About Us
The Melbourne Buddhist Centre is run by the Triratna Buddhist Community, an international network dedicated to practising and teaching Buddhist ethics, meditation and wisdom in the contemporary world. For over 30 years the Melbourne Buddhist Centre has been sharing meditation and Buddhist practice via drop-in meditation classes, meditation and Buddhism courses, Dharma talks from local and visiting Buddhists, Buddhist study groups and on retreat. In the process building a vibrant and friendly Buddhist Community in Melbourne.
The Triratna Buddhist Community is an organisation whose charter is to make available the teachings of the Buddha to people of all cultures and backgrounds. Our community is inclusive and welcomes people from all ethnicities and those from the LGBTQIA+ community. We draw inspiration from all the great Buddhist schools to facilitate practice in a contemporary cultural context.
At the heart of our community is the Triratna Buddhist Order. The Order is neither monastic, nor lay, but simply Buddhist. Order members attempt to live out the Buddha’s teachings of wisdom and compassion as the primary commitment of their lives, whatever the particular circumstances of those lives may be.
The Team
All of our classes are run by ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Order.
Amitasraddha
Apada
Mitra Convenor
Bodhinaya
Carunetra
Dantacitta
Dharmadhara
Dhiracharita
Dhiramani
Maitridharani
Secretary & Public Officer
Maitrijata
Committee Member
Manjusiddha
Safeguarding Officer
Rijumayi
Sanghapurna
Shantidevi
Siladasa
Sraddhanaya
Safeguarding Officer
Varadhi
Vidyatara
Committee Member
Vimuttinandi
Mitra Convenor
Viryasiddhi
ChairpersonOur Values
Triratna's History & Safeguarding
There have been situations in Triratna’s past where some people in positions of responsibility did not live up to our ethical ideals. Primarily in the 1960s and 1970s during the early days of Triratna in the UK, some Order members, including our founder Sangharakshita, had sexual relationships with other adult members of the community. While nothing illegal took place, we recognise that sexual relationships between a spiritual teacher and a student have an unhealthy power imbalance. This behaviour was not okay then and has no place in our community today.
Historically, there have also been some ideas and attitudes that have existed in our community that proved to be unhelpful, unkind or just untrue—especially attitudes that were dismissive of women or people who practiced Buddhism as parents. These attitudes have changed.
We feel it is important to state our history honestly and openly, and to make resources available for anyone who wants to find out more to do so. For more information, visit Addressing Ethical Issues in Triratna.
Today, we have robust safeguarding policies in place and are committed to ensuring that all people who attend our centre are safe and feel welcome.
Read Sangharakshita's public apology here, and a further statement from the College of Public Preceptors here.
The MBC’s Safeguarding Officers Sraddhanaya and Manjusiddha are aware of the sensitivity of personal disclosures and the requirements of confidentiality. They will respond to disclosures and allegations of sexual harassment and abuse to children and to vulnerable adults.
If you have any questions or concerns around safeguarding or our related policies, please feel free to contact them through the following secure and confidential email address - safeguarding_melbournebc@protonmail.com
Read about Restorative Process work here.