WELCOME
 Thank you for visiting the website of the Triratna Buddhists of Johannesburg, South Africa.
SHANTIKULA
PLEASE VISIT SHANTIKULA
UPCOMING COURSES/EVENTS
SHANTIKULA
Located in the leafy suburb of Emmarentia, Johannesburg, our Buddhism and Meditation Centre has been named Shantikula, which derives from Sanskrit, a classical Indian language thousands of years old. We translate Shantikula as Peaceful Tribe. Shanti means peace, and Kula is a Sanskrit term meaning grouping together or woven together, so its main connotation is that of an intentional community, a community of the heart, a group coming together of its own free well. It also has the connotations of brother/sisterhood, human body, house, abode, sanctuary, school, family, clan, or tribe. In the Triratna tradition a place of practice has often been named as a Loka, which means realm (for example Padmaloka - Realm of the Lotus), but we have chosen to stress more the Sangha or community aspect of our centre, and to seek a name which has a particular African resonance and vision. So that is why we translate Shantikula simply as Peaceful Tribe.
You may also notice from the photos on this page and on other pages of our website, that on our main shrine we have a large figure of the Buddha as an African man. As Triratna Buddhists we seek to follow the Buddha’s teachings in ways appropriate to how we live our lives today, and which take account of cultural, social, economic, and many other conditions which affect our lives. So it is important to us that we reflect on and work towards the arising of a genuinely African Buddhism which responds to and resonates with these conditions.
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PLEASE VISIT SHANTIKULA
Don’t just visit our website. If you live in or are visiting Johannesburg, please visit us at Shantikula, which is situated in Emmarentia very close to the dam and the Botanic Gardens.
We are open Mondays for regular classes. Feel free to drop in. Meditation on Monday evenings' starts at 19h00 – beginners or experienced meditators are welcome. Details on classes and events are available in our programme.
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THE FIVE POSITIVE PRECEPTS
With deeds of loving kindness, I purify my body.
With open-handed generosity, I purify my body.
With stillness, simplicity and contentment, I purify my body.
With truthful communication, I purify my speech.
With mindfulness clear and radiant, I purify my mind.
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