Sangha Mitras

When a person first attends a triratna centre they are considered a ‘friend’. They may take part in all the public activities of the centre, including meditation classes and courses, classes devoted to Buddhist study and practice, festivals, events, and so on. There is no obligation or pressure to take their involvement further, and some people remain as friends – attending a centre and going on retreat on an ad hoc basis – for many years. However, as someone’s practice of the Dharma deepens, and their connections strengthen, it is possible to formalize this involvement by becoming a Mitra.

‘Mitra’ is the Sanskrit word for friend. A Mitra is someone who wants to practice Buddhism seriously according to the triratna approach, and intends to do so for the foreseeable future. Together, Order members and Mitras make up the core of the sangha, or spiritual community, around a triratna centre.

Dale Jackson

I became a Mitra in 1995 at the West London Buddhist Centre in Nottinghill, London, UK. I was wanting to learn meditation to understand my mind and become calmer, as…

Jan Strocki

My Mitra ceremony took place on the 12th of February 2012 at the London Buddhist Centre in England. The most important thing for me about practicing the Dharma is the…

Larry Birckhead

I became a Mitra with the support and guidance of the Tri-Cities, Washington sangha in October of 2000. Before and since, it’s been all about breathing daily life into the…

Ron Chartier

My mitra ceremony took place on September 28, 2015 at the Bikram’s yoga studio on Commercial Drive in Vancouver. It was a beautiful and moving ceremony that I shared with…

Alison Therriault

I became a Mitra on the full moon of September 28, 2015 at the Bikram's yoga studio on Commercial Drive. The Carnival Band rehearsed outside the window, tuba and all,…

Paramita Banerjee

I became a Mitra as of May 2014 at the Vancouver Triratna Buddhist centre. I feel like I have come home to place my heart on the dharma to guide…

Kim

My Mitra ceremony took place in Vancouver, BC, in December 2014. I was initially introduced to Buddhist principles through my yoga practice, and so I was ready to explore Buddhism…

Reg Johanson

I became a Mitra in June of 2014 in Vancouver.

Aggie Gyongyosi-King

Aggie became a Mitra in June, 2014, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Farrel Janell

My Mitra ceremony was on June 25, 2016 at the new Triratna Buddhist Centre in Vancouver. When I was first introduced to the five precepts it was as though…

Sandy Currie

Sandy has been with the Vancouver Triratna Community since 1995. She became a Mitra in 1997, and she asked for Ordination in 1998. In addition to being a Mitra of…

Liesl Glover

I became a mitra in May 2012. My ceremony took place at the annual Vancouver Sangha Spring retreat at Daisy Lake. My ceremony was led by Vimalasara, supported by Dayasiddhi…

Melissa Kingston

I became a mitra of Triratna Vancouver in the spring of 2005 on retreat in Sun Lakes, Washington. What attracted me to Buddhism, and what remains the most cherished…

Mike Leznoff

I became a mitra on January 18th, 2007, at the Vancouver Buddhist Centre. My first encounter with Buddhism was reading Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse, but my next encounter was on a…

Martha Lewis

I became a mitra in May 2009 at the Sea-to-Sky retreat centre near Whistler. I am happy to be learning more about Buddhism and the Triratna Buddhist Community.

Ray Chernoff

Anne Lavergne

John Ullrich

I became a Mitra in December, 2014, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Jamie Elvidge

Jon

Osvaldo Ramirez Castillo

Dani Francis

Stephen Flach

Colin Steele

Liam Less

I became a Mitra is December of 2014, in Vancouver, British Columbia.