What We Do
Programme and Activities
Three Principal Aspects of the Path - meeting in person
We are currently studying the Three Principal Aspects of the Path. These are; renunciation, bodhicitta and the wisdom of shunyata, which are the basies of the Mahayana Buddhist path to enlightenment. All are welcome to join at any time. We meet fortnightly on a Wednesday evening at High Ham, near Langport for meditation and discussion.
'Wheel of Sharp Weapons' - An Exploration of Mahayana Thought Transformation
Led by Martin Kerrigan
The course is on Zoom on alternate Tuesday evenings, starting from 6th February 24, from 7.30 to 9 pm.
The practices of Thought Transformation (Lojong) particularly teach us how to transform problems into the spiritual path, and how we can use these to overcome the ‘inner enemies’ of self-cherishing and self-grasping ignorance. These are the main obstacales to spiritual development, both in overcoming our own problems and in fulfilling our potential to be truly of benefit to others.
For further information, including materials and Zoom link, please contact Martin or Sara at fbtmartin@tiscali.co.uk
Reading Circle - women in Buddhisum
Currently studying Dakini Power by Michaela Haas.
Facilitated by Claire Rutigliano.
We hold a reading circle by zoom, once a fortnight, on a Tuesday evenings from 7.30 pm – 8.45pm . We read a chapter from a book at home, then have a respectful discussion on inspirations and thoughts this has brought up. Currently we are reading ‘Dakini Power’ by Michaela Haas, in which she tells the stories of twelve Extraordinary Women shaping the transmission of Tibetan Buddhism in the West. So at the moment our thoughts are centred around being Buddhist and a woman today.
Everyone is welcome. We start with a Buddhist meditation and end with a Buddhist dedication. We only ask that people are happy to exchange views and respect others whose views might be different. Do join us in our exploration of Buddhism through books, for lively discussion and gentle mediation. If you are interested please contact Claire at hello@saraswatibuddhistgroup.org
Wellbeing Group - in person
16 Guidelines, Sharing Circle and Mindful Art.
A discussion and activity group with meditation, discussion of universal values, sharing and listening, and mindful art activities (drawing, clay modelling and painting).
We meet every Monday morning from 11am until 12.30pm at Elm Grove, East Street, Drayton TA10 0JZ. Call Nick on: 07908 830502 or email: guidelineswellbeing@icloud.com for further information.
Occasional Sunday Afternoons
These explore Buddhist topics through discussion and meditation. They are announced on the Saraswati email group and
are mostly open to anyone. (Online and face to face, depending on circumstances).
End of Life Support
The End of Life initiative at Saraswati Buddhist Group is aimed at supporting our membership at the end of life both spiritually and practically. This is developing work which includes periodic workshops, discussions and teachings. Our objective is open, fearless consideration and dialogue about how we approach death.
Special Events
We have visiting teachers and events periodically. Please see our Facebook page or contact us by emailing hello@saraswatibuddhistgroup.org for more information about the current program or additional events.
Meditation
Meditation develops our awareness and harnesses the potential of our mind. Whilst it is only the mind that can meditate, the mind’s relationship with the body makes a suitable body posture essential for meditation. Therefore, the first thing is to learn is the posture, especially making the back straight.
Then what you do with your mind is to train it to absorb with beneficial meditation topics or objects. We focus on internal objects that have links to our everyday lives. Importantly, the effect of meditation is to enable us to live a better, more integrated, more conscious life. This improves our relationship with ourselves and with other people, our environment, and our activities.
Some kinds of meditation use analytical, conceptual thoughts to induce knowledge and understanding, known as insight or wisdom.
Other kinds of meditation train us to concentrate single pointedly on a single object. This enables us to eliminate extraneous, intrusive thoughts, and thereby learn to control our mind in the situations we encounter in daily life.
Meditation has the potential to transform us by deeply changing our mental habits. It is especially beneficial when our meditations are based on study of Dharma, which is the experience and process of eliminating suffering. We can learn the methods to do this through attending classes and reading, but the actual transformation only comes through meditation, which integrates what we have learned with practice
Equanimity Meditation
Introductory Breath Meditation
Meditation on love and compassion starting with self compassion
Meditation on six breath meditation objects
Meditations from a series of lunchtime meditations under the auspices of Mindfulness UK.
We would recommend that although these are video and hence visual sessions recorded on zoom, you may find it less distracting to simply listen to them.
Meditation on kindness.
For more meditations, why not visit our archive of recordings? We regularly add new recordings to this resource.
Just click on the button below to view the archive. You can listen directly through your browser or via Spotify.
Please note this will take you to another website.
Buddhist Roots
Find out more about the origins of Buddhism and how Saraswati Buddhist Group honours these traditions.
Resources
A range of useful resources including recorded meditations and links to deepen knowledge.