tibetan Buddhism and has the overarching goal to work for the benefit of all sentient beings. In order to best do this, they offer a range of different structured classes, such as Tibetan language and culture studies to advanced Tantric retreats. 

The Institution houses resident monks, and has volunteers run administration and help with logistics. Puja (worship), meditation teachings, and recitation of different prayers are offered frequently and open to the public. Although TBI is associated with the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, people of all religious or non-religious backgrounds are welcome. More intensive training, often lasting entire days, are also offered and presented by His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche. These day-long teachings often center around specific ideas or texts, such as: “Stages of Path to Enlightenment.” That specific teaching was offered in December of 2023 and is heavily based on the text “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand” composed by H.H. Kyabje Pabongkapa Dèchen Nyingpo. The spiritual leader Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche became a well known figure in part for his work editing “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand.”

While most teachings are taught personally by Trijang Rinpoche at the institute’s campus in Vermont, Trijang Rinpoche often gets requests to travel and talk all over the world to different groups. This included a prominent three week trip to Mongolia after repeated requests from local communities. The trip included many talks to only the most qualified students, often including teachings on the Vajrabhairava (Yamantaka) cycle which aims to purify lifetimes of bad karma in an advanced and fast way.

Back in Vermont, special events for different Buddhist holidays or days of significance are also held throughout the year. While these events are annual, they often land at slightly different times because many of the events follow the Tibetan Lunar Calendar.

With that, seasonal classes are offered at the institution, taught by either Trijang Rinpoche, the resident teachers, or guests who are temporarily staying. One prominent resident teacher is Geshe Lobsang Sopa, a monk who received precious teachings from distinguished figures such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Specifically, Tsogs (gatherings) are hosted on the tenth and twenty-fifth day of each month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar. While gatherings may be similarly structured, they often put emphasis on slightly different Buddhist ideas. The Institution also has ties to grand Buddhist teachers of the west. They often host teachers for periods of time, inviting them to deliver lectures and teachings to the monks and visitors. An example of this was the visit of the Venerable Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche of Nepal, the twelfth Dagom Rinpoche and the reincarnation of Ra Lotsawa. A picture of Dagom Rinpoche (left) and Trijang Rinpoche (right) can be seen below.

The community is funded solely on donations from visitors. But with that comes a pressure to donate if you attend one of their teachings, meditation classes or other type of event. Along with this, it is expected that 7 dollars be donated for each meal eaten from the Institution’s dining hall. They ask for this cash to be sealed in marked envelopes and placed in the community donations block. This is to ensure the separation of money for meals and money for attending any of the events offered on site. As mentioned before, there is also a modest bookstore on site which sells selected books on Buddhism as well as certain ritual items. It is unclear if a profit is made from this aspect of the institution. Local businesses and groups are also able to rent out the Institution for retreats. From their website it is unclear if or how TBI profits off of this practice.

The Trijang Buddhist Institute is an inclusive Tibetan Buddhist practice that aims to help all sentient beings escape the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Sitting on hundreds of acres of Vermont land (much of it donated) the community operates in humble, yet classy repurposed buildings of an old dairy farm. A diverse range of people visit the community each year because classes, lectures, and dharma talks covering a wide range of intensity and Buddhist affiliation. Meditation classes, often offered to company retreats, and people with or without religious backgrounds, offer a gateway into the community, and a variety of events give the public opportunities to come back and learn more. Along with this, the Institution holds more advanced teachings and houses several monks who focus on philosophical studies, as the Gelug lineage emphasizes. Headed by his Holiness Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche, backed by the one hundred and first Gaden Tripa Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal, and with the blessing of the fourteenth Dalai Lama, the Trijang Buddhist Institute aims to offer a haven for anyone who is interested in Tibetan Buddhism.

Project completed by Cole MacMillan, class of William and Mary 2026

Works Cited

Dorje Shugden. “Trijang Buddhist Institute.” Dorje Shugden, 4 February 2016, https://www.dorjeshugden.org/temples/trijang-buddhist-institute. Accessed 2023.

Dorje Shugden. “Trijang Buddhist Institute (TBI).” Dorje Shugden and Dalai Lama, https://www.dorjeshugden.com/places/trijang-buddhist-institute-tbi/. Accessed 2023.

“The Gelug School | Karmapa – The Official Website of the 17th Karmapa.” Karmapa, https://kagyuoffice.org/buddhism/buddhism-in-tibet/the-gelug-school/. Accessed 2023.

Mullikin, Patrick Timothy. “Buddhist outpost at home in Northfield | News | timesargus.com.” Times Argus, 17 October 2018, https://www.timesargus.com/news/buddhist-outpost-at-home-in-northfield/article_2fd3d53d-0797-5c02-a3ac-d58177f06378.html. Accessed 2023.

Trijang Buddhist Institute. https://www.tbiusa.org/.