About Us
At the Buddhistisches Tor Berlin, we teach meditation and Buddhism through weekly events and courses, using a modern approach tailored to life in a big city like Berlin. At the heart of the center is a vibrant community dedicated to making Buddhist ideals and values central to their lives. The core of this community consists of members of the international Triratna Buddhist Order, who organize the center and lead our events. In addition to introductory events, we offer retreats in Strodehne, study groups, public talks, concerts, festivals, and much more. Our activities are open to anyone curious about meditation or Buddhism. In the "Program" section, you can find details of our meditation sessions, which are particularly well-suited for newcomers.
Team
Amalagarbha
Amogharatna
Arthaketu
Aryabandhu
Dharmapriya
Dharmasara
Leitungsteam
Dhiradevi
Leitungsteam
Gunavira
Karunabandhu
Karunada
Lalitaratna
Margasiddhi
Moksadaya
Moksarati
Mokshasiddha
Mokshini
Padmasagara
Saddhadevi
Sanghadarsini
Mitra-ConvenorinLeitungsteam
Simharava
Sraddhabandhu
Sunayaka
Suryajina
Tarapalita
Mitra-ConvenorLeitungsteam
Viryadhi
Viryapadma
Our Values
How is Buddhistisches Tor organised?
Buddhistisches Tor Berlin is operated by the non-profit association Buddhistische Gemeinschaft Triratna Berlin e.V. This association is legally and financially independent and runs Buddhistisches Tor in accordance with the objectives set out in its statutes. The association’s members currently comprise all 26 Berlin-based Order members, who are listed under the “Team” section. Association members elect a board of directors annually. The board currently consists of Dharmasara (Chair), Sanghadarsini (Vice-Chair), Simharava (Treasurer), and Dhiradevi (Extended Board Member). The center is managed by the leadership team, which consists of Dharmasara, Sanghadarsini, Dhiradevi, and Tarapalita. The leadership team meets weekly to handle program planning (including retreats), office administration, finances, marketing, and the maintenance of the center. Decisions are made based on the principle of consensus. The “Tor Team” meets once a month. Membership in the Tor Team is open to all 26 association members. The team serves primarily to facilitate the exchange of information among association members and to support the leadership team and the board; it also acts as a decision-making body for major issues (such as significant expenditures or personnel matters). Here, too, decisions are reached through consensus.
These ethical guidelines are intended to provide orientation for Order members and other experienced members of the Triratna Buddhist Community, and to make transparent to everyone the principles guiding how we wish to interact with less experienced individuals at the Buddhistisches Tor Berlin. These guidelines are based on the Buddha’s five ethical precepts, which are widely known throughout the Buddhist world. The precepts can be applied to all areas of human behavior. The ethical guidelines of the Buddhistisches Tor Berlin offer a general principle for each precept, along with one or two specific applications.
Mental Health and Meditation
Please note that the practice of meditation requires general psychological stability. If you are currently undergoing—or have recently undergone—psychiatric or psychological treatment, or if you have a psychiatric diagnosis, you should not participate in meditation events without first consulting your doctor. If you are unsure or have any questions regarding this, please feel free to contact us at info@buddhistisches-tor-berlin.de.
We are part of a larger network—the Triratna Buddhist Community, which originated in England—that is active in 16 European countries and operates over 200 centers worldwide. If you would like to learn more about the Triratna community, you can find information here:
Triratna Buddhist Community (English)
Buddhistische Gemeinschaft Triratna (German)
If you would like to read more about our Order’s founder, Urgyen Sangharakshita, here are some inspiring pages about him:
Sangharakshita Memorial Space Throughout Triratna’s history
There has been criticism directed at Sangharakshita, individual Order members, and the Order itself.
You can find lists, statements, and reports here: