‘Words are used not conceptually but symbolically, and their truth is not the scientific truth of the intellect but the poetic truth of the imagination. We are in the realm of the spiritually positive, a world glowing with colour and flashing with light.’ - Sangharakshita, A Survey of Buddhism

‘To lead a Buddhist life we need, above all, four things:
A vision of the kind of person we could become;
Practical methods to help us transform ourselves in the light of that vision;
Friendship to support and encourage us on the path;
And a society or culture that supports us in our aspiration.’

Sangharakshita, Buddhism for Today and Tomorrow

“A common misapprehension is to think of Insight and egolessness in abstract, even metaphysical terms rather than as comprising concretely-lived attitudes and behaviour.  But realising the truth of egolessness simply means being truly and deeply unselfish.  To contemplate the principle of egolessness as some special principle that is somehow separate from our actual behaviour will leave it as far away as ever.  If we find it difficult to realise the ultimate emptiness of the self, the solution is to try to be a little less selfish.  The understanding comes afte

“There is something about the movement, the Order and even about me that is not easily definable. There is a touch of something that cannot be buttoned down, something that cannot in the end be defined. Everyone will need to take care of that rather mysterious, indefinable spirit that gives the movement life and energy.” - Sangharakshita, What is the Western Buddhist Order?

‘​​What one can be sure of is that there was a tremendous sort of inner absorption for a very long period of time. Because, after all, the Buddha had gained Enlightenment which he had been looking for, for so many years, and at last he was there, so all his energy sort of poured into that, just like a waterfall falling from a tremendous height.’ - Sangharakshita, Seminar on the Udana

“If one can feel oneself as a member of the [Triratna Buddhist Community] working out that myth, that will give one a much truer idea of what is actually happening or what one is actually involved in.  It has to emerge as different people start becoming aware that the Movement is more than it appears to be.  And that will only happen when they start becoming aware that they are more than they appear to be.” - Sangharakshita, Q&A Bodhisattva Ideal, Seminar, Tuscany 1984

‘Words are used not conceptually but symbolically, and their truth is not the scientific truth of the intellect but the poetic truth of the imagination. We are in the realm of the spiritually positive, a world glowing with colour and flashing with light.’ - Sangharakshita, A Survey of Buddhism

“There is something about the movement, the Order and even about me that is not easily definable. There is a touch of something that cannot be buttoned down, something that cannot in the end be defined. Everyone will need to take care of that rather mysterious, indefinable spirit that gives the movement life and energy.”  - Sangharakshita, What is the Western Buddhist Order?

The bodhicitta is much more like a sort of higher power – the power of Enlightenment, if you like – which works through you when you are open and receptive. It’s not ‘yours’ in the ordinary sense – not your thought, your idea, your will. In a sense – though even this can be misunderstood – it’s something that takes you over when you are sufficiently ready for that or sufficiently open to that and which as it were works through you: this is the bodhicitta.” - Sangharakshita, Endlessly Fascinating Cry

‘​​What one can be sure of is that there was a tremendous sort of inner absorption for a very long period of time. Because, after all, the Buddha had gained Enlightenment which he had been looking for, for so many years, and at last he was there, so all his energy sort of poured into that, just like a waterfall falling from a tremendous height.’ - Sangharakshita, Seminar on the Udana