New here?

You are welcome, whether you have practised for years or have never meditated before. You do not need to be Buddhist to join us.

What happens when we meet

Meditation sessions. We introduce Buddhist meditation techniques and practise them together in a calm and supportive setting. Sessions are designed to be accessible to beginners as well as experienced practitioners.

Dharma discussions. We explore the teachings of the Buddha in an open, conversational way. Topics have included the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, Buddhist ethics in daily life, and mindfulness and compassion.

Gatherings. We also come together for collective practice, including chanting, reflection and sharing the teachings.

Coming for the first time

Choose a session. Our Sessions page lists what we hold each week, and how to join online.
Ask us anything first, if you like. If you have a question before you come, write to us and a volunteer will reply.
Join us. Our meditation sessions introduce the techniques we practise, so you can follow along even if you have never meditated or read about Buddhism.

See session times

Common questions

Do I need to be Buddhist? No. People with no background in Buddhism are welcome, and so are people who are simply curious.

Do I need any experience? No. Our meditation sessions are designed for beginners as well as for experienced practitioners, and our Dharma discussions are open conversations rather than lectures.

Which tradition do you follow? We are not tied to one school of Buddhism. People from every Buddhist tradition are welcome, and our discussions focus on core teachings such as the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

Can I become a member? Yes. Anyone who supports the purposes of the Society and agrees to be bound by its rules can apply. Our Get in touch page explains how.

Buddhist traditions

Buddhism has been practised for about 2,500 years and has taken different forms as it spread across Asia and, more recently, the rest of the world. Three broad traditions are often described:

Theravāda, “the way of the elders”, is the main tradition in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Its scriptures are preserved in the Pali language.
Mahāyāna, “the great vehicle”, is the main tradition in China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. It includes schools such as Chan or Zen and Pure Land.
Vajrayāna, sometimes called Tibetan Buddhism, is practised in Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia and across the Himalayan region.

All of them trace their teachings to the Buddha, and people from each of them are welcome at our sessions.

A few words you may hear

The Buddha: “The awakened one”: the title given to Siddhartha Gautama, who taught across northern India about 2,500 years ago.
Dharma: The teachings of the Buddha. In the Pali language the same word is Dhamma.
Sangha: The Buddhist community. Traditionally the word means the community of monks and nuns, or of those who have realised the teachings. It is also used more widely for people who practise together.
Metta: Loving-kindness: goodwill towards all beings. Metta is the Pali word and maitri the Sanskrit.
Sutta, sutra: A discourse of the Buddha. Sutta is the Pali word and sutra the Sanskrit.
Dukkha: Suffering, or the unsatisfactoriness of life. The first of the Four Noble Truths.
Karma: Intentional action, and the results that follow from it. In Pali the word is kamma.
Nirvana: The end of suffering, reached when craving ends. In Pali the word is nibbāna.
Bodhisattva: One who is on the way to awakening. In the Mahāyāna traditions, one who seeks awakening for the sake of all beings.