Classes held at the Centre:
Discover Buddhism and Meditation
- Tuesday 8pm-9pm
- Saturday 10:30am-11:30am
These classes offer an introduction to meditation and Buddhism. Sessions last for one hour and are led by experienced students of Lama Jampa Thaye. Each starts with a simple meditation practiced for 20 minutes, followed by a concise talk about a particular aspect of Buddhism. Questions are encouraged and there’s time to chat over tea and coffee afterwards. All are welcome and we are able to accommodate all levels of experience.
Saturdays host a rolling 20-week course on Buddhist meditation and philosophy and you can join at any point in the cycle.
When Tuesday classes are running, the content changes regularly, with updates posted on Facebook and Meetup.
There is no charge for these sessions but we do encourage donations, which help us to continue the activities of the Centre. A suggested amount is £5 but it’s entirely up to you. You can donate here: https://www.sakyabristol.org/donations/.
Weekly Meditation
- Wednesdays 10.30-11.30am
This weekly meditation class is open to all – those new to meditation or those who would like to practice together in the shrine room at the Sakya Buddhist Centre. The sessions will begin with full instructions, with time at the end for refreshments.
Online sessions
The Buddhist path, part 2: Entering and travelling different Buddhist paths
- Mondays 8-9pm (25 April – 23 May)
Starting Monday 25 April at 8pm, over five weeks we’ll cover what it means to become a Buddhist, what paths there are to travel – and to which destinations – and end a talk on what it is that inspires people to seek enlightenment, the state of inner freedom endowed with wisdom, compassion and energy or power.
Each session will last an hour and will open with meditation (full instructions given), followed by a talk, with time for discussion and questions too. The course will last for five weeks and whilst there is no charge a suggested donation of £5 per session or whatever you feel able to offer is most welcome. You can donate online here.
There’s no need to book, and no prior knowledge of Buddhism or meditation is necessary. Whilst this is part 2, you don’t need to have attended part 1 to come along; just email us at bristol@dechen.org for the Zoom link.
We’ll run these courses regularly during term time so watch this space for updates – our next course will follow in September.
Lojong
- Mondays 8-9pm
On Monday evenings at 8.00pm there will be a practice session for Lojong, or Mind Training. Mind training is a practice which is accessible to all Buddhist practitioners whether new or experienced. It is a method to undermine our habitual selfishness and start to prioritise others, we can use it right now as all it needs is our self-clinging and disturbing emotions. The sessions will be the actual Lojong practice from taking refuge, guru yoga, generating loving kindness and compassion, exchanging oneself with others and conclusion. It is not a study or discussion group. Explanation of the practice will be given. To attend the session please email lesley.whittaker80@gmail.com for the Zoom link and also the lineage prayer and structure of the practice.
To help anyone who has been attending classes or who would like to find out more about buddhism here are some videos by our Buddhist teacher, Lama Jampa Thaye. These videos illustrate a series of twenty topics, which we follow at some of our classes.
These classes are open to everyone.
Day |
Time |
Class/Course |
Suggested donation |
| Mondays | 8-9pm | Lojong – online | £5 |
| Tuesdays | 8-9pm | Discover Buddhism – at the Centre | £5 |
| Wednesdays | 10.30-11.30am | Meditation class – at the Centre | £5 |
| Saturdays | 10.30 – 11.30am | Discover Buddhism – at the Centre | £5 |
You may also like to visit one of our other groups in: Bath | Barnstaple | Exeter |
Tibetan Language Classes
The Centre runs classical Tibetan language classes for those wishing to be able to read and understand Tibetan Buddhist texts. These classes are intended for those who are new to the Tibetan language and who wish to master the fundamental skills of the alphabet and pronunciation. This is also an opportunity to learn some vocabulary including basic dharma terms. You can apply to join these classes by emailing the Centre: bristol@dechen.org.
Study Groups
Study groups provide the opportunity to explore and discuss texts taught by Lama Jampa Thaye and other visiting lamas, going into more detail on topics covered in the Introduction to Buddhism classes.
For further info on any of our classes, contact us at bristol@dechen.org or visit the calendar