Still Learning
Welcome to Still Learning, a not-for-profit education service working in partnership with the Sheffield Buddhist Centre. Still Learning provides high-quality tours and workshops about Buddhism delivered by experienced practising Buddhists. Our sessions are fun and interactive, as well as informative. Select from the options below to find out more about us and what we could offer your school
Why Visit Sheffield Buddhist Centre?
Sheffield Buddhist Centre is a beautiful converted church situated in Walkley, Sheffield. We offer fun, interactive and informative tours of the Buddhist Centre, tailor-made to suit all key-stages. Tours usually last for 2 hours.
Your pupils will experience first-hand the stilling atmosphere and the sights, sounds and smells of a Buddhist Centre, complete with two beautiful Shrine Rooms, a variety of Buddhist artwork and statues, and traditional Buddhist artefacts.
Activities listed below.
What does it cost? Tours typically last 2 hours. Groups cost £4 per pupil. The minimum group charge is £75 per visit.
When should I book? Please try to make any bookings at least one month in advance, which will help us to accommodate your preferred dates.
Facilities: Disabled access is possible, and signing for the deaf and hard-of-hearing is available by arrangement.
Choose your Activities
Below are some examples of popular themes and workshops we offer, although we are always happy to work with you to develop new activities to suit the needs of your class. Most of these activities can be adapted to suit any key stage.
Suitable for all Key Stages
Stilling Activity
Very popular with both students and teachers, this exercise will give you a taste of what it’s like to meditate. Learn some techniques from experienced Buddhist meditators that you can use every day to stay calm, grounded and positive. You will be amazed how still and quiet your pupils can be!
It is not a specifically Buddhist exercise and is therefore suitable for people of all religions. It can be easily adapted to suit all ages.
The Buddha's Life Story
How did the Buddha become the Buddha? Who was he before? What is enlightenment? An understanding of the Buddha’s life story is an indispensible introduction to the religion. We draw out the key aspects using a beautiful painting that depicts the different events from the story.
3 Jewels of Buddhism
We often theme our tours and visits around the Three Jewels of Buddhism – The Buddha (representing the ultimate potential for human growth), The Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha) and The Sangha (the Buddhist community). Find out why the Three Jewels are common and central to all schools of Buddhism.
Different types of Buddhists
Look at a slideshow of photographs of different Buddhists. What do the monks have in common? What about Buddhist nuns? Do you have to be a monk or nun to be a Buddhist? Learn about life as a Buddhist and the different types of Buddhism around the world.
Ethics and karma
Buddhist Images, Mandalas, Statues & Artwork
Guess the artefact
Questions and Answers
Buddhist Shrines & Mantras
Suitable for KS1
Siddhartha and the Swan
Especially suitable for KS2
The Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara
Hear the story of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, the embodiment of compassion, followed by a short art exercise. Pupils are asked to think of a way they could help someone and to write and decorate that on a paper hand. We then put all the hands together to make our own class version of the thousand-armed Avalokitesvara.
A fun and engaging way of bringing the ethical precepts to life, and of illustrating the power we have to impact positively on those around us. It can be adapted to suit all ages, but is particularly recommended for KS2.
Suitable for KS1 & KS2
The King and Buddha drama
Workshops in Schools
Why Book a workshop? If you can’t get to the Buddhist Centre, why not bring the world of Buddhism into your classroom with workshops tailor-made to meet your learning objectives?
Our interactive and informative workshops can help bring to life any aspect of Buddhist life and teachings, including a taste of Buddhist meditation with our popular ‘stilling exercises’, suitable for people of any faith.
Run by enthusiastic and committed Buddhists, who can speak directly from their own experience about what it’s like to live by the Buddha’s teachings.
Minimum charge £75
Half day workshop £250
Full day workshop £350
We are committed to finding a way to give students a first hand experience of Buddhism whatever the budget. Please get in touch with us to find out more.
When should I book? Please try to make any bookings at least one month in advance, which will help us to accommodate your preferred dates.
Meet the Team
Jordana
I first became interested in Buddhism as a teenager from a chance encounter with a book found in my school library. I was immediately struck by how Buddhism taught that I could change how I experience the world and that I could grow as a person. However, it wasn’t until many years later at the Sheffield Buddhist centre, that I began to commit myself fully to Buddhist practice as I saw that practicing Buddhist teachings was having a very positive impact on my life and on the lives of others. I was delighted to join the Still Learning Team in November 2018. My previous work has been as a teacher and as an artist and I feel privileged to be able to bring those skills together with my passion for Buddhism in order to teach children and young people about Buddhism.
Garava
My involvement with Buddhism began some 25 years ago, when I went on an introductory course at Croydon Buddhist Centre. I was immediately struck by what I learnt about Buddhist ethics as being extremely practical, and yet deeply profound, ideals. Before the course was over, I was sure that I wanted to become a Buddhist, and that the Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha) offered the best way for me to live my life. I was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order in 1999, and have been involved in teaching Buddhism and meditation ever since. I joined the Still Learning team in spring 2013, and constantly gain great delight in talking to children, and young adults, about Buddhism. The questions they ask, and the responses to our workshops and tours, can be both challenging and rewarding! I don’t feel that there could be much better use of my time than teaching children about such things as ethics, how we can have a positive effect on the world, and what Buddhism is all about. I was delighted to join the Still Learning Team in November 2018. My previous work has been as a teacher and as an artist and I feel privileged to be able to bring those skills together with my passion for Buddhism in order to teach children and young people about Buddhism.
Aryadasa
I first came into contact with Buddhism in my final year of university when I attended an introductory course at the Sheffield Buddhist Centre. I was instantly captivated by the revolutionary yet practical nature of the Dharma (teachings of the Buddha). I began to meditate and apply Buddhism into my daily life and found that it actually worked! I had started to view the world differently and in a way that made me happier. I gained great confidence by this and became a committed Buddhist practitioner soon afterwards. I enjoy sharing with others what I have learnt and how Buddhism has transformed me so I was delighted to join the Still Learning team in October 2013.
Dharmamayi
I first became involved in Buddhism in 2006. I had only been interested in learning to meditate as a way to improve my health, but I got far more than I had bargained for! I was immediately very struck by the compassion and wisdom of the Buddhist approach, and soon realised that I wanted this to be the focus of my life. I have been heavily involved in our Sheffield Buddhist Sangha (community) since then, and was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order in June 2016 and given the name Dharmamayi, which means ‘she who is filled with Dharma’ (meaning the truth, or the teachings of the Buddha). In 2009 Bodhinaga and I launched Still Learning, and we have gone from strength to strength since then. I care passionately about social cohesion, and see a real need to educate young people about different beliefs and ways of living as a way to combat intolerance and prejudice, and as a crucial way of promoting unity, harmony and mutual understanding.
Bodhinaga
I was first taught to meditate as a teenage pupil at a Roman Catholic school in Sheffield and it opened a spiritual door in my life and helped me to get through some difficult times at school. After a few years in the spiritual wilderness I encountered the Sheffield Buddhist Centre in 2004 and my life was transformed. I had met a room full of like-minded people and discovered that there had been a tradition of people like me (Buddhists) dating back for 2,500 years! I eventually decided to leave the business I had co-founded to focus all of my energies on my Buddhist practice. When we visit schools it is very important to me that pupils get an accurate picture of Buddhism and that they can see that Buddhists are ordinary people, just like them! Also, the teachers and pupils seem to benefit greatly from being introduced to meditation (as I was back at my school) and these are everyday techniques that anyone can use – whatever your religion.
Mindfulness in Schools
We also offer mindfulness sessions or courses for pupils of all ages, and also for staff members. Please contact us for further details.
Teachers Notes
Also, our friends at Clear Vision in Manchester have been working to bring Buddhism into schools for a number of years. They have produced lots of great resources to help staff and pupils study Buddhism. There are some very useful resources available and you can access them by clicking this link.
Contact Still Learning
0114 234 9994
Y4 visited the Sheffield Buddhist Centre earlier this week. Find out what Jade Class thought on their blog https://t.co/kZrDApD0PJ
Brilliant morning with the Y4s, thank you for being such an amazing group!
Y4 visited the Sheffield Buddhist Centre earlier this week. Find out what Jade Class thought on their blog https://t.co/kZrDApD0PJ
Work with @Y6Monteney @MonteneyPrimary this afternoon reflecting on #impermanence such great students!
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