Weekend retreat at Vajrasana

1-3 November

A retreat is a great opportunity to explore the Buddhist practice of mindfulness. To take a break from our regular routine and create more space in both our inner and outer lives. Spending time in the countryside, we can connect with nature and enjoy the positive conditions that arise as we come together as a community, practising together, sharing meals, sharing talks and sharing walks with others on the retreat.

The programme will include talks, meditation, reflection and discussion as well as...

Day of the Dead Celebration and Overnight Bardo Immersion

A fundraiser for the West London Buddhist Centre

7-11pm 1 November
11pm - 7am 1/2 November

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of human consciousness is awareness and acceptance of death: our own, of those close to us and those further away. Thousands of deaths are occurring in the collective in different parts of the globe in this very moment that you are reading this. And yet it is precisely this sense of preservation that separates us from the fullness of life experience, the...

Buddhist Teachers in Europe

Every year, as Triratna’s Liaison officer, I attend the residential meeting of Buddhist Teachers in Europe, a very informal gathering of people who teach in various Buddhist traditions.

Our latest meeting took place 24th-29th September in a newly built Ch’an retreat centre in the hills west of Zagreb, Croatia, hosted by the country’s oldest Buddhist group, started decades ago in what was then Yugoslavia.

We were about 20 participants, from Theravada, Tibetan, Ch’an, SGI, Reyukai,...

Exploring Mindfulness and Meditation

Meditation helps us to develop contentment, clarity, integration, concentration, and a sense of peace. Practicing Mindfulness as we go about the activities of our lives helps to keep us centered, creative and in touch with our own vitality. 

We will explore Buddhist teachings of mindfulness and how we can practice them in contemporary life. Participants will learn the mindfulness of breathing, a meditation that has been practiced for thousands of years.

Participants will learn everything they need to begin a regular and effective meditation...

Chair's Letter – September

Dear Order Members and Friends,

Back in July, as part of our search for new – larger – premises for Tiratanaloka, our retreat centre for women training for ordination, the team visited a Carmelite monastery about an hour north east of London, and thought it looked very promising. A couple of weeks ago we heard our offer had been accepted, so we’re very excited and hoping for a smooth transition. If you’d like to know more you can follow...