sangharakshita
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One supremely important fact is that...hatred can be changed into love
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Vajratara, Sheffield, UK
FBA is a vast mine of jewels, a fantastic resource for those looking for a spiritual perspective. A source of much joy when I have a spare hour to ponder the Universe. What gem can I download today?
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Suvarnagarbha, Cambridge, UK
When I think about FBA, the inexhaustible lamps from the Vimalakirti Nirdesa comes to mind. With the internet, the capacity for lamps to light other lamps is inexhaustible. It never needs to stop...
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Vajradarshini, Valderrobres, Spain
I live in Spain so have no Buddhist Centres or Libraries close at hand and FBA is like having an excellent Dharmic library right here. Listening to the Dharma is a whole practice in itself!
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Mary, FBA Team
I love it when a deeply moving excerpt from a Dharma talk is randomly followed on my MP3 player by a piece of music, and then more Dharma comes randomly through. That pretty much rocks my world.
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Coleen, FBA Team
I don't know what to say to express the gratitude I feel to have been so privileged to be able to work on Dharma talks produced by the finest minds in the Triratna community.
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Candradasa, FBA Team
I love the possibilities the internet opens up for communicating our values. It's been an amazing journey that's seen FBA grow from a small tape company into a major online space for Buddhist audio!
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Vicki, Seattle, USA
I received the most delightful gift of the Dharma: an iPod with all of Sangharakshita's FBA downloads on it. I just love listening to my 'Bhante pod' and having Dharma talks so easily accessible.
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Viriyalila, Portsmouth, USA
FBA lets me hear the whole of our community's 'voice', and sit in a room with Sangharakshita as he elucidates the Dharma as it was originally passed on to us by the Buddha, ie. as an oral tradition.
who is sangharakshita?
Sangharakshita is an Englishman, who was born in 1925 and discovered Buddhism after reading 'The Diamond Sutra' at age 16. He was posted to
India during the Second World War and stayed on afterwards to pursue formal Buddhist training of various kinds. After about 20 years of
broadening and deepening initiation and practice in several traditions notably Tibetan he returned to the U.K. in the mid '60s and went on to
found the Western Buddhist Order (WBO) and Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO), now known as Triratna Buddhist Order and
Triratna Buddhist Community.
His approach to Buddhism is characterised by an emphasis on commitment to living life in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha. In this
sense, it is distinctly non-sectarian and non-proscriptive in terms of lifestyle; the key is, instead, to find and develop appropriate expressions of
commitment in the modern world. There is also a growing part of the Triratna Order and Community in India. In the main, this consists of followers
of Dr. Ambedkar, the great Indian leader of the Dalits, who converted to Buddhism to escape their suffering under the Hindu caste system.
Sangharakshita has written and published extensively on Buddhism. You can read some of his books here. You can also search and read his many seminars on this site, as well as hear many of his talks on Buddhism and meditation. Check out his website for what heʼs up to these days!
