Buddhist meditation
Silent Meditation Group
Thursdays 19, 26 April, 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 May, 7,14, 21, 28 June, 5, 12 July
6.15pm - 7.15pm,
Donation bowl
London is a busy city and you sometimes need a quiet space to calm your mind and cultivate awareness. This meditation space at Jamyang is ideal for this purpose.
This group will give you an opportunity to deepen your meditation practice and experience the benefits of doing it regularly in a group.
The sessions are very simple, with no talking and lots of time to practice in silence.
Buddhist Meditation: Insight
Mondays 14, 21, 28 May, 4, 11, 18, 25 June, 2, 9 July
7.30 - 9pm
7.30pm
Suggested donation £5
This Spring take advantage of the opportunity to learn and practice the Brahma viharas, the meditative techniques for increasing our innate capacity to love, to care, to rejoice, and to be unbiased.
This is one of three modules which focus on core technique and content in Buddhist meditation:
Shamatha (steady, clear and calm concentration)
Brahma Viharas (loving kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity)
Vipashyana (developing wisdom through insight)
The classes work as a structured and progressive course for those who wish to commit to the whole year. Alternatively, you would be welcome to drop in to any class when it suits you.
If you are a student, you can download documents for the class here:
The first theme deals with shamatha, the foundation practice of developing meditative concentration, or ‘calm abiding’. Through this practice you will learn how to skilfully deal with different habitual mind-states, such as restlessness, agitation, distractedness, dullness, and compulsive rumination, and learn how to rest the awareness on a chosen object of attention with stability and clarity. The class will introduce relevant theory as found in the Indo-Tibetan tradition, but the emphasis will be, as in each theme in this course, on the actual meditation practice. Practical matters around setting up a daily practice, including time and place for meditation, meditation postures and lifestyle considerations are also discussed.
The second theme presents traditional methods of accessing, broadening and developing wholesome emotions. The classes will primarily be working to develop the four immeasurables, - love, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity, by following traditional meditations found in the early Buddhist teachings. Known as the bramha viharas, or ‘divine abidings’ this practice reveals and counters the mental factors that cause animosity, greed and indifference in the way we relate to ourselves and others, thereby further aiding the awareness to settle in deeply wholesome, healing mental states leading to profound balance and well being.
The final theme is vipashyana, the cultivation of insight into the ultimate nature of reality. The previous practices of shamatha and the brahma viharas help to bring a steadiness, warmth and equanimity of heart and mind, which is now turned towards the practice of looking deeply within your immediate experience to inquire into its true nature. The core Buddhist practice of mindfulness will be introduced and developed in reference to the early Buddhist discourse, the Smrti Upasthana Sutra (‘the four foundations of mindfulness’). Through this practice and supporting theory you will be introduced to ways of meeting the experience of body and mind with greater clarity and understanding so as to learn how the conditions for suffering arise, and how to release yourself of these processes. Practical instruction will be given on how to skillfully handle challenges to meditation such as proliferation of thought, pain, and overwhelming emotion, as well as how to develop the introspective tools, such as mindfulness, introspection, equanimity, and analysis, all for cultivating the wisdom insight into the Buddhist teaching of selflessness that roots out ignorance and brings an end to suffering.
Meditation Practice Day (Positive emotions)
Saturday 16ht June 10am to 5pm
Suggested donation £27 (includes lunch)
Please register in advance for the day.
This is integrated with the Monday eveining classes that run through the year. For newcomers it provides a comprehensive introduction to one of the core practices of Buddhist meditation, and for those with previous experience it provides an opportunity to deepen their practice of these meditations.
Insight Meditation practice group
Saturday 5, 12 May, 4, 11 August 10.30am - 12.30pm
Suggested donation £5
With Cynthia and John Bonell
Join with like minded practitioners who want to take forward the vipassana meditation they have learned in a short retreat here or there and who feel that they would benefit form being able to meditate with others, to be able to share their experiences and learn from the experiences of their fellow meditators.
Vipassana is an age old Buddhist technique of applying heightened awareness to chosen objects so as to be able to really see them for what they are and so develop wisdom and knowledge. This new practice group will meet roughly twice a month and will initially be facilitated by Jamyang students Cynthia and John Bonell.
Kalachakra Practice Group
initiates only
Saturdays 28 April, 26 May, 7 July, 4 Aug
14:30 to 17:30
The Kalachakra group is for the practice and study of the Kalachakra sadhana in order to deepen our practice.
For information contact Jane on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Guhyasamaja Practice Group
initiates only
Sundays 27 May, 8 July
10:00am -13:00
There will be a recitation of the long sadhana and discussion. All benefit is dedicated to the long life and success of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Please also see www.guhyasamaja.com to download a copy of the sadhana.
Vajrayogini Practice Group
initiates only
Sundays 29 April, 27 May, 8 July
15:00 – 18:00
The group is for the practice and study of the Vajrayogini sadhana in order to deepen our practice. People should bring their own copy of the FPMT sadhana (in Vol 1 of the Vajrayogini Practices Books). Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for additional information about the group’s activities and Please visit http://www.vajra-yogini.org for further support with the practice.
