By invitation only.

This evening is for mitra study groups to meet in person at the centre. Not all groups use this space so do keep in touch with your group leader for information on times and location.

A mitra (a ‘friend’) is someone who has chosen to deepen their commitment to practising Buddhism, within the Triratna context. To find out more about mitras then see our information page. Contact Naravira for info more...

Welcome our new mitras!

We will be holding a mitra ceremony this evening. Welcoming those individuals who want to step further into the Buddhist life and making a commitment to the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.

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 more...

Why meditate? Some of our community share their experience

These drop-in classes are a great way to sample meditation for the first time or to get refreshing support and clarity to help you set up a regular practice.  Full instruction will be given. We’ll introduce our meditation practices, one each week – either the mindfulness of breathing which develops calm, focus and wholeheartedness, or a loving kindness (metta bhavana) meditation which develops more...

By invitation only.

This evening is for mitra study groups to meet in person at the centre. Not all groups use this space so do keep in touch with your group leader for information on times and location.

A mitra (a ‘friend’) is someone who has chosen to deepen their commitment to practising Buddhism, within the Triratna context. To find out more about mitras then see our information page.

Contact Vimalavajri for more info.

“Honest collision is better than dishonest collusion.” Sangharakshita

In the last two BYB evenings we’ve reflected on the importance of spiritual friendship, and you joined us in a communication workshop. This evening we invite you to bring these two elements together.

When we are suffering we notice that our mental states can often be in a judging mode – labelling and separating “them” from “us”. We suffer because we lack connection with more...

‘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.

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. This is a gentle yoga class, open to a range of more...

“Just let me enjoy that moment when the bear walks by” – Bikkhu Anālayo

The bear’s days may be numbered.  But it is also here right now, in all its wonderful and alive bear-ness.   Opening to impermanence brings grief, but can also put us in touch with a joy that can motivate and sustain us.  

This evening we’ll explore our experience of this fleeting world through meditation and reflection, more...

Our tradition places great emphasis on building Sangha (a friendly community of individuals practising the Dharma, the Buddha’s teachings, alongside each other). Possibly because of the experience of the pandemic we may be noticing how we are by nature social creatures: We need each other to know ourselves. This is a safe and open space in which to be with others to bring kind attention to how we relate to others and just as importantly, ourselves.

For those who more...

“What would it be like to turn all that we do into practice? How different would we experience the world, ourselves and others?

Come and experiment in Sangha Works – turning the ordinary into the extra-ordinary! We start with a check in, before choosing a task to work with as practice from cleaning the centre, to cleaning rupa’s and shrine materials, to light gardening work. We can offer sitting down jobs and more active jobs. We also get to connect with each other and more...

By invitation only.

This evening is for mitra study groups to meet in person at the centre. Not all groups use this space so do keep in touch with your group leader for information on times and location.

A mitra (a ‘friend’) is someone who has chosen to deepen their commitment to practising Buddhism, within the Triratna context. To find out more about mitras then see our information page. Contact Naravira for info more...

Tonight will be a practice evening with Singhamanas.

Come and experience the effects of collective practice with a unique set of sangha friends.

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 more...

Why meditate? Some of our community share their experience

These drop-in classes are a great way to sample meditation for the first time or to get refreshing support and clarity to help you set up a regular practice.  Full instruction will be given. We’ll introduce our meditation practices, one each week – either the mindfulness of breathing which develops calm, focus and wholeheartedness, or a loving kindness (metta bhavana) meditation which develops more...

By invitation only.

This evening is for mitra study groups to meet in person at the centre. Not all groups use this space so do keep in touch with your group leader for information on times and location.

A mitra (a ‘friend’) is someone who has chosen to deepen their commitment to practising Buddhism, within the Triratna context. To find out more about mitras then see our information page.

Contact Vimalavajri for more info.

Interspersed with hybrid/in-person events will also be a series of four Friday evenings on Zoom, to ‘meet, listen and make‘ (click here for more information on these Zoom sessions)

You may like to use the ‘meet, listen and make’ evenings to create something to share at the Arts Cafe. 

The ‘craft’ aspect of the arts has its own importance in the Dharma life for many of us.  ‘Mindful making’ can be a great more...

2-5 pm | in person only event

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

Effortless wisdom

We continue with the exploration of the spiritual faculty of Prajna (wisdom or insight), with a Zen twist.

Zen tradition tells us that our natural state of mind is already one of ease and contentment. We don’t need special effort to attain a special state. We don’t need to do anything, or go anywhere more...

Day 1 of the Sangha Week Retreat

9:45am | Individuation in the Fires of Sangha | A talk with Bhadra

10:30am | Meeting the beauty: Recollection and imaginal exercises using story | Nagamudra leads an experiential session.

12:30 – 1pm | Meditation

A rich retreat programme to reveal and enliven the potential of our relational lives. A precious opportunity to dive into the depths through Sangha. A diverse range of events facilitated by a large more...

Day 1 of the Sangha Week Retreat.

3 – 5pm | An exploration of mindfulness using the body, its movement and its energy | with Advayamati

5 – 6pm | Evensong: Poetry, mantra chanting, meditation and devotional practice | with Singhamanas

A rich retreat programme to reveal and enliven the potential of our relational lives. A precious opportunity to dive into the depths through Sangha. A diverse range of events facilitated by a large team of more...

Day 1 of the Sangha Week Retreat | In person this week!

Our tradition places great emphasis on building Sangha (a friendly community of individuals practising the Dharma, the Buddha’s teachings, alongside each other). Possibly because of the experience of the pandemic we may be noticing how we are by nature social creatures: We need each other to know ourselves. This is a safe and open space in which to be with others to bring kind attention to how we relate to more...

Day 2 of the Sangha Week Retreat

10 – 10:30am | Befriending your Mandala of Being for the Benefit of Sangha | A talk from Bhadra

10:30 – 11:15am | Integrating mind and body | with Maitrijyoti

11:30 – 1pm | Experiential session: Introduction to Focusing, a process that allows the inner world to make itself knowable | with Prajnamati

A rich retreat programme to reveal and enliven the potential of our relational lives. A precious more...

Day 2 of the Sangha Week Retreat

2 – 3:30pm | Hang out with the Sangha

3 – 5pm | Experiential session: Continuing the process that allows the inner world to make itself knowable | with Prajnamati (please attend the morning session to attend this one)

5 – 6pm | Evensong: Poetry. Mantra chanting, meditation and devotional practice | with Singhamanas

A rich retreat programme to reveal and enliven the potential of our relational lives. more...

By invitation only.

This evening is for mitra study groups to meet in person at the centre. Not all groups use this space so do keep in touch with your group leader for information on times and location.

A mitra (a ‘friend’) is someone who has chosen to deepen their commitment to practising Buddhism, within the Triratna context. To find out more about mitras then see our information page. Contact Naravira for info more...

Day 3 of the Sangha Week Retreat | Doors open at 9:45 for us to prepare ourselves and greet each other.

10 – 10:30am | Spontaneity, openness and the ever renewing Dharma | A talk from Bhadra

10:30 – 11:15am | Integrating mind and body | with Maitrjyoti

11:30 – 1pm | Experiential session: Exercises that attend to communicating our being between the words | with Bhadra

A rich retreat programme to reveal and enliven the potential of more...

Day 3 of the Sangha Week Retreat

2:30 – 3pm | Hang out with Sangha

3- 5pm | Experiential session. The Body in Movement: Where are the sources of our grip and our joy | with Silvia

5 – 6pm | Evensong: Poetry. Mantra chanting, meditation and devotional practice | with Singhamanas

A rich retreat programme to reveal and enliven the potential of our relational lives. A precious opportunity to dive into the depths through Sangha. A diverse more...

Exploring the faculty of Wisdom as the conclusion of our theme for this year on the Five Spiritual Faculties.

Naravira will introduce us to the Gandhavyuha Sutra and the teachings of the Huayen school of Buddhism for who the Sutra became an important teaching. The Ganhavyuha Sutra, and Avatamsaka Sutra that it is a part of, explore the Buddha-Dharma through the particular emphasis on the realisation of inter-connectedness.

According to the sutra we live in an more...

Day 4 of the Sangha Week Retreat | Arrive from 9:45

10 – 10:30am | The breath as the ground of Sangha | a talk with Bhadra

10:30 – 11:15am | Integrating mind and body | with Maitrijyoti

11:30 – 12:15 | Meditation: Just sitting with Sangha | with Naravira

A rich retreat programme to reveal and enliven the potential of our relational lives. A precious opportunity to dive into the depths through Sangha. A diverse range of events more...

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 more...

Day 4 of the Sangha Week Retreat

3 – 4:30pm | Experiential session: Exercises that attend to communicating our being between the words | with Bhadra

5 – 6pm | Evensong: Poetry. Mantra chanting, meditation and devotional practice | with Singhamanas

A rich retreat programme to reveal and enliven the potential of our relational lives. A precious opportunity to dive into the depths through Sangha. A diverse range of events facilitated by a large team more...

Why meditate? Some of our community share their experience

These drop-in classes are a great way to sample meditation for the first time or to get refreshing support and clarity to help you set up a regular practice.  Full instruction will be given. We’ll introduce our meditation practices, one each week – either the mindfulness of breathing which develops calm, focus and wholeheartedness, or a loving kindness (metta bhavana) meditation which develops more...

Day 5 of the Sangha Week Retreat | Doors open from 9:45

10 – 10:30am | Chaos, doubt and ambivalence as vital aspects of a healthy Sangha | a talk from Bhadra

10:30 – 11:15am | Integrating mind and body | with Maitrijyoti

11:30 – 1pm | Experiential session. The inner world of sub personalities. Guided reflection and discussion | with Bhadra

A rich retreat programme to reveal and enliven the potential of our relational lives. A more...

Day 5 of the Sangha Week Retreat

2:30 – 3pm | Hang out with Sangha

3 – 5pm | Open group process: A space to honour the emergent in our personal lives and through Sangha | with Bhadra & Dharmamrta

5 – 6pm | Evensong: Poetry. Mantra chanting, meditation and devotional practice | with Bhadra & Dharmamrta

A rich retreat programme to reveal and enliven the potential of our relational lives. A precious opportunity to dive into more...

By invitation only.

This evening is for mitra study groups to meet in person at the centre. Not all groups use this space so do keep in touch with your group leader for information on times and location.

A mitra (a ‘friend’) is someone who has chosen to deepen their commitment to practising Buddhism, within the Triratna context. To find out more about mitras then see our information page.

Contact Vimalavajri for more info.

Day 6 of the Sangha Week Retreat | Doors open at 9:45

10 – 10:30 | The Interpenetrating Nature of Sangha: Living Our Life for Each Other | a talk from Bhadra

10:30 – 11:15 | Integrating mind and body | bodywork with Dharmamrta

11:30 – 1pm | Open group process: A space to honour the emergent in our personal lives and through Sangha | with Bhadra and Dharmamrta

A rich retreat programme to reveal and enliven the potential of our more...

Day 6 of the Sangha Week Retreat

2:30 – 3pm | Hang out with the Sangha

3- 5pm | Open group process: A space to honour the emergent in our Sangha | with Bhadra and Dharmamrta

5- 6pm | Evensong: Poetry. Mantra chanting, meditation and devotional practice | with Singhamanas

A rich retreat programme to reveal and enliven the potential of our relational lives. A precious opportunity to dive into the depths through Sangha. A diverse range of more...

Day 6 of the Sangha Week Retreat

To end the retreat we are holding a ritual, a puja to Padmasambhava. A opportunity to close the retreat space and move back into our normal lives.

(Musical Instruments for accompaniment will be provided)

‘Form is only emptiness, emptiness only form.’ – Heart Sutra

Where art practice and Dharma practice meet. Shraddhalocani and Bee in conversation with additional activities.

An interview and workshop with Shraddhalocani and Bee – both practising artists who graduated in different decades from Leeds School of Art. In this session they reflect on their working lives in the arts, how their art practice informs their love of the Dharma and the spiritual more...

Our tradition places great emphasis on building Sangha (a friendly community of individuals practicing the Dharma, the Buddha’s teachings, alongside each other). Possibly because of the experience of the pandemic we may be noticing how we are by nature social creatures: We need each other to know ourselves. This is a safe and open space in which to be with others to bring kind attention to how we relate to others and just as importantly, ourselves.

In the spirit more...

“What would it be like to turn all that we do into practice? How different would we experience the world, ourselves and others?

Come and experiment in Sangha Works – turning the ordinary into the extra-ordinary! We start with a check in, before choosing a task to work with as practice from cleaning the centre, to cleaning rupa’s and shrine materials, to light gardening work. We can offer sitting down jobs and more active jobs. We also get to connect with each other and more...

By invitation only.

This evening is for mitra study groups to meet in person at the centre. Not all groups use this space so do keep in touch with your group leader for information on times and location.

A mitra (a ‘friend’) is someone who has chosen to deepen their commitment to practising Buddhism, within the Triratna context. To find out more about mitras then see our information page. Contact Naravira for info more...

Following on from last week’s introduction to the Wisdom of Interconnectedness theme, this week we will continue to explore interconnectedness and the Avatamsaka and Gandavyuha Sutra (also known as the Entry into the Realm of Reality) through a visualisation meditation based on Indra’s Net as well as a puja (ritual) based around the 10 Vows of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra that appear in the Gandavyuha Sutra. 

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 more...

Why meditate? Some of our community share their experience

These drop-in classes are a great way to sample meditation for the first time or to get refreshing support and clarity to help you set up a regular practice.  Full instruction will be given. We’ll introduce our meditation practices, one each week – either the mindfulness of breathing which develops calm, focus and wholeheartedness, or a loving kindness (metta bhavana) meditation which develops more...

By invitation only.

This evening is for mitra study groups to meet in person at the centre. Not all groups use this space so do keep in touch with your group leader for information on times and location.

A mitra (a ‘friend’) is someone who has chosen to deepen their commitment to practising Buddhism, within the Triratna context. To find out more about mitras then see our information page.

Contact Vimalavajri for more info.

“Engaging with the arts gives Buddhists the chance to develop and refine their emotional lives.  The arts can lift us and lead our imaginations beyond what we know.” – The Religion of Art

Interspersed with hybrid/in-person events will also be a series of four Friday evenings on Zoom, to ‘meet, listen and make‘ (click here for more information on these Zoom sessions)

You may like to use the ‘meet, listen and make’ evenings to create more...

For those training for ordination and Dharmacharinis

‘Without Contraries is No Progression’

Bringing all the different, contrary, aspects of ourselves into creative relationship is a key part of the Dharma life.  Bhante spoke about this often and it was a personal concern for him, as well as being the first stage of our System of Practice (‘Integration’).  

Satyalila will lead an interactive women’s afternoon more...

Arts Cafe Evening – in person only!

Arrive from 6.30 for 7 – 9pm event (+ cake + fairy lights…)

Arts Cafe Evenings have been running at Bristol Buddhist Centre once or twice a year since 2016 – they are a unique opportunity for anyone in the Sangha who’d like to share what they’ve made / written / drawn / painted / glued / composed / created. And for the rest of us to enjoy and witness what has emerged from each others’ more...

Our tradition places great emphasis on building Sangha (a friendly comOur tradition places great emphasis on building Sangha (a friendly community of individuals practicing the Dharma, the Buddha’s teachings, alongside each other). Possibly because of the experience of the pandemic we may be noticing how we are by nature social creatures: We need each other to know ourselves. This is a safe and open space in which to be with others to bring kind attention to how we relate to more...

“What would it be like to turn all that we do into practice? How different would we experience the world, ourselves and others?

Come and experiment in Sangha Works – turning the ordinary into the extra-ordinary! We start with a check in, before choosing a task to work with as practice from cleaning the centre, to cleaning rupa’s and shrine materials, to light gardening work. We can offer sitting down jobs and more active jobs. We also get to connect with each other and more...

By invitation only.

This evening is for mitra study groups to meet in person at the centre. Not all groups use this space so do keep in touch with your group leader for information on times and location.

A mitra (a ‘friend’) is someone who has chosen to deepen their commitment to practising Buddhism, within the Triratna context. To find out more about mitras then see our information page. Contact Naravira for info more...

‘Everything depends for its existence upon other things, and so on until all the threads of existence – physical, mental, moral, and spiritual – are knot together into a single interrelated, interconnected, interdependent fabric.  Nothing is aloof or single, nothing isolated, nothing separate.  A flower blooms in dependence on the whole universe, and the whole universe exists in dependence on the flower’. Sangharakshita, Crossing The Stream.

We can more...