This season we will explore the Just Sitting practice. This meditation corresponds to the aspect of receptivity within the Triratna system of practice.
We will be looking at opening to our experience ‘as it is’. What can be discovered about the nature of mind and awareness and what does it mean to ‘simply be with what is’? How can we learn to look beyond the aspects of mind that inhibit this simple seeing?
The series will explore the theme through short introductions, experiential exercises and led meditations. The class also offers an opportunity to share and reflect on our meditation experience through an open format ‘conversation’ after the meditation.
Open to those who have completed the intro courses and are familiar with Triratna’s basic meditation practices. Get in touch if you need to discuss.
More information and Zoom link available on our ‘events’ page.
Sangha Night is our regular get-together for members of the Bristol sangha. Each evening includes a mixture of meditation, teaching and discussion suitable for anyone who has completed an introductory course.
On Sangha Night, we cover various topics in the form of short courses or series.
Welcome back: NEW SHORT COURSE. January 7thfor 4 weeks
The Sangha Night team begin 2025 by looking to bring optimism, hope and even joy to what can be a difficult time of year by drawing on Vessantara’s ’20 Suggestions for Dealing with Overwhelm’ .
“We are living in what the old Chinese curse would call ‘interesting times’. Climate change, species extinction, terrorism, the refugee crisis, drought, flood, famine, populist movements, radical changes to the established world order – make your own list. For Buddhists, hiding our heads in the sand and ignoring it all isn’t really an option.” – Vessantara
1. Be aware of how much you take in of what is disturbing. 2. Do whatever you need to help you stay resourced and balanced. 3. Be mindful on social media. 4. Make sure you stay well grounded. 5. Look out for the near enemies of compassion. 6. Watch out for irrational guilt. 7. Hold in your heart the wish for suffering to come to an end. 8. Let your heart ‘break’. 9. Work in your sphere of influence. 10. Empathise with the perpetrators as well as the victims. 11. Work on the inner as well as the outer level. 12. Entrust the situation to deeper forces. 13. Check your expectations about life, in the light of the Dharma. 14. Do your best to let go of hopes and fears about outcomes. 15. Use the ‘wishing-prayer that dispels hope and fear’. 16. Equanimity comes from reflecting that everyone has their own karma. 17. Think ‘one at a time’. 18. Use short pieces of Dharma to help anchor you. 19. Being part of a community, and having spiritual friends, is crucial. 20. The ultimate solution to overwhelm is awareness of emptiness.
The year will also be peppered through with individual evenings on the theme of Living the Dharma Life. In our movement we live our Dharma lives in a wide variety of ways – in families, communities, work, study, the creative arts, activism, in solitude, in our Centres and organisations – to name only some. Through the year we will be inviting people to come and share with us these rich and varied experiences.
All our classes are run on donations which means everyone, regardless of income, can learn about Buddhism and meditation. To keep this revolutionary approach going, please do give what you can!
If you’d like to catch up with what’s been happening at Sangha Night, subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest recordings, or our Listen Again pages for material from 2020 and before.
Community is often missing, or weak, within the dominant individualist culture of the UK. The lone wolf is seen as strong.
But among community is where we can grow stronger throughout our lives. With deep roots and lofty heights. We can only get so far on our own. Being in connection with others gives us opportunity to learn.
“When we practice in the spiritual community, there are more people to support us but also more opportunities for frustration and anger.
Loving speech and deep listening are key to community building” – Thich Nhat Hanh
A evening of lived experiences will be shared. And the deep potential of the community is waiting to be unveiled…
Join us!!! In person at the centre (in the warm!)
Keep updated through the What’sApp group about events and socials (come along and ask to be added)
Our centre runs on generosity, so there is no charge, but if you are able to donate to help keep us running, you can do that here.
First Friday of the month. You can join us any time from 7.15 pm onwards if you’d like to say ‘hello’. We’ll start at 7.30 and run until 9pm.
About these sessions: We run monthly meditation and Buddhism evenings for those between 18 and 35. We also do walks and meet ups too. The events are set up by the Bristol Young Buddhists team and supported by an experienced Buddhist pracitioner.There is a mix of meditation and talks, along with a chance to chat about yourself and your life.
This space is about making friends, growing our community, practicing meditation together and learning about Buddhism. The aim is to make Buddhism relevant to our everyday lives. So if there’s anything you want to hear about then do let us know!
The team comprises of Hannah and Esme, with Will helping on the socials. We would love to see you!
‘Sensitive to the whole body’ is one of the Buddha’s ‘pith instructions’. What might it mean to us? How can we become more sensitive to the life of our body and breath? In this class we explore this question.
Sundays 9:30-10:30am with Advayamati | Open to all | Hybrid (in person & online)
UPDATE! Starting from 3rd October
In person at the centre. Book your place by finding the event on our ‘events’ page and signing up!
Body-dharma yoga is a ‘still flowing’ form of Hatha yoga that incorporates Vinyasa flow, Scaravelli inspiration, somatic approach with a ‘practical’ mindfulness. These aid the integration of mind, body and spirit using the yoga of curiosity and letting go.
Trained yoga teacher Advayamati brings his experience of many years practice, leading workshops and retreats that combine shiatsu and energy work with teaching Buddhism and embodied mindfulness.
“… as one never quite knows a mountain, nor oneself in relation to it. Knowing another is endless … the thing to be known grows with knowing.”
Nan Shepherd (The Living Mountain)
In this group we will be exploring our connection with nature and how it can support us and our practice. We are invited to bring an item…a picture? a stone? a leaf perhaps?… which symbolises this connection to offer to the shrine.
In person at the centre – find on our events page and book yourself a space!
Sunday 10th October | 5:30 – 7pm
The Lotus that Blooms in the Fire: finding equanimity in a burning world ‘…The lotus that blooms from the midst of flames becomes all the more beautiful and fragrant the nearer the fire rages.’ (Zen Master Hakuin, from ‘The Life of Activity compared with the Life of Calm’) What greater challenge to our practice could there be but the climate emergency, this threat to all life on our planet? How can our practice become a gift to this burning world? In this session we’ll explore a number of different tools for cultivating equanimity: a state where the heart is both wide open to all that is arising, and at peace.
Future full moon pujas are in discussion! Watch this space…
Buddhism requires you to practice with the whole of yourself. Not just the mind in meditation. Your body and emotions are brought into play to really embody your practice and transform your world.
Traditionally rituals (pujas) are held on the full moon.
We welcome everyone to our classes. Some people of African, Asian, mixed heritage or other non-white identifications may find these particular classes at the London Buddhist Centre and The Buddhist Centre Online supportive alongside our Bristol classes:
