FWBO Discussion

Changes in the Western Buddhist Order

Nagabodhi
The FWBO - a Community in Transition  Changes in the FWBO from an experienced Order member and Public Preceptor

Subhuti
Freedom in the Order: Madhyamavani 7: Autumn 2002
The Future of the Order and Movement: Outlining changes in the structures of the WBO and FWBO (Madhyamavani 9, 2003)
Having the Last Word: An enquiry into ‘authority’  in the Order (Spring 2002)

Vishvapani
Growing Pains: an inside view of change in the FWBO 2003-2005. A detailed account of changes in the FWBO at a time he had a central organizing position.  June 2006.  download pdf

Dhammaketu
What is an Order Member? Reflections on the FWBO’s teaching of ‘levels’ of Going for Refuge, and hence on what makes someone ready to become a member of the Order.  Closing with some notes on applying the ‘higher criticism’ to Sangharakshita’s own teaching.

Dayamati

Dayamati’s account of his ‘Clearness Process‘, undergone in the autumn of 2008.  He introduces it thus - “The clearness committee I had this past week was to examine my request to be made of a member of the Albuquerque Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).  My situation was complicated by the fact that I am a Dharmachari in the Western Buddhist Order and that I wish to remain one. This meant that I first had to contact my mentors in the Western Buddhist Order to determine how they would feel about my being a Quaker and whether they would see my becoming a Quaker as a repudiation of Buddhism in general or of the Western Buddhist Order in particular. The principal issue to be explored there was whether I myself experience any kind of conflict between my Buddhist convictions and practices and my Quaker convictions and practice. I do not. Asked whether I can even imagine anything coming up that would feel like a conflict in my mind, I respond that I cannot”.

Robert Ellis (ex-Upeksacitta)
The Way of Trust  A talk given on the Padmaloka Men’s Order Weekend, on 3^rd February 2008, on the theme of trust. What is it? How does it contribute to the spiritual life? How far should it go? I look at appropriate levels of trust in various areas.  This links to the theme of the weekend (which was betrayal), mainly in the sense of considering how to avoid betrayal in the first place.  The talk is based on philosophical reflection and my own experience.

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• _ some facts and figures