Buddhism
Buddhism Classes
Learn about Buddhism
Our friendly classes cover the basics of Buddhism, how to live it day to day, and an introduction to Buddhist meditation
- Evening courses on Tuesdays: Next one starts on 9th January, then 5th March
- Weekly open session: Tools for Living your Life – popular and informal classes most Saturday mornings at 11am. Just turn up a few minutes before
I found the content on ethics incredibly useful and of immediate impact
Next Buddhism Classes
Our Teachers
Our teachers are ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Order and those preparing for ordination. They are well-trained and experienced practitioners, communicating from their own experience.
Going Deeper
What next?
If you want to carry on after an introductory course, our Buddhism Going Deeper courses cover several Buddhist themes in depth, as well as further meditation practice.
Different six-week blocks take place throughout the year on Tuesday evenings, so you can sign up for one course after another.
Beyond the Courses
Moving on from the Courses
To deepen your understanding of Buddhism, and get more involved with the Centre, you might want to try:
- Joining a Dharma Training group – see below
- Helping out at the Centre – a great way of feeling part of things
- Going on retreat, listening to talks, and coming to Buddhist festivals can all help deepen your practice
- Beginning to feel you are a Buddhist, or part of our Sangha (community) is always a very personal thing and often quite gradual – there’s no pressure
Dharma Training
After Going Deeper, our small weekly Dharma Training groups give a thorough grounding in the Buddha’s teaching or Dharma, and Triratna’s approach, with an emphasis on putting them into practice in your life. You might hear these being referred to under their old name of study groups. During the first year, you will probably work out if practising Buddhism with Triratna is for you and you may want to commit to this by becoming a Mitra. A further three year course of Mitra Dharma Training is then available.
Joining a Dharma Training Group
Dharma Training groups usually meet on Wednesday or Thursday evenings. They are very popular and there’s sometimes a waiting list. Ask to speak to one of the Mitra Convenors to find out more, or contact us at info@manchesterbuddhistcentre.org.uk
Dharma training here is free, but we encourage you to join in and give to support the Centre.
Dharma Training Materials
The materials for the Triratna Dharma Training Course for Mitras are freely available on the main Triratna website. Our Centre’s library has copies of many of the books we use in Dharma training.
What is Buddhism?
We can change
The basic message of Buddhism is straightforward and practical: we can’t rely on anything to be fixed or permanent, our actions have consequences, and we can change.
One way of looking at how we can change is through Buddhism’s three-fold path of Ethics, Meditation and Wisdom
Ethics
We try and live our lives within the ethical guidelines that the Buddha taught –
- Not harming anything
- Being generous
- Living a simple and contented life
- Speaking truthfully
- Living mindfully
These guidelines help us to live with a clear mind and develop positive feelings. Acting more skilfully also has a positive impact on those around us.
Meditation
By meditating regularly, we develop both awareness and positive feelings. We become more mindful of our actions, thoughts and bodily sensations and can see more clearly their effect on us and others. We also become more positive towards ourselves and those around us.
Ceasing to do evil, cultivating the good, purifying the heart: This is the teaching of the Buddhas
Wisdom
Through these and other practices, we begin to see life as it really is – that we and everything around us are changing all the time, with many factors at play. We also see that we are deeply connected with others.
We learn that grasping after things to be how we want them to be rather than how they are, just causes us and others pain. We can change our perspective to help us feel more liberated and compassionate.
Buddhism Resources
Course Materials and Handouts
Background reading is freely available in printable pdf format on the Course Resources page. We sometimes use them at Saturday’s Tools for Living sessions too
Other Resources
You can listen to talks and led meditations on the talks page. There’s a wide range of meditation kit and introductory books in our shop and we also have a reference library.
You yourself must strive. The Buddhas only point the way
Manchester Buddhist Centre
16-20 Turner Street
Northern Quarter, M4 1DZ
info@manchesterbuddhistcentre.org.uk
0161 834 9232
Please contact us by email when we're closed
Charity registration no. 514937
More about our charity
Opening Times:
• Tuesday - Thursday 11am - 3pm• Saturday 10.30am - 2.30pm
• Sundays 2nd, 9th, 16th December 10.30am - 2.30pm
• Closed 24th December - 1st January inclusive
• Bodywise opening
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