London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre
Diamond Way Buddhism in London
Our London Buddhist centre is the longest established Diamond Way Buddhist centre in the UK. It has been at its present location in the heart of London since 1998. We are located close to both Holborn and Chancery Lane London Underground stations. Our popular meditation classes have proved highly effective for busy people living or working in London who want to learn to meditate with authentic Buddhist methods.
Our public meditation evenings are Mondays and Thursdays. Anyone is welcome to come along – there is no need to book or call ahead. All regular meditation sessions are free of charge; donations to the charity are always welcome.
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Beginners’ night – Monday evenings at 7pm
Suited especially for those who are new to Diamond Way Buddhism or to meditation in general, our Monday evenings usually start with a cup of tea upstairs for those who arrive a little early. An experienced Buddhist practitioner then gives a 30-minute introduction to a fundamental Buddhist topic, such as Buddhism in the West or Meditation. The aim of the talks is always on what can be applied in daily life and what is useful to know in order to support our meditation practice. There is the opportunity to ask questions to clarify what was talked about. Then we meditate together for about 25 minutes. The meditation is guided, so you just need to follow along.
Regular meditation evening – Thursdays at 8pm
Thursdays, our busiest nights, are mostly attended by regular Diamond Way practitioners – newcomers are also welcome. A practitioner from the group will give a talk on a prepared topic for about ten minutes. Brief instructions are given on how to meditate. We do the same guided meditation on the 16th Karmapa that is done in Diamond Way centres worldwide. This meditation is easy to learn and practice, but is very profound and has a cumulative effect on the mind, leading to greater clarity, calmness and joyfulness.
Other activities in the London Diamond Way Buddhist centre
We frequently socialise and eat together after meditation and newcomers are welcome to join us. In addition to our public evenings, we are also open at other times for our regular members. We have a small Buddhist library with a collection of books focussing on meditation in the Karma Kagyu lineage, as well as titles of more general Buddhist interest. We also have a selection of meditation cushions, malas (beads used for meditation), texts, and Diamond Way Buddhist books and magazines for sale.
Lecture in the Diamond Way Centre
We often organise lectures and events by visting Eastern and Western Buddhist teachers. These take place either in the centre, or for popular events, in a central London venue. Lectures by experienced teachers are a precious opportunity to deepen our understanding of Buddhist meditation and philosophy, and their application in daily life. For those who already have or are ready to start a regular Diamond Way meditation practice such as the Four Foundational Practices, we also organise meditation retreats around the country.
Learning more about Diamond Way
The best way to learn more about Diamond Way Buddhism is to come to our centre. Buddhism, while it has a deep and coherent philosophy, is primarily experiential. There are many kinds of Buddhism for people with different goals, temperaments and styles, and you’ll never know which is right for you without trying. You can also get more information about our methods, our teachers, and our history on this site and on the main Diamond Way Worldwide site.
Update on the Beaufoy Institute – The New London Diamond Way Buddhist centre
After local community consultation, the planning proposal to bring the historic Beaufoy Institute back to life has now been submitted by Diamond Way Buddhism. For more information on the Beaufoy and our plans, please follow the link New London Buddhist Centre.
| Contact Details | |
| Address | London Diamond Way Buddhist Centre 27 Johns Mews London WC1N 2NS |
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020 7916 2282 |
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london@dwbuk.org |
| London Centre Regular Meditation Times | |
| Mondays 7.00 pm | Introduction to Buddhism and guided Buddhist meditation Suitable for those new to Buddhism and meditation or wishing to learn more. Starts with a 30-minute talk on a key Buddhist topic, given by an experienced Buddhist practitioner, and a chance for questions and answers. Followed by a guided Buddhist meditation – 16th Karmapa meditation. This meditation is suitable for newcomers and experienced Buddhists alike. |
| Thursdays 8.00 pm | Guided Buddhist meditation Thursdays are our busiest meditation sessions and start with a 10-minute talk on a Buddhist topic, given by a member of the group. This is followed by a guided Buddhist meditation – 16th Karmapa meditation (see above). Thursdays are a good chance to get to know the friends who practice at our London Buddhist Centre as we often have a social activity after the meditation session. |
| Other times | We are open at other times of the week for members to use the centre for personal meditation practice, and also often have Buddhist activities at weekends. If you wish to find out more, please ask in the centre. |
| Website | buddhism-london.org |
| Online Media |  Follow our Diamond Way London Buddhist Centre on TwitterRead posts relating to our London Buddhist Centre on our Blog |
