Contributing to the Aberdeen Buddhist Group

The Aberdeen Buddhist Group runs on the basis of dana or generosity. People leading evenings give their time for free but it costs us £30 per week to rent the Quaker Meeting House and we have occasional costs such as hosting this website. We ask people coming to meetings to make a contribution, but in order to keep the teachings available to all we leave the size of that contribution up to the individual. For many years those contributions have gone into a dana bowl – a bowl put out at the end of meetings for cash donations. Now, however, we are finding that lots of people do not carry cash and donations have gone below a sustainable level. It seems we need to find a way of continuing the tradition of dana in the age of contactless cards and banking apps.

If you would like to help the group continue to offer the dharma and support practice in Aberdeen, but you don’t often make it to meetings or you don’t carry cash for donations on the evening, an alternative is to make a bank transfer or, better still, set up a standing order to the group. As with cash donations, the size of this is entirely up to you. Our bank details are:

Aberdeen Buddhist Group
Bank of Scotland
Sort code 80-05-16
Account: 00184161

Thank you!

Programme Jan-Feb 2024

03 Jan  Open for meditation
10 Jan  New Year’s Resolutions by Nigel
17 Jan  Practice discussion led by Alan
24 Jan  Burns and the Buddha by Alan
31 Jan  Introduction to meditation I

07 Feb  Introduction to meditation II
14 Feb  INTRODUCTION: Buddhism in Eight Words
21 Feb  Practice discussion led by Nigel
28 Feb  Talk by Lucy

Programme October – December 2023

04 Oct  The ten fetters by Alan
11 Oct  More on meditation by Nigel
18 Oct  Practice discussion led by Alan
25 Oct  Monastic vows by Lucy

01 Nov  Seven factors for awakening by Nigel
08 Nov  Friendship and community by Alan
15 Nov  Practice discussion led by Nigel
22 Nov  Talk by Alan
29 Nov  Talk by Lucy

06 Dec  Buddhism for eight year olds by Alan
13 Dec  Practice discussion led by Nigel
20 Dec  Birds, boats and Buddhism by Chris
27 Dec  CLOSED

An Introduction to Buddhism

What did the Buddha teach and can it still help our lives today?

This short series of talks introduces Buddhism as a practical, testable path, aimed at improving and even completely transforming our lives. Each meeting will consist of a short introduction to meditation followed by a talk.

13 September Buddhism in Eight Words
An introduction to key concepts in Buddhism

20 September Schools and Sources
The diversity of Buddhist schools and text can be bewildering. What do we need to know and what do we not? Is there a common thread that unites the different schools?

27 September The Social Teachings of the Buddha
The Buddha is often thought of as the teacher of a purely personal path of transformation, but he had a lot to say about the organisation of society too. This talk introduces this neglected aspect of Buddhism.

Venue: Quaker Meeting House, 100 Crown Street
Times: 7:30 to 9:30 pm

Cost by donation.

All welcome – no need to book.

An introduction to Buddhist meditation

buddha image

Change Your Mind

An introduction to simple meditation techniques, how to sit comfortably for meditation and how to set up and sustain a regular practice. With members of the Aberdeen Buddhist Group.

Saturday 9th September, 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Venue: Quaker Meeting House, 100 Crown Street (next to Shirlaw’s Motorcycles)

Free of cost

Place are limited – to book a place call Nigel on 07903 667548.

Introductory talk: Skillful speech

An evening of Buddhist practice suitable for complete beginners.

The first part of the evening introduces mindfulness meditation.

In Buddhism, mindfulness is always applied. One important area of practice is our speech, which both affects and reflects our state of mind. The second part of the evening looks at the Buddha’s teaching on how to make our speech a daily part of our practice to become more mindful and less self-deluding.

Wednesday 7th June 19:30 – 21:30, Quaker Meeting House, 100 Crown Street