TRIRATNA BARCELONA: A FLOURISHING COMMUNITY IN NEED OF SUPPORT
Triratna Barcelona, a vibrant Buddhist community in Catalonia, has been a space for exploring the Dharma and practicing Buddhism for over 13 years.

Founded as an outreach project by the Valencia Buddhist Center, we have steadily grown. Rijumati and Sinhendra arrived in 2011. A year later, Sugarbha, Siddhisvari, Amalasiri, and Nagesvara moved to complete the initial core team and worked to acquire their own center in 2017.

Our mission remains constant: to foster a thriving Sangha (Buddhist community) in Barcelona, maintaining Sangharakshita’s unique approach and Triratna Buddhism in the modern world.

We offer regular courses, classes, and retreats in Spanish, Catalan, and English, fostering a diverse and committed community. Weekend and short retreats are a pillar of our practice, attracting up to 25 participants per retreat.

We have also seen exciting growth, with the ordination of two Catalan men in the last two years and the upcoming ordination of our first woman this year.

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, FINANCIAL CHALLENGE
While our Sangha is strong and our Order is in harmony, we face a significant financial challenge. The £100,000 loan we took out in 2016 to help buy and renovate our center has become a burden due to rising interest rates.

This hampers our ability to fulfill our vision and meet the growing need for a supportive Buddhist community in Barcelona.

At that time, before Brexit, exchange rates and interest rates were favorable, and the monthly payments were within our budget. This loan is due to mature in early 2026, and since then, interest rates have quadrupled from 1.5% to 6% (the loan is tied to the Bank of England base rate).

This means we are struggling to repay the loan within our monthly budget. For example, we currently owe £81,395.02, but at the current repayment rate and given the increased interest rates, we will owe even more money by the loan’s final repayment date, £83,771.51.

SUGARBHA’S DEDICATION, OUR URGENT NEED
Sugarbha, a former well-paid sales manager, left his job 4 years ago to dedicate more time to the Buddhist Center. He exemplifies our team’s dedication. He serves as Mitras Coordinator and Center Manager, yet we can only pay him an hourly stipend of €7.

He is our first long-term supported Order member, and his 30 hours of weekly work have been crucial in helping the Sangha grow since he started working for the center. This highlights the impact a fully supported team could have.

ACHIEVING OUR GOAL
Reaching Barcelona To secure our future and expand our activities, our goal is to raise €120,000. These funds will allow us to:

• Pay off the Windhorse Trust loan in full: This will save us significant money in interest and free up resources for vital activities.
• Fully support Sugarbha: He deserves fair support for his work.
• Create a part-time administrator position: This will free up Sugarbha to be more effective.
• Offer support for a chairman position: Attracting a suitable chairman is crucial for our long-term stability.
• Carry out major repairs to our Buddhist Center.

WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS
By supporting Triratna Barcelona, you invest in:

• A thriving Sangha: We offer a unique path to a meaningful Buddhist life in a major European city.
• A secure Triratna Buddhist Center in Barcelona: Ensuring the accessibility of the Buddha’s teachings and Sangharakshita’s approach in Barcelona for future generations.
• A meaningful future: We provide a comprehensive approach to Dharma practice and a supportive community in a challenging world.

Our Sangha is excited about this initiative. Although we are a core of 8 Order members and 25 Mitras, we hope to raise at least 15% locally. We seek the remaining amount from the global Triratna Community.

Every contribution makes a difference. Together, let’s reach our goal of €120,000 and ensure that Triratna remains a beacon of the Dharma in Barcelona for generations to come.