About Us

The Dengie Centre began in 2011 by a group of like-minded persons who wished to meditate and study Buddhism meeting on a regular basis. Until July, 2013, the study class had a number of temporary homes.

By mid 2013 it was clear that a growing number of people were interested in meditation. At this time, the premises at Marine House in Mayland came free and in July 2013 became the permanent home of the centre which was called the Dengie Buddhist Meditation Centre.

In the autumn of 2015, The Dengie Buddhist Meditation Centre, joined together with a Buddhist group who originate from the Hockley area to form The Mid Essex Budhhist Centre (MEBC). The Centre belongs to the Triratna Buddhist Community and Order which was formed in 1967 (then known as The Friends of the Western Buddhist Order) when the founder Sangharakshita returned to the UK having spent 20 years studying as a monk in India. Since this time nearly every major city and town in the UK is now home to a Triratna Buddhist Group or Centre. Each Centre is a registered charity in their own right and are financially independent. However, all follow the same Buddhist Triratna principles. It is an international Buddhist Movement with over 60 centres across the 5 continents. There is a particularly large following in India, consisting of the former Untouchables who converted to Buddhism to escape their poverty by birth. As it gained international standing, the original name of Western Buddhist Order no longer felt appropriate and the Movement was re-named Triratna Buddhist Community and Order in 2010.

in February 2017, the MEBC moved to a rented property in the South Woodham Ferrers town centre. Since then the Centre has attracted a growing number of members.

in April 2023, we moved to our current premises in Chelmsford.

In our recent history, we have celebrated dozens of Mitra Ceremonies and many of our Mitras have asked for ordination. 

As an expression of our commitment to the Buddhist precepts, we are committed to ensuring everyone who comes to our centre is safe and those involved in teaching and running the centre always act appropriately and with integrity. To help us achieve this we provide a number of safeguarding and ethical policies explaining our practices.  

For anything relating to safeguarding , contact safeguarding.mebc@protonmail.com

Compliments, concerns and complaints 

Compliments:

We hope that the Buddhist Centre creates a positive context for living a Dharma life. Where you have had a positive experience of the Buddhist Centre, please do contact us to let us know the impact our work has had. Please contact the  Centre Chair on info@mid-essex-buddhist-centre.org.uk to send us a  compliment. 

BUT …. things sometimes go wrong. When they do, it is important to uphold the  ethical principles of the Mid Essex Buddhist Centre and restore harmony between  people. Concerns and complaints can create an opportunity to learn for all those  involved while an attempt is made to find a satisfactory resolution. We take  concerns and complaints seriously.  

What’s the difference between a concern and a complaint? 

From time to time people may have a concern which may not be a complaint. A  concern may be defined as ‘an expression of worry or doubt over an issue  considered to be important for which reassurances are sought’. 

A complaint may be defined as ‘an expression of dissatisfaction, however made,  about actions taken or a lack of action’. 

This policy is designed to address concerns and complaints.  

Conflicts:

Conflicts between people are probably inevitable. They can take the form of a  disagreement or a misunderstanding. They are generally interpersonal arising from  a difference in style, opinion or approach. They can contribute to an ongoing  difficult relationship or relate to an isolated dispute.  

Conflicts can be creative and fruitful. They can also be disruptive and undermining,  causing ongoing distress to an individual, a group of people and even the Buddhist  Centre as a whole. 

Though you are welcome to approach a member of the team for help with a  conflict, the concerns/complaints procedure may not be applicable. 

In this case, there may be other methods to resolve difficulties such as mediation. 

Raising a concern:

Most concerns at the Centre can be resolved directly in discussion with the person  leading the activity or event. The first step is for an individual to attempt to resolve  the problem in dialogue. In some cases, it won’t be clear who to speak to. In this  case, you can contact the Chair, or the Safeguarding Trustee, and  they will suggest the person to address the issue you have raised.  

You can make contact by email on either info@mid-essex-buddhist-centre.org.uk or safeguarding.mebc@protonmail.com

If you can’t resolve the issue directly, please get in touch with either Aryasara or Upekshadhi and we can take the next step. This might involve treating the issue as  a complaint. Our concerns and complaints policy is available on request and we can send a copy to you.  

Please note:

Experience has shown that it is extremely important to share information only with  those who need to know. Much disquiet and harm may result if information  circulates before an issue is explored / investigated. Within the full concerns/ complaints policy, there are ways to ensure people get the support they need while  also being discreet about the issue at hand. 

As an expression of our commitment to the Buddhist precepts of honesty and of not taking the not giving, we are committed to only using the data we hold about the people involved in activities at our centre responsibly, and being clear about the way your information is collected and used. To help us achieve this we provide a privacy policy explaining our practices and the choices you can make.