Wednesday Dharma Night in person only
The evening takes place in two halves. In the first half, we will introduce an aspect of Buddhism with an opportunity for discussion. After a short tea break, we explore one of two Buddhist meditations.
We offer two streams of teaching (see our Programme below):
- for newcomers to Buddhism, we offer a 14 week rolling Introduction Course plus led meditations. You can join the course on any week and can go round it as many times as you like.
- for more experienced regulars, in a separate room, we offer teaching and discussion on an aspect of Buddhism plus meditations with little or no leading.
Classes are free but your donations are greatly appreciated. Make an online donation here
Meditation
We teach two Buddhist meditation practices: Mindfulness of Breathing, for developing awareness, integration and clarity of mind; and Mettā Bhāvanā (“development of loving kindness”), which brings about a gentle but radical transformation of our emotional world. Each week we alternate between the two practices.
Talks
We introduce traditional teachings of the Buddha in a way that is accessible and practical to everyday life in the modern world. The format is usually a talk, sometimes followed by breaking into smaller groups for discussion.
Programme
7 May — 19 November: Eight Verses for Training the Mind
| Date | Meditation | Topic: Regulars | Topic: Newcomers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May | Mettā Bhāvanā | Eight verses for training the mind. Week 4. Please book online for this 8 week course. - Kṣāntivajra | Wisdom 4 – Karma and rebirth - Āryasāra |
| 14 May | Mindfulness of Breathing | Eight verses for training the mind. Week 5. Please book online for this 8 week course. - Kṣāntivajra | Introduction to Buddhism and Triratna - Nandaketu |
| 21 May | Mettā Bhāvanā | Eight verses for training the mind. Week 6. Please book online for this 8 week course. - Kṣāntivajra | Going for refuge to the three jewels - Dharmavartin |
| 28 May | Mindfulness of Breathing | Eight verses for training the mind. Week 7. Please book online for this 8 week course. - Kṣāntivajra | Ethics 1 – Non harm - Āryasāra |
| 4 June | Mettā Bhāvanā | Eight verses for training the mind. Week 8. Please book online for this 8 week course. - Kṣāntivajra | Ethics 2 – Generosity - Dharmavartin |
| 11 June | Mindfulness of Breathing | Tibetan Book of the Dead - Introduction - Vanarājī | Ethics 3 – Contentment - |
| 18 June | Mettā Bhāvanā | Tibetan Book of the Dead - The Bardo of Life - Vanarājī | Ethics 4 – Wholesome speech - |
| 25 June | Mindfulness of Breathing | Tibetan Book of the Dead - The Bardo of Dreams - Padmavajra | Ethics 5 – Mindfulness - |
| 2 July | Mettā Bhāvanā | Tibetan Book of the Dead - The Bardo of Dhyana - Kṣāntivajra | Meditation 1 – The System of Practice - |
| 9 July | Mindfulness of Breathing | Tibetan Book of the Dead - The Bardo of Death - Nandaketu | Meditation 2 – Balanced effort - |
| 16 July | Mettā Bhāvanā | Tibetan Book of the Dead - The Bardo of Reality - Kṣāntivajra | Meditation 3 – The Hindrances - |
| 23 July | Mindfulness of Breathing | Tibetan Book of the Dead - The Bardo of Rebirth - Saraka | Wisdom 1 – Conditionality - |
| 30 July | Mettā Bhāvanā | Tibetan Book of the Dead - Film Night + Q&A - Vanarājī, Kṣāntivajra, Nandaketu | Wisdom 2 – The Four Noble Truths - |
| 6 August | Mindfulness of Breathing | Practice Evening - Dharmavartin | Wisdom 3 – The Lakshanas - |
| 13 August | Mettā Bhāvanā | Practice Evening - Katrina | Wisdom 4 – Karma and rebirth - |
| 20 August | Mindfulness of Breathing | Practice Evening - Āryasāra | Introduction to Buddhism and Triratna - |
| 27 August | Mettā Bhāvanā | Practice - 108 Year Puja - Abhayavāṇī & Śraddhādāsa | Going for refuge to the three jewels - |
| 3 September | Mindfulness of Breathing | Ethics 1 – Non harm - | |
| 10 September | Mettā Bhāvanā | Ethics 2 – Generosity - | |
| 17 September | Mindfulness of Breathing | Ethics 3 – Contentment - | |
| 24 September | Mettā Bhāvanā | Ethics 4 – Wholesome speech - | |
| 1 October | Mindfulness of Breathing | Ethics 5 – Mindfulness - | |
| 8 October | Mettā Bhāvanā | Meditation 1 – The System of Practice - | |
| 15 October | Mindfulness of Breathing | Meditation 2 – Balanced effort - | |
| 22 October | Mettā Bhāvanā | Meditation 3 – The Hindrances - | |
| 29 October | Mindfulness of Breathing | Wisdom 1 – Conditionality - | |
| 5 November | Mettā Bhāvanā | Wisdom 2 – The Four Noble Truths - | |
| 12 November | Mindfulness of Breathing | Wisdom 3 – The Lakshanas - | |
| 19 November | Mettā Bhāvanā | Wisdom 4 – Karma and rebirth - |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a Buddhist?
No, the class is suitable for everyone who wants to meditate or learn about Buddhism.
What should I wear?
There are no special requirements, just whatever is comfortable to sit in.
Do I need to book?
No - just turn up!
Is it okay to join in the middle of the series?
Absolutely. Though of course you'll get those most out of the class by attending the whole series, there's no need to wait until the start of the next series if you want to start coming.
Can I just come for the meditation?
Of course, though the meditation we teach is itself a Buddhist teaching.
How much does the class cost?
We don't charge for our classes, and the team are not paid for their time. We simply ask that those who are able to do so make a donation to the centre to help us cover our running costs.
The suggested amount, based on how many people come and how much it costs to run the centre, would be what you would pay for say a Yoga class, but this is not a fixed cost and everyone is equally welcome, even if you cannot give anything at all.