As we enter a future of increased physical isolation finding skilful ways to connect online as a Sheffield Sangha is becoming more important.
Slack is a simple way for all the Sangha to stay connected and to find out about upcoming events and Centre news.
Contact us to sign up.
At the Sheffield Buddhist Centre we’ve updated some of the activities at the Centre in line with the new lockdown regulations:
- Sangha night will be on Zoom only (starting from today Tuesday January 5)
- Groups won’t be able to meet either inside or outside the Centre
- We can still meet one other person in the Centre garden
- The morning meditation will carry on being open for people to attend in person.
It is still allowed for people to attend “places of worship” for ”communal worship” but “prayer or study groups” are not permitted.
We’ve interpreted this to mean that the type of discussion groups that we hold on Sangha night aren’t possible at the moment so we have reluctantly decided that Sangha night will be on zoom only for now.
- You are required to wear a mask in the building
- Keep 2m socially distanced in the building & grounds
- We will record the details of everyone coming into the Centre for Track and Trace.
- If you are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 or have been in contact with someone with Covid do not to come to the Centre until the NHS advises you that it is safe to do so.
We are doing all we can to set up and implement Covid secure protocols but ultimately it is the responsibility of each individual to make the decision to come to our in person events or not. Where possible we will be offering an online option.
Chair of the Sheffield Buddhist Centre
Calendar
Event List
Fri - Sun
15 - 17Jan
Mitra Retreat – Online
All Day
15 - 17Jan
All Day
The Retreat Library
Materials for Retreat Participants
This is a library of materials for those taking part in the mitra retreat ‘Meditating with the Buddha’. We will be adding to these materials as the retreat goes on.
How Zoom works for this retreat: When you click on your zoom link you enter a waiting room – the person on tech then manually admits you into the session – this means that if you leave it too late you may not be admitted because the tech person will be meditating too – to ensure that you don’t miss out it is best to join 5 minutes before the start of the session. Thanks, Maitridasa
Outline Programme for the Retreat.
Here’s some advice about creating the conditions for an effective online retreat experience:
Setting up conditions for the retreat
We will be introducing and chanting the ‘Salutation to the Three Jewels’, the Tiratana Vandana, a traditional set of verses which call to mind the qualities and virtues of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. You’ll find these in the Puja Book, but here’s a copy for you to print off:
Tiratana Vandana – English translation
Here’s a recording of some men chanting the Tiratana Vandana.
Getting Your Imagination Going
About the retreat
Take your practice and friendships deeper on this online retreat for Mitras from Friday 15th January to Sunday 17th January. Led by Jayagupta, Maitridasa and Bodhinaga.
Theme: Imaginative approaches to connecting with the Buddha
More important than that is that it is “The Mitra Retreat”, a rare opportunity for all Sheffield mitras to practise together.
Jayagupta says “It will be intensive. It will feature plenty of meditation, supported by a rich online experience and meditation reviews”.
The retreat is now fully booked. Please join the Waiting List for a spot if somebody else gives up their place.
Bookings are closed for this event.
Mon - Mon
18 - 18Jan
Early Morning Meditation
7:00 am - 9:00 am
18 - 18Jan
7:00 am - 9:00 am
Join the men’s community in the Great Hall for weekday morning meditations. Please book if you would like to reserve a place, or you can drop in as it’s unlikely that we will reach our social distanced capacity.
Over these next 3 weeks we have changed the time of morning meditations at the Buddhist Centre so that we can join in with ‘The Meditation Challenge’ daily 8am Zoom meditation. We are now offering two sits:
7am – the usual un-led meditation practice, mindfulness of breathing and metta bhavana on alternate days.
8am – we will log in to Zoom to join The Meditation Challenge meditation session from the London Buddhist Centre
Please arrive a few minutes before 7am or 8am to get set up.
Tue - Tue
19 - 19Jan
Early Morning Meditation
7:00 am - 9:00 am
19 - 19Jan
7:00 am - 9:00 am
Join the men’s community in the Great Hall for weekday morning meditations. Please book if you would like to reserve a place, or you can drop in as it’s unlikely that we will reach our social distanced capacity.
Over these next 3 weeks we have changed the time of morning meditations at the Buddhist Centre so that we can join in with ‘The Meditation Challenge’ daily 8am Zoom meditation. We are now offering two sits:
7am – the usual un-led meditation practice, mindfulness of breathing and metta bhavana on alternate days.
8am – we will log in to Zoom to join The Meditation Challenge meditation session from the London Buddhist Centre
Please arrive a few minutes before 7am or 8am to get set up.
Tue - Tue
19 - 19Jan
Sangha Night: All at Sea
7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
19 - 19Jan
7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
Stories of the Path
Prajñāśrī continues the theme with her talk entitled ‘All at Sea’. Using stories to unlock the secrets of our System of Practice, from true tales to mighty myths within the Buddhist tradition and beyond.
Online Only
Wed - Wed
20 - 20Jan
Early Morning Meditation
7:00 am - 9:00 am
20 - 20Jan
7:00 am - 9:00 am
Join the men’s community in the Great Hall for weekday morning meditations. Please book if you would like to reserve a place, or you can drop in as it’s unlikely that we will reach our social distanced capacity.
Over these next 3 weeks we have changed the time of morning meditations at the Buddhist Centre so that we can join in with ‘The Meditation Challenge’ daily 8am Zoom meditation. We are now offering two sits:
7am – the usual un-led meditation practice, mindfulness of breathing and metta bhavana on alternate days.
8am – we will log in to Zoom to join The Meditation Challenge meditation session from the London Buddhist Centre
Please arrive a few minutes before 7am or 8am to get set up.
Sangha Night
'Stories of the Path'
Using stories to unlock the secrets of our System of Practice, from true tales to mighty myths within the Buddhist tradition and beyond.
An evening of talks, discussion, meditation and ritual exploring the current Sangha night theme. Sangha night is open to those who have completed our Introductory Course (not suitable for newcomers).
Sangha Night will be Zoom-only from the 5th of January. Click the button below to join the Zoom meeting.
Programme
7.15pm Zoom room Open
7.30pm – 8.05pm Dharma Talk
8.05pm – 8.15pm Tea Break
8.15pm – 8.55pm Discussion groups
8.55pm – 9.00pm Tea Break
9.00pm – 9.30pm Meditation
Coming up at Sangha Night
Tue - Tue
19 - 19Jan
Sangha Night: All at Sea
7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
19 - 19Jan
7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
Stories of the Path
Prajñāśrī continues the theme with her talk entitled ‘All at Sea’. Using stories to unlock the secrets of our System of Practice, from true tales to mighty myths within the Buddhist tradition and beyond.
Online Only
Tue - Tue
26 - 26Jan
Sangha Night: The Haunted Man
7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
26 - 26Jan
7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
Stories of the Path
Tonight, Maitridasa tells a tale…
Using stories to unlock the secrets of our System of Practice, from true tales to mighty myths within the Buddhist tradition and beyond.
Online Only
Tue - Tue
2 - 2Feb
Sangha Night
7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
2 - 2Feb
7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
Stories of the Path
Using stories to unlock the secrets of our System of Practice, from true tales to mighty myths within the Buddhist tradition and beyond.
Online Only
Tue - Tue
9 - 9Feb
Sangha Night
7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
9 - 9Feb
7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
Stories of the Path
Using stories to unlock the secrets of our System of Practice, from true tales to mighty myths within the Buddhist tradition and beyond.
Online Only
Tue - Tue
16 - 16Feb
Sangha Night
7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
16 - 16Feb
7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
Stories of the Path
Using stories to unlock the secrets of our System of Practice, from true tales to mighty myths within the Buddhist tradition and beyond.
Online Only
Listen again to Sangha night talks
Special Events
We run events of many sorts for people at all levels of commitment – short retreats, study of Buddhist texts, meditative ‘sesshins’ and occasional arts activities like singing workshops.
We also celebrate the major festivals of the Buddhist calendar:
- Wesak and Parinirvana Day, commemorating the Buddha’s Enlightenment and his death.
- Dharma Day and Sangha Day celebrating the Buddha’s teachings and the spiritual community of his followers.
- Padmasambhava Day when we fete the historical and mythological accomplishments of the character who established Buddhism in Tibet.
Special Events coming up
Fri - Sun
15 - 17Jan
Mitra Retreat – Online
All Day
15 - 17Jan
All Day
The Retreat Library
Materials for Retreat Participants
This is a library of materials for those taking part in the mitra retreat ‘Meditating with the Buddha’. We will be adding to these materials as the retreat goes on.
How Zoom works for this retreat: When you click on your zoom link you enter a waiting room – the person on tech then manually admits you into the session – this means that if you leave it too late you may not be admitted because the tech person will be meditating too – to ensure that you don’t miss out it is best to join 5 minutes before the start of the session. Thanks, Maitridasa
Outline Programme for the Retreat.
Here’s some advice about creating the conditions for an effective online retreat experience:
Setting up conditions for the retreat
We will be introducing and chanting the ‘Salutation to the Three Jewels’, the Tiratana Vandana, a traditional set of verses which call to mind the qualities and virtues of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. You’ll find these in the Puja Book, but here’s a copy for you to print off:
Tiratana Vandana – English translation
Here’s a recording of some men chanting the Tiratana Vandana.
Getting Your Imagination Going
About the retreat
Take your practice and friendships deeper on this online retreat for Mitras from Friday 15th January to Sunday 17th January. Led by Jayagupta, Maitridasa and Bodhinaga.
Theme: Imaginative approaches to connecting with the Buddha
More important than that is that it is “The Mitra Retreat”, a rare opportunity for all Sheffield mitras to practise together.
Jayagupta says “It will be intensive. It will feature plenty of meditation, supported by a rich online experience and meditation reviews”.
The retreat is now fully booked. Please join the Waiting List for a spot if somebody else gives up their place.
Bookings are closed for this event.
Sat - Sat
13 - 13Feb
Sheffield Earth metta group Buddhafield event
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
13 - 13Feb
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
This event, organised by the Sheffield Earth metta group, will include a presentation by part of the Buddhafield team, a question and answer session and a meditation. The event will be about 1.5 hours in duration. More details will follow nearer the time. Look forward to seeing you.
Seen as international pioneers of Eco dharma practice, Buddhafield is a collaboration of Buddhists involved with the Triratna Buddhist Community. It hosts the inspiring Buddhafield Festival, the Green Earth awakening, retreats, online events and manages beautiful land holdings in Devon. Buddhafield Festival is a joyful gathering of people, celebrating community and connection with the land. https://www.buddhafield.com
With metta,
Andi and Lilamati
Sun - Sun
14 - 14Feb
Parinirvana Day Festival
All Day
14 - 14Feb
All Day
Our first festival of the year, marking the Buddha’s passing into final Nirvana at ‘death’. We will also be remembering friends and loved ones who have passed away during the previous year. Email or bring with you a photo of your loved one with their name to the Buddhist Centre for them to be included in the ritual.
Sat - Sat
20 - 20Feb
Monthly YUBS Event
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
20 - 20Feb
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Young (Under 35) Buddhists Sheffield Event.
Join us for Dharma, discussion and ritual.
Facilitated by Emma
More details and poster coming up on the YUBS Slack channel. Not on Slack yet? Email the centre and we’ll send you a link, or contact aryadasa@sheffieldbuddhistcentre.org for more information.
Sat - Sat
27 - 27Feb
The Sangha Skills Share
10:00 am - 4:45 pm
27 - 27Feb
10:00 am - 4:45 pm
The Sangha Skills share returns! Raising more money to give away
As part of Sangha Day celebrations this year we ran a selection of sangha skill sharing sessions. Sangha members will hosted informal Zoom sessions teaching various skills and together we raised over £500.
Now we return with a second instalment of these fun, interactive sessions.
We invite you to donate to do the sessions, raising money to be given away by the Centre to good causes after Sangha Day. This year we missed out on fundraising with the cancellation of the summer fair, so if you can attend a session this would mean we get another chance to be generous as a sangha, as well as a great way to come together and have fun.
You will be able to make a donation online. In March we will vote to decide where to give our collected donations. In the past we have given to projects in Sheffield, Venezuela and in India. If you can’t make any of the skills sharing sessions, you are welcome to take this as an opportunity to give anyway.
Read more about the sangha ‘Give it Away’ fund
The sessions will run on Saturday 27th February at either 10am, 2pm or 4pm and will be about 40 minutes long.