The Newcastle Buddhist Centre

The Buddhist Centre is part of a wider movement called the Triratna Buddhist Community. The Centre is a registered charity and is run by a governing council of trustees drawn from our local Buddhist community. The Centre is legally and financial autonomous from the wider movement and is financed through our activities and the generosity of members of our community. Meditation and Buddhism activities are facilitated by members of the Triratna Buddhist Order, and other experienced members of our community.

We are dedicated to communicating Buddhist truths in ways appropriate to the modern world and we look to address the question of how do we translate ancient practices and make them relevant to the high-tech 21st century? We hope to play a part in creating new and viable Buddhist traditions for the modern world — a contemporary context for timeless teachings.

Our approach is ‘traditional’ in that it is based on the fundamental teachings of the Buddha, but we are also ‘ecumenical’ in that we take inspiration and teachings from the whole of the Buddhist tradition. We look to emphasise the principle that it is commitment to the ideas of Buddhism that defines one as a Buddhist rather that the adoption of a particular lifestyle.

We hope that you will find the activities and events on offer at the Centre inspiring, instructive and helpful in discovering greater peace, fulfilment and happiness in your life.

The 'Friends of the Western Buddhist Order' becomes 'Triratna Buddhist Community'

The Newcastle Buddhist Centre is part of a worldwide Buddhist movement that has been in existence for over 40 years. The movement was founded in the West in the late 60's, by Sangharakshita, and until recently we were known as 'Friends of the Western Buddhist Order'. But as we grew into an international Buddhist movement, the word 'Western' was no longer appropriate and we wanted one name that could be used the world over and that reminds us of our central ideals. For these reasons the movement is now known as Triratna Buddhist Community. 'Triratna' means 'Three Jewels', and refers to the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha - the ideal of Enlightenment, the Path leading to Enlightenment, and the Community of those following the Path respectively. The name reminds us of what is most important in the spiritual life, and what it is we are trying to help bring into the world.

At the heart of the movement is the Order, formally known as the 'Western Buddhist Order'. This is now known as 'Triratna Buddhist Order'.