Many people come to meditation looking for ways to deal with stress and an overly-busy life. Our meditation courses and classes can certainly help with this but can also offer much more.
We teach two meditation practices. One, the mindfulness of breathing, is a simple practice that helps us to focus on the breath and bring about calmer and clearer states of mind. The other, the development of loving kindness, focuses on our emotional states, helping us to transorm negative emotional patterns and become more positive, kindly and aware of others. Together, these practices can give us powerful tools to help us regain a sense of calm but also initiative in our lives. Although both practices are drawn from the Buddhist tradition, neither of them require you to be a Buddhist to benefit from them and we offer them to Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.
The best way to learn meditation is through a meditation course where you will be helped to find a suitable meditation posture that is appropriate for you and you can be led through our two practices with plenty of time for questions and discussion. If you are unable to attend a course, we also run drop-in meditation classes (on Tuesday evenings and Thursday lunchtimes) where you can get a taste for meditation.
Whilst the essentials of both practices can be learnt in a few weeks, the full benefits will be felt over months and years. Many people who have learnt meditation with us continue to come to the Centre to practice meditation in the very supportive conditions of our shrine room which has a great atmosphere for meditation. It can also be a great help to practice with others and explore the worlds that meditation can open up with like-minded people.
Whilst we strongly recommend the support of face-to-face teaching whilst you are learning meditation, if for any reason you can't attend the Centre, you can attendonline meditation classes via the Wildmind website which also has a good range of free material on meditation.
Dhammapada Verses 1 and 2
"What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow; our life is the creation of our mind. If a person speaks or acts with an impure mind, suffering follows him as the wheel of the cart follows the beast that draws the cart.
What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow; our life is the creation of our mind. If a person speaks or acts with a pure mind, joy follows him as his shadow."
Beginners' Drop-in Meditation Classes
Tuesdays, 7.30 - 10.00pm
For those wishing to learn meditation and find out about Buddhism. Meditation is usually taught and led through in the first half of the evening and, following a tea break, there is often a talk about some aspect of Buddhism with a chance for questions and discussion. There are also groups for those who have already been attending the Centre for a while.
Suggested donation £7/£5. No need to book.
Tuesdays and Thursdays,
1.00 - 2.00pm
For beginners and those wishing to practice with others.
Suggested donation £5 (£3). No need to book.
NEW!!! Monthly Saturday Meditation Mornings
Second Saturday of each
month 10am to 1pm
Starting 9 Jan, then
13 February & 13 Mar.
A chance to spend a bit more time in meditation than we might manage at
home. The morning will consist of sitting and walking meditation. For
beginners not familiar with the mindfulness of breathing and metta bhavana
meditations, there will be instruction given so you can learn the basics. The
Buddhist Centre runs on the principle of generosity. This means there’s no
fixed charge, but please give what you can.
Suggested donation £12 (£8
concession). No booking required. Led by Karunavapi and others
Going Deeper in Meditation Course
Wed 24 Feb – 31 Mar, 7.30 – 10 pm
You've learned
the Mindfulness of Breathing. You've started to get the hang of the Metta
Bhavana. Maybe you've also had a shot at Just Sitting. You're beginning to
realise the astonishing benefits that meditation practice can bring, and you
want to take it further. You want to go deeper. This course is for you.Suitable for anyone who’s learnt the basics
and wants to learn how to take their practice deeper using a radically
traditional take on the Buddha’s teachings as a guide.
For a fuller
outline of what the course will involved, please click here .
Led by
Simhanada with Sally Rawlings &
Peter Andresen.
