Page 2 – Bristol Buddhist Centre

Body-Dharma (mindful yoga) | Sun 9:30am

Posted on April 3, 2019September 21, 2021 by Clare Shah

‘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!

(TBC if this is to be an online hybrid event too. (Join us via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83787627639)

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.

No events found

Sangha Circle | Sun 7:30pm

Posted on April 9, 2020September 14, 2021 by Esme

Sunday evenings | 7:30 – 9pm

Held as a mixture of online meetings and in person at the Centre.
First meeting in person at the Centre is 12th September, then 10th October, 7th November and 5th December.
All other Sundays are online meetings 7.30 – 9pm. See events page for details.

In the spirit of wanting to reach out and meet you, Bhadra and Dharmamrta invite you into a facilitated circle every Sunday evening. We hope you will find this meeting resourcing through simply being with the Sangha. We will start with a short guided meditation to make contact with our felt experience, to tune into what is really alive within us. From there, we will be invited to simply be and listen, or to talk from that aliveness, to be heard and be seen. Everyone is welcome whether you feel you are new or experienced in relation to the precious jewel of Sangha. Building Sangha (community) is an important emphasis of our lineage of Buddhism.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86462849963

Padmasambhava Day | 12 Sept

Posted on August 19, 2021September 1, 2021 by Esme

Sunday 12th September | 11am – 5pm | hybrid event

Termas, Bardos and Transformation:

Padmasambhava and the realm of the in between

As we return hesitantly or enthusiastically from our enforced retreat… what do we carry from that experience? A day of Talk, vision quest and ritual celebrating the magical exemplar, Padmasambhava and the in between realm.

To book an in person place email Esme on info@bristol-buddhist-centre.org by 4pm on Friday 10th.

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86046297139

Eco-Crisis Practice Group | 19 Sept

Posted on August 18, 2020September 16, 2021 by Esme

Sunday 19th September | 5.30 – 7pm

“… 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.

Dates: 19 Sept, 10 Oct, 7 Nov, 12 Dec

A Buddhist Response to Climate Change | 21 Sept

Posted on August 17, 2021August 17, 2021 by Esme

Tue 21st | 7:30pm

How do we process our responses to the climate and ecological emergency and find ways to live and work with the reality of climate change by using Buddhist teachings?

The evening will be led by Shantigarbha, Buddhist meditator and activist, following on from the publication of his book The Burning House – A Buddhist Response to the Climate and Ecological Emergency. The evening will be workshop-based with input, exercises and reflections.

Join us online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85439719858

Courses

Posted on June 19, 2020December 6, 2023 by Esme

Buddhism and Meditation Courses, Retreats and Events

Finding Freedom in a Restricted World

Introductory Course

Monday evenings 7:30-9:30pm | 15th Jan – 19th Feb | for 6 weeks

Followed by another 6 weeks to take things deeper | Starts 26th Feb

Uncover genuine ease, contentment and meaning in life through exploring profound yet simple teachings. Come together with others to learn, discuss and discover the means to uncover how to become the change you want to see.

Each session will be partly introducing meditation and partly about the Buddhist context, that helps meditation to be a real power for change. There will be input from the experienced teaching team plus an opportunity for small group discussion. Each week we will email you material to follow up the session and to take your understanding and experience deeper.

No set charge but we ask for you to donate within your means to keep us sharing meditation and Buddhism with the people of Bristol.

This is an in person event at the Bristol Buddhist Centre, 162 Glos Rd, BS7 8NT

Email us to register: maureen@bristol-buddhist-centre.org (and please let us know if you need to cancel – this means we can give the space to someone else. Thank you.)

Crucible of Communication | 25/26 Sept

Posted on August 17, 2021September 14, 2021 by Esme

Saturday 1pm – 5.30pm
Sunday 11am – 5pm

At last! Another opportunity to take part in the practice of the Crucible of Communication. This ‘in person’ event in the Centre can be seen as a facilitated meditation practice attending to both internal and external experience. Just like meditation, it is an opportunity to gain some insight into the shape and texture of our thoughts and habits as they appear, especially how they affect how we relate to ourselves and others.

We start by laying out some reference points or Dharma maps with which to orientate ourselves. Then, after some warm-up exercises, helping us come into relationship with each, we sit in the facilitated circle and become sensitive to what arises within and amongst us, choosing for ourselves what to share and what to simply hold in awareness; a simple and sometimes profound communication practice that allows us all to work at our own pace.

With Bhadra and Dharmamrta.

You need to have completed the introductory course and be able to attend both days to book onto this event.

Go to our events page and book your space!

“A remarkable space – to explore absolutely live the intricacies and conditioning we bring to communication, in the moment of that communication. The sessions are held in a Dharmic context and with Sangha, both of which feel important to me. Bhadra brings a depth of commitment, experience and a raw honesty to this model of group process that is very inspiring.” A.B.

Going Deeper in Meditation | 9 Oct

Posted on April 6, 2020September 14, 2021 by Esme

Restarting on 9th October | NEW TIME! 2-5 pm | in person only event

Suitable for those with 3+ years of practice experience within Triratna.

Walking Wisdom

Another immersion in the spiritual faculty of Prajna (wisdom or insight), this time explored particularly through walking meditation. The freedom of Shunyata, or Ungraspability, can be touched in any moment of experience. We’ll be looking deeply at the experience of walking, to see its open, ungraspable nature.

Dates for 2021: 9 Oct, 13 Nov, 11 Dec

Material from 2021 classes:

9 Jan: Towards Embodied Faith in the Buddha’s and our own Awakening

13 Feb: Samadhi

13 March: Disentangling from concepts

10 April: Mindfulness as Sati Appamada Sampajanna

handout

Talk

Led Meditation

8 May: Metta companionable presence, intimate sensitivity, and sympathetic understanding

handout

Talk

Led Meditation

12 June: Welcoming All as Self: the wisdom of Mamaki

Talk

Led Meditation

10 July: Metta and Insight

Handout

Talk

Led Meditation

Explore material from previous years here

Full Moon Pujas

Posted on April 6, 2020September 23, 2021 by Esme

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.

Upcoming Events

No events found

Ethnicity & Race Inclusivity

Posted on August 19, 2020May 6, 2022 by Esme

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:

London Buddhist Centre Sundays 4 – 5.30pm via zoom

Welcoming Liberation – Last Saturday of the month

Watch/listen to Advayamati’s reflections on Black Lives Matter:

‘I’m Black, I’m White, I’m Jewish, I’m Buddhist” –