What kind of meditation do you practice?

We offer instruction in a number of meditation practices, including:

·  Loving-kindness (Metta) meditation and breathing meditation (Anapanasati) from the Theravadan tradition; 

·   Giving-and-receiving meditation (Tonglen) and the Tibetan form of insight meditation known as Mahamudra (from the Vajrayana tradition); 

·   Arising yoga or archetype-based meditations in the Vajrayana tantric tradition. These meditations use visualization and mantra to focus on specific areas of contemplation such as compassion, healing or discriminating wisdom.

Is there a cost to join the group?

There is no charge to join the group. Group members donate as they can to cover the costs of operating our meditation centre. If we have a retreat there will generally be a fee for expenses or administrative fees, but these are based on actual costs rather than on generating a profit.

We do not charge fees for teaching, which is offered according to the Buddhist tradition of Dana or generosity. Dana is a mutual giving, a recognition that teachers are offering their experience and insight and sangha members are offering their time and energy.

How many people meet during most sessions?

Between eight and fifteen people come to our morning sessions. These sessions are generally available in person and concurrently online via Zoom.

Thursday evening sessions generally have twenty to thirty people in attendance, in person and online.

What form of Buddhism is taught in this group?

We are probably best described as a subset of what has become known as “Western Buddhism”, which is often a synthesis of a number of classical traditions. Inspired by the teachings of the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche we follow two main traditions — the Theravada teachings that are still alive in Thailand, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, and the Vajrayana teaching, often referred to as “Tibetan Buddhism”. 

For a biography of Rinpoche see this page.