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Celebrating 100 Years of
The Buddhist Society
1924 to 2024

- Calendar -

March - 2024
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Today's Classes and Courses

No public events today.
Please check our calendar for more info.

Basic Meditation Class with Guest Teacher Ajahn Barry Subhaddo online 28th March 2024

Basic Meditation Class in person and online with Guest Teacher Ajahn Barry Subhaddo

Free to attend - no booking required

Join us on Zoom

Lunchtime Meditation

All welcome
Mondays,  Thursdays Wednesdays and Fridays 12:40pm to 1:20pm
Free to attend - no booking required

At The Buddhist Society and online Mondays and Fridays

In person only classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays

Join Zoom Meeting 

Tibetan Meditation Class in person and online

Thursdays at 6:30pm

This term's teachings will be following B. Alan Wallace's 'The Art of Transforming the Mind: A Meditator's Guide to the Tibetan Practice of Lojong - based on the seven-point mind training of Atisha.'

Join Zoom Meeting

The Buddhist Society Summer School & Residential Retreat 2024

The 71st Buddhist Society Summer School Retreat 2024, this Year celebrates the Centenary of the Buddhist Society, 1924 - 2024 from Saturday 24th August to Saturday 31st September 2023

The week is an opportunity for newcomers and experienced practitioners to come together for a program of talks and meditation to deepen their connection with the Dharma and enhance their practice.

Morning talks will cover the early teachings of the Buddha, Afternoon talks will cover Buddhist practice, and Evening talks on a variety of topics and intended to encourage and inspire.

Speakers will include:
Ajahn Amaro
Lord High Abbot Daiko Osho-san
Venerable Bogotá Seelawimila Thera
Dr Desmond Biddulph CBE
Roy Sutherwood

Concessionary and bursary places available for newcomers and those who require assistance to attend.

Apply early as places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Introducing Buddhism with Olwen Smith

Free 7 week Course
Lesson 1. What is Buddhism? The Buddha's Life Story  
Monday 15th April at 6:30pm

- ONLINE ONLY -
Free to attend - all welcome!
An introduction to the theory and practice of Buddhist teachings and how they relate to our everyday life and problems, in the modern world

Precious Things to Remember by Ajahn Candasiri

Free Public Talk
Wednesday 15th May at 6:30pm
Held at The Buddhist Society and online
All welcome - no booking required
-click here for more info-

The Middle Way

Theravada Meditation at The Buddhist Society

Monday evenings in term time at 6:30pm

An exploration of the Theravada teachings with particular emphasis on their application in daily life.

In person and online classes on Mondays

Join Zoom Meeting

Fundamentals of Zen Buddhism in person and online

In person and online classes for members who have completed the Introducing Buddhism Course or equivalent

Monday evenings in term time at 6:30pm

This class is for those interested in learning about the Zen Way, and covers the fundamentals of Rinzai Zen training

Generating the Mind of Enlightenment by Chamtrul Rinpoche


Generating the Mind of Enlightenment by Chamtrul Rinpoche

Thursday 4th July at 7pm

Free to attend - all welcome

Correspondence Course


Especially suitable for people unable to attend regular classes/courses at the Society. The course stresses the importance of practicing Buddhism rather than thinking about it, and helps the student discover how to do so.

Zen Sunday


Last Sunday of the month in term time: next class 28th April 2024

Morning session will include an Introductory talk on form and practice

All welcome- no booking required

Zen Sundays are for newcomers wishing to learn more about Zen Buddhism and seasoned practitioners alike.

Join Zoom Meeting

Saturday Meditation

Introductory Meditation Class

Saturday at The Buddhist Society at 3pm

Free to attend - newcomers welcome

- click here for more info -

Coming Home in Daily Life - Sunday Morning Meditation Class 10am to 10:50am

Online Sunday Meditation Class

Coming Home in Daily Life
Every Sunday in term time 10am to 10:50am (except on the last Sunday of the month when there is a Zen Sunday)

Join Zoom Meeting

The Buddhist Society Digital Library

A wide selection of digital and audio books on Buddhism are now available to borrow for members of The Buddhist Society.

Click here to access

Basic Meditation Class

Thursdays at 6:30pm

"If you want peace, be peaceful." HH The Dalai Lama

Mindfulness as taught by the Buddha

This online class will be led by Colin Ash with Richard Bober and Ajahn Barry Subhaddo

Join Zoom Meeting

Learning Pali with James Whelan

-  Registration open to newcomers -
Free Beginner's Pali Classes

Tuesdays at 2pm in term time

Buddha Day 23rd May 2024

Introducing Sanskrit with James Whelan: Thursdays in term time

New course Introducing Sanskrit
with James Whelan

Introducing Sanskrit Language and Grammar and Reading Bodhicharyavatara Chapter 7

  • Learning Sanskrit Language and Grammar Course - Thursdays 12.30pm - 1.30pm.
  • Introducing Sanskrit with Bodhicharyavatara Chapter 7 -  Thursdays 1.45pm - 2.45pm

Registration still open
Join us on Zoom

House of Silent Light


The early history of Zen in America. Available now from our bookshop.

Finding Joy in Troubled Times by Khentrul Lodro Thaye Rinpoche

Thursday 11th January at 6:30pm at The Buddhist Society in person and online
Free to attend - all welcome - no booking required
Khentrul Rinpoche reveals how we can enjoy greater well-being in our lives by sharing some remarkable tools for transforming adversity, an approach which directly pertains to the modern challenges we face.

- click here for more info -

Sutra & Tantra: Gateway to the Vajrayana


Online Sutra and Tantra Course

Led by Roy Sutherwood

Online morning classes)
11am (1hr lesson)

Starts Tuesday 14th November at 11am

The ideas and principles of the Vajrayana, preparation for the path, initiations, deities, mandalas, the tantric view of the nature of mind and body and the theory and principles underlying the main meditative practices of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Tantra.

'Karma Pakshi, the 2nd Karmapa: his life and his meditations advice' by Charles Manson

Saturday 25th November at 3pm
Anniversary Day Talk
At The Buddhist Society and online
3.pm - 3.50pm talk - in person and online
4.pm - 5.30pm meditations (5 short sessions of 15 mins with 4 relax breaks) - in person only

Interfaith Week 2023

Interfaith Week encourages Connection, Communication, Community, and Cooperation. All of these require not only good will but trust in the other. The Buddha teaches us to do no harm and to do only good.

Dr Desmond Biddulph CBE President The Buddhist Society est 1924

Special Guest Meditation Teachings with Ajahn Vimokkha

Thursday 9th November Lunchtime and Basic Meditation Classes

12:40pm to 1:20pm

and 6:30pm

Free to attend -  all welcome

To step inside a mandala: The Vairocana teachings in the Rubin Museum's Mandala Lab with Tim McHenry

Wednesday 27th September at 6:30pm

Free Public Talk at The Buddhist Society and online
- all welcome - no booking required

Going Beyond Mindfulness With Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche at the Buddhist Society


 Going Beyond Mindfulness

A Public talk by Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche, author of Our Pristine Mind 

In person and online

Friday 22nd of September 2023, at 6:30pm

Click here to access the Zoom link


Special Lunchtime Teaching with Phra Kru Samu Lom

Free public teaching at The Buddhist Society and online

Friday 22nd September at 12:40pm to 1:20pm

All welcome - open to non members - free to attend

No booking required

Film Screening: Interviews with the late Mihoko Okamura by Marty Gross

marty_gross_in_conversation_with_mihoko_okamura_july_2013_kawai_kanjiro_memorial_museum_kyoto_japan.jpg

Film Screening on the Wednesday 13th September 2023 at 6:30pm

Q&A with the Director after the film

All welcome, free to attend, no booking required.

The Buddhist Society is happy to present for the first time in the United Kingdom film screenings of Interviews with the late Mihoko Okamura, a revered figure in the Japanese Arts & Crafts movement and Zen and Shin Buddhism.


A Very Happy 88th Birthday to our Patron HH The Dalai Lama!

 Thank you for your joy and your wisdom!

Coronation Celebration with Tashi Lhunpo Monks

Friday 5th May - all welcome!

The Buddhist Society Founder's Day Talk Saturday 22nd April at 3pm

Mumonkan: The Gateless Gate
Founder's Day Talk
by Michelle Bromley and Eifion Thomas

Saturday 22nd April at 3pm

All welcome
Available to join online through Zoom

Buddhist Society Publishing

Buddhism and the Environment

Click to view the video Buddhism and the Environment Symposium with Geshe Namdak, Ajahn Sucitto and Colin Ash

Buddhism and the Environment: A Symposium with Geshe Namdak, Ajahn Sucitto and Colin Ash

Introducing Buddhism with Olwen Smith Videos

Introducing Buddhism with Olwen Smith

Videos of the last online course 30th May to 11th July 2022

- Available here -

Tantra: enlightenment to revolution by Imma Ramos

Click to view the video Tantra: Enlightenment to Revolution by Imma Ramos 14 July 2021

Tantra: enlightenment to revolution - an illustrated talk by Imma Ramos

 - - - Watch the video here - - -

Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche

Click here to watch the videos of Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, a new online course led by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche between the 18th of February and the 1st of July 2021

The Noble Eightfold Path - special teaching by Mingyur Rinpoche

Click to view the video The Noble Eightfold Path by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche  24th June 2021

Click here to watch the video of The Noble Eightfold Path, an online talk given by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche on the 24th June 2021  

Introducing Buddhism Course - Video Teachings by Ven Dhammasami

The Buddhist Society’s ‘Introducing Buddhism’ course consists of seven consecutive talks designed to acquaint the newcomer with the basic fundamentals of Buddhism. Each talk aims to give an introduction to the theory and practice of Buddhist teachings and how they relate to our everyday life and problems, in the modern world.

Click Here To Watch Recordings

Climate Change on the Third Pole: Causes, Processes and Consequences

Click here to access the Working Paper published in January 2021 by the Scottish Centre for Himalayan Research for the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on Tibet

Introducing Abhidhamma Course -Video Teachings by Ven Dr Khammai Dhammasami

Videos available

Begin Again: Spring and the Promises of Renewal by Ajahn Amaro

https://thebuddhistcentre.com/sites/default/files/styles/gallery_full_size/public/users/157/groups/images/img_5095.jpg?itok=7piQO5mU

Last year's first Public Talk in Lockdown

Wednesday 22nd April 2020

Click this box to see the video

Video of Dealing with Anger and Fear on the Bodhisattva's Path by H.E. Ringu Tulku Rinpoche

Click to view the video Dealing with Anger and Fear on the Bodhisattva's Path - H.E. Ringu Tulku Rinpoche

You can watch here the video of Dealing with Anger and Fear on the Bodhisattva's Path from an online talk given on the 18th November 2020 by H.E. Ringu Tulku Rinpoche 

Sanskrit as a Sacred Language by Fabian Sanders

Click to view the video Sanskrit as a Sacred Language by Fabian Sanders 13th January 2021

The video of this talk is now available here Sanskrit as a Sacred Language,an online talk given by Fabian Sanders on the 13th January 2021

Video of Opening the Lotus by Ajahn Brahm 10th December

Click to view the video Opening the Lotus Ajahn Brahm 10th December 2020

You can watch here the video of Opening the Lotus, an online talk given by Ajahn Brahm on the 10th December

Book Shop

Books are available for purchase through The Buddhist Society website

Click Here to be redirected to the Book Shop Page

Video of Transforming Fear and Negative Emotions by Lama Zangmo

Click to view the video Transforming Fear and Negative Emotions by Lama Zangmo

You can watch here the video of Transforming Fear and Negative Emotions by Lama Gelongma Zangmo, recorded at The Buddhist Society in February.

Library

Browse our online catalogue.

Why do Buddhists Meditate?

Click to view the video Why Do Buddhists Meditate?

What is Enlightenment?

Click to view the video What is Enlightenment?

Is Buddhism a Religion or a Way of Life?

Click to view the video Is Buddhism a Religion or a Way of Life?

Donate to The Buddhist Society



Dana (Charitable Giving) helps The Buddhist Society continue to offer meditation classes, courses, lectures, library services and more. 

Click on this box to donate!

5-7-5 The Haiku of Issa - Available For Purchase Now

Kobayashi Issa (1763 - 1828) was a poet and lay Buddhist priest. This is a new translation of Issa's poetry by Professors John White and Kemmyo Taira Sato and published by The Buddhist Society Trust into a beautiful hardcover edition.

Click here to be redirected to the shop where the book is available for purchase

 

5-7-5 The Haiku of Buson Available for Purchase Now

Yosa Buson (1716-1784) was born in the village of Kema in Settsu Province (now Osaka). This new translation of Buson's verse will be of great interest to all who admire haiku. Buson's highly skilled paintings are also included.

Click here to be redirected to Shop where this book is available for purchase

 

New Publication: 5-7-5 The Haiku of Basho

A new translation by John White and Kemmyo Taira Sato of the finest haiku by Matsuo Basho, the greatest of all the Japanese haiku poets

About

History

The Buddhist Society was founded in 1924, by the late Christmas Humphreys, building on the pioneer work of the Buddhist Society of Great Britain.

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