Author: Alan Carter

Introductory talk: Skillful speech

~ Alan Carter ~ Leave a comment

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

May-June 2023 meetings

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03 May  Sutta study Samyutta Nikaya 53:11 by Julian
10 May  Four Noble Truths by Nigel
17 May  The Gradual Training by Nigel
24 May  The Acrobats by Alan
31 May  The Ten Perfections by Lucy

07 June Right Speech by Alan
14 June Talk by Nigel
21 June Practice discussion
28 June Memorial for Barbara

Spring 2023 meetings

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01 Feb  INTRODUCTION: Buddhism in Eight Words by Alan
08 Feb  INTRODUCTION: The Four Noble Truths by Nigel
15 Feb  Practice discussion
22 Feb  Sutta study by Julian

01 Mar  Dealing with physical pain by Alan
08 Mar  Sutta study by Julian
15 Mar  Practice discussion
22 Mar  Right Speech by Alan
29 Mar  Metta by Nigel

05 Apr  To be arranged
12 Apr  One thing – thought by Nigel
19 Apr  Practice discussion
26 Apr  Sutta study by Julian

Introductions to meditation and Buddhism

~ Alan Carter ~ Leave a comment

We’ll be starting the year with a comprehensive introduction to both meditation and Buddhist teachings, so if your New Year’s resolution is to start or improve a meditation practice, now is the perfect opportunity. All classes are suitable for beginners and, while we recommend coming to all of them if you can, each one of them stands on its own.

4 Jan – Meditation posture
Sitting comfortably.

11 Jan – How daily life feeds into meditation
Meditation and daily life both affect each other.

18 Jan – What to do immediately before and after meditation
Preparation and post-meditation.

25 Jan – Working during meditation.
Good meditation is not a fixed practice. Learn the skill of adapting your meditation as you go along.

1 Feb – Buddhism in Eight Words
An introduction to basic Buddhist concepts.

8 Feb – The Four Noble Truths
More on this key teaching.

All meetings are Wednesday 19:30 – 21:30 in the Quaker Meeting House, 100 Crown Street. Like all our meeting, payment is by donation.

Autumn meetings 2022

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Oct 05: Alan – Equanimity
Oct 12: Nigel – Become an Independent Thinker
Oct 19: Practice group
Oct 26: Nigel – A Gradual Path

Nov 2: Rescheduled: Alan – Equanimity
Nov 9: Julian – Sutta study: identifying a wise person
Nov 16: Practice group
Nov 23: Julian – Sutta study
Nov 30: Nigel – A Whole Life Path

All meetings are 19:30 to 21:30 in the Quaker Meeting House, Crown Street.

August 2022 meetings

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All meetings are from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Quaker Meeting House, 100 Crown Street.

3rd Aug – Beginners: Buddhism in Eight Words
A brief introduction to key Buddhist concepts

10th Aug – The Positive Precepts
The negative precepts (I undertake not to…) all have a positive counterpart in the form of a positive quality to be cultivated.

17th Aug – Practice group: The Five Hindrances
A discussion of the things that stop us getting deeper in our practice and our meditation. See here for the handout on this.

24th Aug – Suggestions for improving meditation
By Nigel.

31st Aug – Subject to be arranged
The end-of-the-month online meetings are over, so all Wednesday night meetings will now be in person in the Quaker Meeting House.

7th Sep – Beginners: 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?