About Us

Anavajjā (meaning “irreproachable”) first came to the centre in 2003 when she was working with Atulyamati. She was ordained at Akashavana, Triratna's women's Ordination centre in the Spanish mountains, by Atulyamati (her private preceptor) and Punyamala (her public preceptor), on a 3 month Ordination course in 2017 and received the Amitābha Sādhanā practice.

She is on the team for our Lunchtime Drop-In class and also regularly supports the Newcomers Night class.

Outside of the centre, she is a British Wheel of Yoga trained yoga teacher, with a particular interest in teaching Yoga to people living with cancer.

Women's Mitra Convenor

Atulyamati (meaning “incomparable, unequalled, immeasurable mind, determination, and devotion”) grew up in Finland but has lived in the UK for most of her life. She first started coming to classes in 1991, before we had our own centre. She was ordained at Il Convento in Tuscany, Italy on the first ever long Ordination course for women by Anjali (her private preceptor) and Saṅghadevi (her public preceptor) and received the Amoghasiddhi Sādhanā practice. In 2012 she became a private preceptor herself, and performed her first Ordinations in 2014.

She was on the centre's Council for 15 years, including serving as Chair from 2003 to 2010. She is now the Women's Mitra Convenor, responsible the training and spiritual welfare of the women mitras in the saṅgha. She is also on the team for our Newcomers Night and Lunchtime Drop-in Classes.

Trustee

Dhammakumāra (meaning “prince of the Dhamma”) first came to the centre in 2005 when he was just 13 years old. He was ordained in 2017 at Padmaloka Retreat Centre in Norfolk by Srikirti (his private preceptor) and Maitreyabandhu (his public preceptor) and received the Vajrasattva Sādhanā practice.

At 25 years old he is currently the youngest Order member in the world.

He is on the centre's Council and organises the class rotas and events programme for the centre, as well as our website, Facebook page and emails to the centre. He also is on our Newcomers Night Class team, and leads a men's study group.

Trustee

Guṇasāra (meaning “the essence of spiritual quality”) first came to the centre in 1993. He was ordained at Guhyaloka, Triratna's men's Ordination centre in the Spanish mountains, by Ashvajit (his private preceptor) and Surata (his public preceptor) in 2001 and received the Green Tara Sādhanā practice.

He currently serves on the centre's Council as Secretary and is also the centre's Health & Safety and Safeguarding Officer. He also regularly runs series on Saṅgha Night.

In the wider movement, he is involved in organising and leading the Buddhafield East camping retreats in Suffolk.

Outside of the centre, Guṇasāra previously spent 18 years working for Windhorse:Evolution Right Livelihood business in both the Ipswich and Colchester branches of Evolution. Since Evolution's closure he works both as a counsellor and in a local law firm.

Men's Mitra Convenor

Kṣāntivajra (meaning “he who is a diamond of patience, tolerance and spiritual receptivity”) first came to the centre in 2000. He was ordained in 2008 at our old building on Manor Road by Satyaraja (his private preceptor) and Mahamati (his public preceptor) and received the Padmasambhava Sādhanā practice.

He is currently the Men's Mitra Convenor, responsible the training and spiritual welfare of the men mitras in the saṅgha. He regularly runs series on Saṅgha Night, as well as leading some special events (especially our annual Padmasambhava Day) and retreats. He is also responsible for fire safety at the centre.

In the wider movement, he is a Trustee of the The Mid-Essex Buddhist Centre where he also serves as Men's Mitra Convenor.

Trustee

Sīlanātha (meaning “protector of ethics”) first started coming to the centre in 2004. He was ordained at Guhyaloka, Triratna's men's Ordination centre in the Spanish mountains, by Dharmadipa (his private preceptor) and Satyaraja (his public preceptor) on a 4 month Ordination course in 2011 and received the Shakyamuni Sādhanā practice.

He currently serves on the centre's Council as Treasurer, responsible for bookkeeping, invoicing, payments, and HMRC and Charity Commission compliance and returns. He also created and is on the team for our class in Clacton-on-Sea, as well as the team for our Lunchtime Drop-In class. He also regularly supports the Newcomers Night class and runs series on Saṅgha Night.

Sīlanātha is now retired from full time work and spends most of his time working at the centre in various capacities. He was instrumental in the move from our old building, managing the project and doing much of the work himself.

Śrīkīrtī (meaning “good reputation”) first started coming to classes in 1994, before we had our own centre. He was ordained at Padmaloka Retreat Centre in Norfolk in 2003 by Ashvajit (his private preceptor) and Surata (his public preceptor) and received the Akṣobhya Sādhanā practice, although he tends to do the Shakyamuni and Vajrasattva practices nowadays. In 2015 he became a private preceptor himself.

He was previously the men's mitra convenor and a Trustee but has recently handed over these responsibilities. Nowadays, he is on the team for our Newcomers Night class and supports other classes, as well as supporting the men training for ordination.

Sthiranāga (meaning “the most faithful and true”) attended his first Buddhist Retreat in 1984 when he went to the Padmaloka Retreat Centre in Norfolk. Although this started a regular meditation practice he did not join the Order until 2016 when he was ordained at Guyhaloka, Triratna's men's Ordination centre in the Spanish mountains, by Bodhivamsa (his private preceptor) and Arthapriya (his public preceptor) on a 4 month Ordination course and received the Akṣobhya Sādhanā practice.

He is on the team for our Dharma Morning class, and leads both the Newcomers Course and is on the team for the Saṅgha Night in Clacton-on-Sea.

In the wider movement, he is a Trustee of Padmaloka Retreat Centre where he first discovered Buddhism, and also regularly teaches at the Mid-Essex Buddhist Centre.

Trustee

Sujayinī (meaning “excellent victorious woman”) first started coming to the centre in 1999. She was ordained at Akashavana, Triratna's women's Ordination centre in the Spanish mountains, by Kalyanasri (her private preceptor) and Maitreyi (her public preceptor), in 2010 and received the Akṣobhya Sādhanā practice.

She is on the centre's Council, runs our Newcomers Course and a women's mitra study group, and also supports the Young People's Group at the Centre.

In the wider movement, Sujayinī is involved in organising and leading the Buddhafield East camping retreats in Suffolk.