Programme May – August 2017

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REGULARS’ GROUP (Wednesdays 19:30 to 21:30)

The regulars group is open to anyone who has been on an introductory course or who is already familiar with Buddhism and meditation. Evenings marked INTRODUCTION are suitable for complete beginners.

03 May  The eightfold path – Nigel
10 May  Walking the path – Nigel
17 May  Refuges and precepts – Alan
24 May  The Ānāpānasati Sutta – Alan
31 May  The same but different, but the same – Nigel

07 Jun  Don’t get mad, get dhamma! Anger management in the suttas – Shona
14 Jun  The Saraniya Sutta: the principles of cordiality – Julian
21 Jun  Summer celebration – Alan
28 Jun  The eight worldly winds – Nigel

05 Jul  Dharma Day – Alan
12 Jul  Life is not an easy ride – Cliff
19 Jul  Buddhism at work – Eszter
26 Jul  The four elements – Julian

02 Aug  Sigalovāda Sutta pt2 – David
09 Aug  INTRODUCTION A very short introduction to Buddhism – Alan
16 Aug  The five precepts – Nigel
23 Aug  Right speech – Nigel
30 Aug  Jhāna – Nigel

Venue details

Retreat April 2017

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10:00 to 16:00 Saturday 22 April

This is our first self-organised retreat in a long time, so we’re keeping it simple. There is no theme or teaching, just a chance to experience the results of a longer period of meditation in a conducive environment.

The day will fall into two parts. The morning (10:00-13:00) will be an Introduction to Meditation class for beginners. Obviously anyone coming on the retreat won’t need this, but we encourage you to come along and sit in, taking advantage of the periods of meditation and giving new folk a chance to meet some regulars.

At 1pm we’ll stop for a light lunch. If you can’t make the morning you can come and join us then. After that the afternoon will be dedicated purely to meditation, alternating sitting and walking meditation. At the end there will be a short time to end with a cup of tea and a discussion of meditation practice.

Further details: see Time and Place

Introductory courses April 2017

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Sat 22 April – Introduction to meditation 10:00-13:00

This morning class will cover the best ways to sit for meditation, basic mindfulness techniques and how to go about establishing a regular meditation practice. With plenty of time for questions and discussion it’s the one we’d recommend most of our introductions.

Wed 26 April – A Very Short Introduction to Buddhism 19:30 – 21:30

Taking the place of our regular Wednesday night meeting for a week, this course introduces both meditation and essential Buddhist concepts – and how they fit together.

Both courses are at 100 Crown Street and are by donation – see Time and place. There is no need to book for them but if you are thinking about coming do drop us an email so we have an idea of how many to expect.

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Programme Feb 2017

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REGULARS’ GROUP (Wednesdays 19:30 to 21:30)

The regulars group is open to anyone who has been on an introductory course or who is already familiar with Buddhism and meditation.

01 Feb  Nigel – How do you breathe?

08 Feb  Nigel – Anapanasati

15 Feb  Nigel – Creating worlds

22 Feb  Alan – The Sedaka Sutta

01 Mar  Shona – Nurturing your inner adult

 08 Mar  Nigel – Desire

 15 Mar  Julian – Four dharma summaries

 22 Mar  Spring celebration

 29 Mar  Nigel – The 8 worldly winds

05 Apr  Julian – ‘What did you expect?’

12 Apr  David – subject to be confirmed

19 Apr  Nigel – The sublime attitudes

03 May  Nigel – The Eightfold Path

10 May  Nigel – Walking the Path

INTRODUCTIONS

Sat 22 April – Introduction to meditation 10:00-13:00

Wed 26 April – A Very Short Introduction to Buddhism 19:30 – 21:30

Meeting times and place

Introduction to Buddhism 2017

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We’re starting 2017 with our 3-week introductory course, covering the basic teachings of Buddhism and a bit of background about Buddhist texts, schools and history to help you navigate the different forms of Buddhism that you might find. We will also be teaching  meditation, suitable for complete beginners. Once you have come on an introductory course you can come to our Regulars group which meets every Wednesday.

11 Jan  A Very Short Introduction to Buddhism
An introduction to the basic concepts of Buddhism and to Buddhist meditation.

 18 Jan  Schools and Sources
Buddhism was passed down as an oral tradition for several hundred years. How did it come to be written down? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the different texts and traditions that we know Buddhism through?

25 Jan  Culture and Practice
Buddhism comes with various bits of Eastern cultural baggage. What are these? Where did they come from? Are any of them useful today or can we practice Buddhism without any of them?

Meeting times and place

Programme autumn/winter 2016

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INTRODUCTORY COURSES

Introduction to meditation: Saturday 22nd Oct; 10:00 to 13:00
Introduction to Buddhism: Wednesday 2nd Nov; 19:30 to 21:30

REGULARS’ GROUP (Wednesdays 19:30 to 21:30)

The regulars group is open to anyone who has been on an introductory course or who is already familiar with Buddhism and meditation.

14 Sep        Nigel – everyday practice
21 Sep        Autumn celebration
28 Sep        Alan – ‘The Spirit Level’ – Buddhist responses to inequality

05 Oct        Julian – The Four Frames of Reference
12 Oct        Cliff – Rebirth
19 Oct        Nigel – Swimming Against the Stream – non-craving in a consumerist culture
26 Oct        Julian – Going for Refuge

02 Nov       Introduction to Buddhism – see above
09 Nov       Nigel – The Buddha’s meditation system – handout
16 Nov       Alan – Mindfulness – handout
23 Nov       Shona – Why the Breath?
30 Nov       Alan – Gladdening the Mind

07 Dec        Alan – Practicing the Brahma Viharas
14 Dec        Alan – The mudita bhavana
21 Dec        Winter celebration
28 Dec        closed

4 Jan        Double meditation

Meeting times, place and costs

Programme – summer 2016

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The summer programme will cover the Buddha’s teaching of the ‘Noble Eightfold Path’, one limb of the path per week. Each evening will consist of a short talk, followed by discussion. This would be a good point for beginners to start as it should make a good introduction for people not familiar with the teachings.

20 Jul   View
27 Jul   Resolve
03 Aug  Speech
10 Aug  Conduct
17 Aug  Livelihood
24 Aug  Effort
31 Aug  Mindfulness
07 Sep  Samadhi

14 Sep – talk, subject tbc
21 Sep – Autumn equinox celebration

Programme spring/summer 2016

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REGULARS’ GROUP (Wednesdays 19:30 to 21:30)

The regulars’ group is open to anyone who has been on an introductory course or who is already familiar with Buddhism and meditation.

6th Apr             The Sangrahavastus – four things that build community
13th Apr           How to Recognise the Dhamma
20th Apr           Introduction
27th Apr           Introduction
4th May            Skilful selfishness? – the Sedaka Sutta
11th May          Into the Stream
18th May          Wesak Celebration – anniversary of the Buddha’s enlightenment
25th May          The Five Aggregates
1st Jun              The Seven Factors for Awakening
8th Jun             Perfect Action
15th Jun            Perfect Livelihood
22nd Jun           to be confirmed
29th Jun            to be confirmed
6th Jul              Introduction
13th July          Introduction

All meetings are in the Quaker Meeting House, 98-100 Crown Street.

 Study Group

The study group meets every other Sunday in members’ homes and studies books chosen by the group. If you would like to join the study group, please contact the group email.

 

Introductory courses 2016

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20 April – Introduction to Meditation
27 April – A Very Short Introduction to Buddhism

06 July – Introduction to Meditation
13 July – A Very Short Introduction to Buddhism

As usual, meetings run from 19:30 to 21:30 in the Quaker Meeting House, 98-100 Crown Street, and payment is by donation. There is no need to book for the evenings.