Join us at the Bristol Buddhist Centre for an informal social gathering of Young Buddhists in a chill, welcoming setting.

There’ll be a variety of games, from social deduction to simple dice-rolling, depending on what everyone brings – feel free to bring your own.

Contributions of snacks to share are also very welcome!

LIGHTING UP THE DARK… MAKING CLAY LOTUS TEALIGHT HOLDERS

The invitation for this session is to come and explore clay and connect with all the possibilities it provides. We will reflect on the lotus flower and what it represents as it blooms in dark muddy waters bringing beauty and light from the dark depths of the earth.

Using clay (the stuff of the earth) we will make tealight holders to keep our light burning as we navigate ourselves through the winter more...

This six-week follow-on course is open to anyone who has completed our Introduction to Buddhism
& Meditation course.

We will be looking at the Eightfold path, the traditional formulation of how to weave the teachings
into all aspects of our daily life. These are Vision, emotion, communication, action, livelihood, effort,
meditation, and mindfulness.

As with the first course, each session will be partly dedicated to deepening our meditation practice,
and more...

WEEK 4 (FINAL WEEK)

Naravira will be leading 4 Sangha nights about the Buddhist view of the self. 

In Buddhism the question of the Self and its true nature forms a key part in the understanding of Buddhist teaching, and the path to spiritual insight that leads to the end of suffering.

But what is the Self? We all seem to have one but maybe we have never deeply looked at its nature or possible origins. 

The ‘anatta’ or ‘not-self’ more...

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

Come and found out at Sangha Works – turning the ordinary into the extraordinary!

We start with a check-in, then choose tasks to work with as practice. These usually involve cleaning the centre, tending the shrine and light gardening work, but can include more! We can offer sitting down jobs as well as more active jobs.

Come along more...

If you already have experience of the Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana (Loving Kindness) meditations that we practise in our sangha, join us on a Wednesday lunchtime to meditate with others and take your practice deeper.

Every Wednesday at the Bristol Buddhist Centre. The meditation finishes at 2pm, with the option to stay on until 2.30pm for tea and a chat.

To view details of our beginners’ class, click here.

If you’re curious about and new to meditation, or haven’t yet been acquainted with the practices we follow in our community (Mindfulness of Breathing and Loving Kindness meditations), come along to our drop-in class for beginners on a Wednesday evening.

You’ll be guided through the stages by an experienced practitioner, with the opportunity to discuss your experience and ask questions.

MINDFULNESS YOGA: CULTIVATING AWARENESS WITH KINDNESS

In these sessions, we focus on unifying and bringing gentle awareness to our body, breath, and mind. The pace is considered, encouraging us to integrate mindfulness not only into our yoga practice but also into our daily life.

We will explore physical sensations and breath, noting our thoughts and feelings, all through a lens of love and kindness (metta). This internal approach more...

FRI 7TH NOV
TRIRATNA – THE EARLY DAYS with KULAMITRA

“Things were rather different back then”

This month, Kulamitra will be sharing his experience of the early years of Triratna – known back then as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order – his ordination in 1977, and his memories of Sangharakshita.

After his talk Kulamitra will offer a Q&A which will be a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the man more...

PROGRAMME

10.00 Doors open, chai and opening circle
10.30 Meditation
11.15 Tea
11.30 Clay modelling: What is carried in Avalokitesvara’s hands? (All welcome)
12.30 Dedication ceremony (All welcome)
1.00 Bring-and-share veggie / vegan lunch (All welcome)
2.00 Talk: United Through Connecting to the Sacred
2.30 Meditation / reflection
3.00 Mitra talks: My Connection to the Sacred
3.20 Small group discussions on theme
4.00 Tea
4.20 Special Puja more...

This follow-on course is open to anyone who has previously completed an Introduction to Buddhism & Meditation course.

Further your practice of meditation and understanding of Buddhism as we continue to 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 become the change you want to see.

Each session will be partly dedicated to developing our more...

A unique and very special event this evening as we ritually welcome in a group of new mitras to our sangha with a mitra ceremony.

This is a very important occasion for the sangha, and could well be the most meaningful moment in the practice lives of our mitras-to-be so far, so we very much hope for a full attendance to support and welcome them!

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

Come and found out at Sangha Works – turning the ordinary into the extraordinary!

We start with a check-in, then choose tasks to work with as practice. These usually involve cleaning the centre, tending the shrine and light gardening work, but can include more! We can offer sitting down jobs as well as more active jobs.

Come along more...

If you already have experience of the Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana (Loving Kindness) meditations that we practise in our sangha, join us on a Wednesday lunchtime to meditate with others and take your practice deeper.

Every Wednesday at the Bristol Buddhist Centre. The meditation finishes at 2pm, with the option to stay on until 2.30pm for tea and a chat.

To view details of our beginners’ class, click here.

If you’re curious about and new to meditation, or haven’t yet been acquainted with the practices we follow in our community (Mindfulness of Breathing and Loving Kindness meditations), come along to our drop-in class for beginners on a Wednesday evening.

You’ll be guided through the stages by an experienced practitioner, with the opportunity to discuss your experience and ask questions.

MINDFULNESS YOGA: CULTIVATING AWARENESS WITH KINDNESS

In these sessions, we focus on unifying and bringing gentle awareness to our body, breath, and mind. The pace is considered, encouraging us to integrate mindfulness not only into our yoga practice but also into our daily life.

We will explore physical sensations and breath, noting our thoughts and feelings, all through a lens of love and kindness (metta). This internal approach more...

Another great opportunity to attend this workshop with Upayavira, an Order member from Stroud.

They will be exploring ways to change posture from being an uncomfortable necessity to a rich and central place in meditation. Extremely relevant both on and off the cushion, these practices will be exploring how our internal structures can bring a solidity without muscular strength.

Offering guidance to help release held tension and find a much deeper relaxation whilst still more...

BUDDHAS & BODHISATTVAS

Having completed our year-long seasonal journey around Five Buddha Mandala at the Arts Cafe events, we would like to invite members of the sangha to respond creatively to our new theme – Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

For each of our Arts Cafe events over the next year or so, we will share a few images and texts relating to several Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for inspiration. Whether you share something you’ve made previously, or create more...

This follow-on course is open to anyone who has previously completed an Introduction to Buddhism & Meditation course.

Further your practice of meditation and understanding of Buddhism as we continue to 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 become the change you want to see.

Each session will be partly dedicated to developing our more...

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

Come and found out at Sangha Works – turning the ordinary into the extraordinary!

We start with a check-in, then choose tasks to work with as practice. These usually involve cleaning the centre, tending the shrine and light gardening work, but can include more! We can offer sitting down jobs as well as more active jobs.

Come along more...

If you already have experience of the Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana (Loving Kindness) meditations that we practise in our sangha, join us on a Wednesday lunchtime to meditate with others and take your practice deeper.

Every Wednesday at the Bristol Buddhist Centre. The meditation finishes at 2pm, with the option to stay on until 2.30pm for tea and a chat.

To view details of our beginners’ class, click here.

If you’re curious about and new to meditation, or haven’t yet been acquainted with the practices we follow in our community (Mindfulness of Breathing and Loving Kindness meditations), come along to our drop-in class for beginners on a Wednesday evening.

You’ll be guided through the stages by an experienced practitioner, with the opportunity to discuss your experience and ask questions.

MINDFULNESS YOGA: CULTIVATING AWARENESS WITH KINDNESS

In these sessions, we focus on unifying and bringing gentle awareness to our body, breath, and mind. The pace is considered, encouraging us to integrate mindfulness not only into our yoga practice but also into our daily life.

We will explore physical sensations and breath, noting our thoughts and feelings, all through a lens of love and kindness (metta). This internal approach more...

This follow-on course is open to anyone who has previously completed an Introduction to Buddhism & Meditation course.

Further your practice of meditation and understanding of Buddhism as we continue to 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 become the change you want to see.

Each session will be partly dedicated to developing our more...

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

Come and found out at Sangha Works – turning the ordinary into the extraordinary!

We start with a check-in, then choose tasks to work with as practice. These usually involve cleaning the centre, tending the shrine and light gardening work, but can include more! We can offer sitting down jobs as well as more active jobs.

Come along more...

If you already have experience of the Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana (Loving Kindness) meditations that we practise in our sangha, join us on a Wednesday lunchtime to meditate with others and take your practice deeper.

Every Wednesday at the Bristol Buddhist Centre. The meditation finishes at 2pm, with the option to stay on until 2.30pm for tea and a chat.

To view details of our beginners’ class, click here.

If you’re curious about and new to meditation, or haven’t yet been acquainted with the practices we follow in our community (Mindfulness of Breathing and Loving Kindness meditations), come along to our drop-in class for beginners on a Wednesday evening.

You’ll be guided through the stages by an experienced practitioner, with the opportunity to discuss your experience and ask questions.

MINDFULNESS YOGA: CULTIVATING AWARENESS WITH KINDNESS

In these sessions, we focus on unifying and bringing gentle awareness to our body, breath, and mind. The pace is considered, encouraging us to integrate mindfulness not only into our yoga practice but also into our daily life.

We will explore physical sensations and breath, noting our thoughts and feelings, all through a lens of love and kindness (metta). This internal approach more...

AN INVITATION FROM DHARMAMRTA AND BHADRA

“The soft animal of your body loving what it loves.”

As we go deeper into the darker months, let’s share a poem, perhaps a story, our depths, and some food together.

Please bring food to share.

PLEASE NOTE: Please bring vege/vegan lunch to share. Arrive from 10.15. Have a great day

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”
– Rumi

African, sacred, uplifting and fun harmony singing and mantra with the unique and inspiring Mahasukha. We’ll have a morning of glorious 4 part-harmony songs from around the world, with accompanying infectious djembe rhythms from Mahasukha, and we’ll chant a mantra or two and make more...