Celebrating 100 Years of
The Buddhist Society
1924 to 2024
Zoom link * The Buddhist Society 100th Anniversary Day Celebration
Saturday 23rd November 11am to 4pm
All welcome - no booking required - free to attend
-click here for more info or to join online through Zoom-
Today's Classes and Courses
The Middle Way - Quarterly Journal of The Buddhist Society
- Autumn Term -
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| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
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Buddhist Society Publishing
The Practice of Buddhism by Kalu Rinpoche
The Buddhist Society Centenary Memorial Lecture Series on Tibetan Buddhism
Wednesday 27th November at 6.30pm
Free online talk to through Zoom
--- click here for zoom link and more info ---
Zen Sunday Online
Usually held on the last Sunday of the month in term time: 24th November 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.
Introducing Buddhism with Rachel Hilton
Free 7 week Course
Lesson 6. The Paramitas
Monday 25 November 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
Basic Meditation Class with Guest Teacher Ajahn Barry Subhaddo online 28th November 2024
Basic Meditation Class in person and online with Guest Teacher Ajahn Barry Subhaddo
Free to attend - no booking required
Congratulations to Nihon Hidankyo for the Nobel Prize for Peace
Letter of congratulation from Bhikkhu G.Nagase
London Peace Pagoda
- - - - click here for more info - - - -
*New Book* Buddhism and Women edited by Darcy Flynn
Milarepa’s Song of Happiness by Lama Zangmo
The Buddhist Society Centenary Memorial Lecture on Tibetan Buddhism
- The video of this talk will be free to view online soon -
Free Public Talk
Held on 30th October 2024
- - - click here for more info - - -
Ajahn Amaro - Theravada Buddhism in a world of many faiths – living interactions and collaborations
Wednesday 23rd October at 6.30pm
The Buddhist Society Centenial Memorial Lecture Series on Theravadan Buddhism
- The video of this talk will be freely available to view on the website very soon -
* * *
- All welcome - free to attend - no booking required -
The Six Most Important Things Every Meditation Practitioner Should Know to Reach Awakening by Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche
The Buddhist Society Centenary Memorial Lecture on TIbetan Buddhism
Dzogchen Master Longchenpa's Wisdom on
the Six Most Important Things
Every Meditation Practitioner Should Know to Reach Awakening
by Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche,
author of Our Pristine Mind
- - Video recording of this talk will be available to view online soon - -
Wednesday 16th October at 6.30pm
at The Buddhist Society in person and online through Zoom
Free to attend - all welcome -
The Integration of Sutra and Tantra in Tibetan Buddhism by Robert Thurman
The Buddhist Society Centenary Memorial Lecture on Tibetan Buddhism
- free recording available soon in the video library -
Wednesday 2nd October at 6:30pm
Online through Zoom
All welcome!
The Paramitas, The Six Perfections by H.E. Ling Rinpoche
The Buddhist Society Centenary Memorial Lecture
on Tibetan Buddhism in Association with Tibet House
Wednesday 18th Sepember at 6pm
at The Buddhist Society in person and online
* * * Free video recording will be posted soon * * *
Click here for more info
The Buddhist Society 100th Anniversary Memorial Lecture Series on Japanese Buddhism
Pure Land, Zen and Tendai Esoteric Buddhism
Thursday 13th June to Wednesday 17th July 2024
- 3 talks on each tradition -
Held at The Buddhist Society
in person and online at 6.30pm
Pure Land - Kemmyo Taira Sato - Pure Land
Zen - Thomas Yuhō Kirchner - Zen
Tendai - Shoshin Ichishima - Tendai
Free to attend
- click here to find out more -
Sponsored by The Numata Foundation BDK
* Recognising the Nature of Mind by Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche *
* Special May Bank Holiday talk *
Monday 27th May at 3pm to 5pm
* Celebrating 100 Years of The Buddhist Society 1924-2024 *
- Thanks to everyone who visited us to make it such a special day -
Buddha Day London Eye Light Up 23rd May 2024
Tonight, The London Eye will be illuminating with a special design to mark Vesak – celebrating The Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and final nirvana, the day he passed away.
The dynamic light show opens with a representation of the dharma wheel – one of the oldest symbols of Buddhism. Eight gold lights represent the wheel’s eight spokes, signifying the Noble Eightfold Path to wisdom and compassion.
The design then moves into the Ensō circle, a sacred symbol in the Zen school of Buddhism and often called the circle of enlightenment, representing vast emptiness and infinite potential. Finally, we end with the colours of the International Buddhist flag.
We wish all Buddhists celebrating throughout May a very peaceful and happy Vesak.
[Video Credit: London Eye]
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)
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
Karma Pakshi Meditations with Charles Manson
* New Monthly Meditation Class *
- Starts Thursday 12th September at 6.30pm -
And will be available on the following dates
3rd October, 7th November, 5th December
Held at The Buddhist Society in person and online
- Free to attend -
- click here to register or for zoom link and more information -
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
Mumonkan (The Gateless Gate) by Mumon Ekai with commentary by Soko Morinaga Roshi
Mumonkan,
translated as The Gateless Gate, is a collection of 48 Zen koans
compiled in the early 13th century by the Chinese Zen master Mumon Ekai
(1183-1260). The Gateless Gate is a central work of the Rinzai School of
Zen Buddhism.
The Gateless Gate will be available to buy at a special discount price of £15.00 (excl. postage & packaging).
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
- click here for more info -
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.'
Learning Pali Online with James Whelan
- Registration open to newcomers -
Free Beginner's Pali Classes
Wednesdays in term time at 11:45am
Introducing Sanskrit Online with James Whelan
Wednesdays in term time at 1.45pm
- Introducing Sanskrit with Bodhicharyavatara
Wednesdays 1.45pm - 3.pm
Registration open to newcomers
Join us on Zoom
Buddha Day 2024 Celebration at The Buddhist Society and online
Buddha Day Meeting Celebrating Vesak
* 11am 'Buddha Day - Buddha Nature' *
by Roy Sutherwood
Saturday 18th May 2024
11am to 4.30pm
* 3pm Puja and Dharma Talk *
by Venerable Seelawimala
Head of the London Buddhist Vihara
and Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain
ALL WELCOME!
Join us on Zoom
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-
Buddhism Comes to Britain with Dr Elizabeth Harris
Buddhist Society Centenary Founder's Day Talk
Saturday 27th April at 3pm followed by reception in the Library
All welcome to attend in person or online
Correspondence Course
Course packs will now be dispatched no earlier than Monday 9th September 2024
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.
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
Saturday Meditation
Introductory Meditation Class
Saturday at The Buddhist Society at 3pm
Free to attend - newcomers welcome
- click here for more info -
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
Mindfulness as taught by the Buddha
This online class will be led by Colin Ash with Richard Bober and Ajahn Barry Subhaddo
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 1924Special 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
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
Buddhism and the Environment
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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?
What is Enlightenment?
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.