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Buddhist Teaching[photo-Wesak Altar] History The historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, lived in Northern India around 2,500 years ago. He was a human being who possessed the same spiritual potential that is within us all. He realised enlightenment and spent his life helping others find what he had found. The Four Noble Truths Enlightenment is the direct experience of one’s true nature and the nature of all existence. Shakyamuni Buddha taught that our misunderstandings, about how things are, can obscure that direct experience of Truth. To help clarify ‘right understanding’ and point to ‘The Way’ he taught the ‘Four Noble Truths’. Suffering/dis-ease/unsatisfactoriness is part of the ‘human condition’ of life as it is typically lived. This is a Truth that is seen more clearly when we sit still in meditation, not participating in the occupations, pastimes and distractions that can obscure it. We are impermanent, continually changing, and so is everything that surrounds us. So when we try to hold onto these changing things, as they were, we are frustrated, we suffer. There is a way out of this pattern of futile clinging and consequent suffering, instead experiencing acceptance of change and our original enlightened nature. Buddhist Training is ‘the Way’ to move from…
MeditationAt the heart of our Zen Buddhist Practice is seated meditation (zazen). It is through meditating that we cultivate awareness and can come home to ourselves, reconnecting with a sense of stillness, stability and groundedness. With time and regular practice we find that increased stillness and clarity gradually leads us to become less ‘driven’ and to act in more skilful ways in our daily lives. Soto Zen meditation is also called ‘Silent Illumination’ or ‘Serene Reflection Meditation’, the description used in our tradition. Learning to Meditate From group members: Two lay members of the Nottingham Zen Serene Reflection Meditation (Zen/SRM) group have been licensed by the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives to give meditation instruction in the Soto Zen tradition. To arrange an introduction to Soto Zen Meditation in Nottingham you can use our contact form or ring: Ruth: tel. 0115 8371877 or Ted: tel. 07544768298 At a local Temple: Meditation Instruction is also given at both the local East Midland Temples of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives (OBC): Sitting Buddha Hermitage in Cromford, Derbyshire offers an introduction to meditation on Saturday afternoons, or at other times by arrangement. Use this link or telephone: Rev. Alicia: tel. 01629 821813…
Founder u0026 Tradition
Group EveningsOur Nottingham Zen Serene Reflection Meditation (Zen/SRM) group evenings are the main way that the local Sangha (community) support one another in our Buddhist practice. The group offers a regular time for formal meditation and teaching, often with people who have been following the practice for many years. We meet each Monday, unless there is a Bank Holiday. You can check our Calendar to make sure when and where the Nottingham Zen Serene Reflection Meditation (Zen/SRM) group is meeting. If you are new to Buddhist meditation we recommend arranging meditation instruction with one of the group contacts before coming along to a group evening. Format of Evening Meetings The evenings start at 7.30pm or 7.45pm depending on the venue, and run for about an hour and a half. Meetings usually comprise either: the recitation of a Zen Buddhist Scripture then two meditation periods, followed by refreshments and a discussion about Buddhist practice in our everyday lives, or one meditation period and a Dharma talk, also with refreshments. Dharma talk, once a month the talk is given by Rev. Aiden when he visits the Nottingham Zen Serene Reflection Meditation (Zen/SRM) group. We also listen to recorded Dharma talks given by other…
RetreatsRetreats aim to help people establish a meditation practice and then to support them in their subsequent training in the Buddhist way. [photo at Tiger Boe] Day Retreats There are a number of Zen Buddhist Retreat Days held locally in the East Midlands including some organised by the Nottingham Zen SRM group with Rev. Aiden Hall. Details of the forthcoming Retreat Day in Nottingham, as well as Leicester Meditation Days, Festivals and other events can be found on the Turning Wheel Buddhist Temple website. [photo – Ted at Wesak Altar] A monthly Retreat Day is also held at Sitting Buddha Hermitage in Cromford, Derbyshire. Please contact Rev. Alicia beforehand if you would like to attend. Residential Retreats Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in Northumberland offers introductory retreats, weekend and 3-day retreats, dharma weekends, and week retreats. Please note: It is necessary to attend an introductory retreat before applying to the Abbey to come and stay at other times, although if you are a member of Nottingham Zen Serene Reflection Meditation group (Zen/SRM) or another Order of Buddhist Contemplatives (OBC) meditation group or have received meditation instruction at another temple of the Order this may not be required.
Local Temple
Get In TouchHow to find out more about the Nottingham Group: You are very welcome to come along to the group, whether you are an experienced meditator or are new to the practice. To find out more, please contact Ted on 0115 960 3450, or Ruth on 0115 837 1877 or email them both via the contact form below. [si-contact-form form=u0026#8217;1u0026#8242;]

Local Temple

We are very fortunate to have a Buddhist Temple in the East Midlands that is part of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives (OBC).

Rev. Master Daishin (centre), Rev. Aiden (left) and Sangha members from the East Midlands

Turning Wheel Buddhist Temple

Turning Wheel Buddhist Temple is in West Knighton, Leicester, just inside the southern part of the A563 ring road.

Rev. Master Daishin, the former abbot of Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey, visited the temple in July 2023 and gave a Dharma Talk on Zazen.

The temple runs frequent introductory events where you can learn how to meditate, and also offers a regular schedule of meditation, day retreats, festivals and other events, as well as individual guidance.

Click here for the Turning Wheel Buddhist Temple contact details.

Other OBC temples in the UK

There are many other temples of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives throughout the UK, and a full listing of these can be found on the United Kingdom Temples page of the OBC website.

Nottingham Zen Buddhism

Nottingham Zen Buddhism – Serene Reflection Meditation Group

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