A Shop as Spiritual Practice

January marked the start of my fourth year of managing and running the Manchester Buddhist Centre shop and reception. I love running the shop, supporting the receptionists who make it all happen and meeting people, some perhaps visiting the Centre for the first time.

Nobody who works in the shop or on reception (including myself) is paid. This means all of the profit from any sales goes straight into helping the work of the Centre.

Having streamlined the number of suppliers, almost all of the shop supplies are now either from other Triratna Buddhist Community businesses, Order Members, or Sangha members – the people who make up our Centre’s community. This means that when you buy from the shop you are not only supporting the Centre but the wider Triratna community as well.

The primary purpose of our shop and reception is to be a warm and welcoming presence at the front of the Centre when visitors first enter. In a sense it’s lots more than a shop. It’s a gateway to what happens here and a gateway to the Dharma and what the Buddha’s teachings can offer the world. It’s a place where people can feel welcomed, and free to ask questions about what goes on here.

I’m really proud of the team of people who work so hard to keep reception open and keep our doorway to the Dharma open.