Study & Practice Groups

Usually composed of 5 to 8 people, these groups are dedicated to the cultivation of spiritual friendship and deepening our exploration and embodiment of the Dharma. Groups are lightly facilitated but are autonomous in deciding together the theme and focus of their sessions, as well as group norms.

There are different types of groups, which meet in person or on-line.

• Study Groups: these tend to focus more on study, following the Triratna four-year mitra course. One does not need to be a mitra to join a study group.

• Practice Groups: the are more focused on everyday, lived experience of practice. They might choose to share life stories, focus on meditation, ritual or a particular text — depending on the desire and needs of the group.

• Going for Refuge Groups: these are composed of mitras who are training for ordination. Sometimes these are peer groups, but on occasion Order Members are also part of these groups. These are like Practice Groups, but with an additional emphasis on the training process and confession practices.

• Chapters: most Order members are part of an Order Chapter, and sometimes more than one.

How can I join a Group?

If you have an interest in joining a group, we encourage you to discuss this with a local Order Member. Typically people join a practice group after some degree of experience and familiarity with meditation and Buddhism, as well as with Triratna more specifically. If you are new to us, we suggest you first join us for a course, a drop-in, and if possible a retreat. After a few weeks or months you will be better able to decide if you wish to take a deeper dive, and to consult with a local Order Member about which group might be most suitable for you.

We warmly welcome outlying mitras in the Americas network to join us. For now, all groups are facilitated in English, but there are French and Spanish speakers among us.