Drop-in Meditation Classes

These are drop-in classes that consists of two guided meditations and a talk giving advice on how to combat stress and increase the causes of happiness in everyday life. Especially designed for those with little or no experience of meditation, the classes are self contained and open to all. The classes begin with 20-30 minutes of guided simple breathing and relaxing meditation. Then a talk is given by the teacher on the subject for the week, always very practical methods for overcoming minds like impatience, our stress, or anxieties. After this, the teacher leads another meditation, to help familiarise our mind with the evening's subject. Then, over tea and biscuits, a group discussion is encouraged where questions can be brought up within the group or individually with the teacher.

These classes are self contained, so you can attend any class you choose. However, you may receive more benefit from attending the whole course and gain a fuller understanding of the subject. You do not need to wear special clothes to meditate, and during the classes we sit on chairs.  

Video teachings from Kadampa teachers

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

2010 dates and courses:

Monday 1st February to Thursday 25th February: Buddhism and Meditation (teachings taken from Introduction to Buddhism)

An explanation of the essential principles of the Buddhist Way of Life
Week 1: Who was Buddha?
Week 2: What is the mind
Week 3: Past and future lives
Week 4: What is karma?

Monday 8th March to Thursday 1st April: Keeping the Peace (teachings taken from How to Solve our Human Problems)

A clear and simple explanation of how to overcome anger and experience the supreme inner peace that comes from the practice of patience
Week 1: The faults of anger
Week 2: Why we get angry
Week 3: What is patience?
Week 4: Learning not to retaliate

Monday 12th April to Thursday 20th May: Clarity of the Mind (teachings taken from Mahamudra Tantra)

Week 1: Basic Buddhist view and intention
Week 2: What is Tantra?
Week 3: What is Mahamudra?
Week 4: The six stages of Mahamudra
Week 5: Identifying our own mind and realising our own mind directly
Week 6: Identifying our subtle mind and realising our subtle mind directly and identifying our very subtle mind and realising our very subtle mind directly

Monday 7th June to Thursday 15th July: The Buddhist Way of Loving-kindness (teachings taken from Eight Steps to Happiness)

Week 1: Bodhisattva Langri Tangpa
Week 2: Learning to cherish others
Week 3: The kindness of others
Week 4: Recognising our faults in the mirror of Dharma
Week 5: Viewing all living beings as supreme
Week 6: Living beings have no faults

Monday 6th September to Thursday 14th October: What are the Six Perfections? (teachings taken from The Bodhisattva Vow)

Week 1: Giving
Week 2: Moral discipline
Week 3: Patience
Week 4: Effort
Week 5: Concentration
Week 6: Wisdom

Monday 8th November to Thursday 2nd December: How to Transform Your Life through Love and Compassion (teachings taken from Universal Compassion)

Week 1: The lineage and pre-eminent qualities of these instructions
Week 2: Equalising self with others
Week 3: The dangers of self cherishing and the benefits of cherishing others
Week 4: Exchanging self with others
Week 5: Taking and giving (including taking on our own future sufferings, taking by means of compassion, giving by means of love and mounting these two upon the breath)