Buddha Community

The Bodhinyana Group meets each Wednesday (in three terms of about thirteen weeks) from 7.30 until 9.30pm in  the Bodhinyana Hall at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, Great Gaddesden. The meetings usually start with a short chant, followed by around 30 minutes meditation. One of the group will then introduce the subject for the evening and this is followed by open discussion.

The purpose of the meetings is to provide support for lay-Buddhist practice - to cover  Buddhist concepts and teachings and to relate these to our lives in the world with partners, families and work. We invite both new and more experienced practitioners. Occasionally we are fortunate to have a member of the ordained monastic Sangha to lead the meeting.

The approach we adopt is relaxed, open and participative. We are all responsible for our lives and are able to develop a trust in our own intuitive wisdom. Each member of the group may offer to lead an evening and to introduce a subject - although this is entirely voluntary. The Wednesday meetings provide a rare opportunity to discuss 'the big questions' - life, death and meaning in our lives.

The Theravada Forest Sangha tradition is clearly the major influence upon the group, although some of us have experience of other faith traditions. We are very grateful to, and encourage a close relationship with, the monastic Sangha at Amaravati.

For further details  email to :   info at www.buddhacommunity.org

Programme  - Autumn 2007

Essential Buddhism Course

This autumn we are repeating the 'Essential Buddhism Course'  initially held a few years back. All are welcome to attend and you do not need to register. Ideally you will be able to come to every evening, but this is not mandatory. The programme comprises a mixture of sessions (marked with an 'S') accompanied by notes, which are attached below, and more open evenings which reflect upon or relate to the 'noted' sessions. Read the overview to get a better idea of what is intended and find out about the reading list.