Newcomers’ sessions welcome anyone and everyone who wants to come and experience Buddhist practice and meditation for themselves and become part of the community – you don’t need to be a ‘Buddhist’ or want to become a Buddhist. It’s good to ‘shop around’ and discover which approach to Buddhist practice most suits you, our centre is one of many. Buddhist practise can change your life and your world. Becoming part of a community of individuals looking to develop themselves, as well as find peace and connection, is a beautiful and empowering place to be.

Our Sangha Events (community events) are for those who’d like to find out more. No commitment is required, but we ask that you first complete our intro and follow on courses or have attended 6 months of ‘beginners’ classes, as these give a good basis for engaging with our Sangha events.

Becoming a Mitra (the Sanskrit word for ‘friend’) in the Triratna Buddhist Community signifies that someone has decided they are a Buddhist, that they are endeavouring to practise the five ethical precepts the Buddha taught and that they have decided that the Triratna Buddhist Community is the place where they want to ‘put down the roots’ of their practice, at least for the time being. It’s fine to try out lots of different approaches, but if we’re going to take our practice deeper, we need make a commitment (provisional, at first) to a particular path and context.  Becoming a Mitra is just such a provisional commitment, and is marked in a simple ceremony.

At no point do you need to become a Mitra or Order Member to practice. Feeling into what is right for you is the most important thing. You might be with us for a short course or for 40 years without choosing to become a Mitra. That’s completely fine!

If you’d like to know more about diversity and inclusivity at the Centre then please click here.

If you’re interested in becoming a Mitra then find out more here or talk to one of our mitra convenors:

Vimalavjari  for women: wmc@bristol-buddhist-centre.org and Naravira for men: naravira@bristol-buddhist-centre.org

You can see Vimalavajri introducing herself and talking about mitra convening with Satyalila here

Some people decide they would like to take their commitment further and after being a Mitra for sometime, they ask to be ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order which opens up further pathways of training and commitment.