About Us

Wellington Buddhist Centre is a friendly, welcomlng and diverse community of practising Buddhists of all ages.

Our Te Reo tagline ‘Maranga mai ki te Māramatanga’ exhorts us to rise up and aspire to enlightened wisdom and compassion. To do this we teach meditation and Buddhism in a way that is relevant and accessible to modern Wellingtonians. Though Buddhism is old, it's teachings are timeless, and we present ways of living a Buddhist life today. 

Our weekly meditation and Buddhism classes are open to all, tailored to different levels of experience; including regulars and newcomers, with one evening for younger people. All newcomers classes are drop-in and no previous experience is expected.

Wellington Buddhist Centre provides a pathway from absolute beginner to experienced Buddhist practitioner. It does this by providing supportive conditions to learn, deepen and refresh your practice of ethics, meditation and wisdom. 

We also celebrate Buddhist festival days and run workshops as well as day and weekend retreats.

Triratna Buddhist Community 

Wellington Buddhist Centre is part of the Triratna Buddhist Community, a global network dedicated to practicing the Buddha’s teachings in today’s world. 

This was established in 1967 by Urgyen Sangharakshita - initially known as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order.

Triratna is a Sanskrit term meaning ‘Three Jewels’: the Buddha, Dharma (the Buddha’s teachings) and Sangha (the community of all those who follow the teachings). Triratna’s distinctive approach has allowed Buddhism to reach various cultures worldwide.

The Triratna Buddhist Order is central to this community. Unlike traditional set ups it does not emphasise the difference between monastic or lay lifestyle. Instead the Order members embody a straightforward commitment to Buddhism. 

Order members aim to live according to the Buddha’s teachings of Wisdom and Compassion, emphasising these values in their lives regardless of their individual circumstances.

Our founder, Sangharakshita

Sangharakshita, born Dennis Lingwood in 1925 in South London, was a prominent Buddhist practitioner and teacher. Initially self-educated with an interest in Eastern philosophies, he identified as a Buddhist at sixteen.

 During World War II, he was stationed as a conscript in India. He stayed on after the war to become the Buddhist monk Sangharakshita. He studied for many years under leading teachers from the major Buddhist traditions in India, and went on to teach and write extensively. 

Sangharakshita also played a significant part in the revival of Buddhism in India, particularly through his work among followers of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

After twenty years in India, he returned to England to establish the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (now Triratna).

Sangharakshita was a translator between East and West, between the traditional world and the modern, between principles and practices, his depth of experience and clear thinking have been appreciated throughout the world. 

He has always particularly emphasised the decisive significance of commitment in the spiritual life, the paramount value of spiritual friendship and community, the link between religion and art and the need for a 'new society' supportive of spiritual aspirations and ideals. 

During the course of his life, Sangharakshita published over 70 books. They include Dharma teachings and commentaries, poetry, memoirs, essays, letters and biography. 

He dedicated his life spreading the Buddha’s teachings and building a community that embraces these teachings.

Sangharakshita passed away in 2018.

A Controversial figure?

For some, Sangharakshita is a controversial figure and the experimentation involved in creating a radical new Buddhist tradition included aspects that were later abandoned. 

In particular, there was a period in which he had sexual relationships with a number of his male disciples, something that has been subject of much discussion in recent years and culminated in a thorough investigation and a report by senior members of the Order.

Nowadays Triratna is very clear that sexual relationships should not occur between teachers and students. Across the movement we have introduced a number of measures, including Safeguarding policies to protect those who come to our centres. Internationally, a great deal of effort has gone into an independent restorative process.

In Wellington, we take the safety and well-being of visitors and community members seriously. If you have any concerns about behaviour at the Wellington Buddhist Centre or on retreat with us, please contact our Safeguarding Officer