Womens' Ordination Training Retreat

Starts 23 Feb 2026

From its beginnings in the late 1960's, the Triratna Buddhist Order (initially known as the Western Buddhist Order) has always been open to more people asking and training for ordination. This international training process is coordinated and run by our College of Public Preceptors. Over the years we have developed a dedicated team of public and private preceptors based in Australian and New Zealand who organise this training process, with similar teams in other areas of the world.

Before someone arrives at the decision to ask for ordination, they will have:

• already decided they are a Buddhist and will be openly willing to call themselves as such
• made a formal committment and have an established practise of Buddhist ethics (which is based on metta)
• learned the language that Triratna uses to discuss and explore such things
• and be actively participating in one or another of our local sanghas

After you've tasted the various spiritual traditions of Buddhism available out there, almost every established Buddhist traditions will offer the opportunity to committ yourself to their particular system of practise and ways of understanding the teachings of the Buddha. Triratna is no different. Ordination into the Triratna Buddhist Order happens within the context of our tradition. And before requesting ordination, we therefore like to see someone collaborating and supporting other members of Triratna to help newer people connect to the Dharma through our international web of city centres and retreat facilities.

If you are a mitra already well established in your training for ordination somewhere else in the world, we may be able to accommodate you on one of our Australian or New Zealand ordination training retreats. But even if you are simply visiting New Zealand for a holiday, please feel free to join one of our classes at the Auckand or Wellington Buddhist Centres. Or to come on one of our open retreats, perhaps have a solitary retreat, here at Sudarshanaloka.

• THIS RETREAT IS BY INVITATION ONLY*