Next introductory evening: Wednesday 8th of November 19:30 to 21:30
A brief introduction to Buddhist teachings and meditation, suitable for complete beginners.
Meetings
Programme Sep 2017 to Jan 2018
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.
06 Sep Alan – Biased? Me?
13 Sep Nigel – The 7 factors for enlightenment
20 Sep Julian – What’s metta got to do, got to do with it?
27 Sep Nigel – Go with the flow
04 Oct Cliff – The Aggi Sutta
11 Oct Double meditation
18 Oct Nigel – How to prosper
25 Oct Alan – On loneliness
01 Nov Eszter – Being your own god
08 Nov INTRODUCTION A very short introduction to Buddhism
15 Nov Nigel – Creating worlds
22 Nov Nigel – How do I do it?
29 Nov Cliff – The suffering of others
06 Dec Talk by Orla
13 Dec Talk by Julian
20 Dec Winter celebration
27 Dec no meeting
03 Jan Nigel – New Year’s Resolutions
10 Jan Subject to be confirmed
17 Jan INTRODUCTION A Very Short Introduction to Buddhism
24 Jan INTRODUCTION Schools and Sources
31 Jan INTRODUCTION Culture and Practice
Introductory courses April 2017
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.
Introduction to Buddhism 2017
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?
Programme autumn/winter 2016
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
Introductory classes, autumn 2016
Introduction to meditation: Saturday 22nd Oct; 10:00 to 13:00
Introduction to Buddhism: Wednesday 2nd Nov; 19:30 to 21:30
All welcome. Venue details etc. are here
Programme – summer 2016
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
Introductory courses 2016
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.
Programme 2016 Jan-Mar
INTRODUCTORY COURSES
Introduction to meditation and Buddhism: Wednesday 6th January 19:30 – 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.
o6 Jan Introduction – see above
13 Jan On Mindfulness
20 Jan The Breath
27 Jan The Body
03 Feb The Mind
10 Feb Integrated Practice
The next four weeks will be based on the book What the Buddha Thought by Richard Gombrich. The book looks at the pre-Buddhist words and imagery used by the Buddha to get his message across and what a better knowledge of them can add to our understanding of what the Buddha taught (and thought).
17 Feb What the Buddha Thought …about nobility
24 Feb What the Buddha Thought …about karma
02 Mar What the Buddha Thought …about ‘not-self’
09 Mar What the Buddha Thought …about fire
16 Mar Buddhism and Emotion
03 Mar to be confirmed
30 Mar Spring celebration
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. We will be choosing a new book early in the new year. If you would like to join the study group, please contact the group email.
Costs
All events in the programme are on a dana basis. This means that the costs are funded by donations but individuals decide for themselves how much they wish to contribute.
Introductory evening 6th January
Our next introductory evening is on the 6th of January, from 7:30 to 9:30 in the Quaker Meeting House (100 Crown Street). We will teach basic meditation and our ‘Very Short Introduction to Buddhism’ course.
Attending this evening is suggested before coming to the Regulars’ group.
