Our Buddhist Programme
All advertised sessions are suitable for beginners and more experienced practitioners alike, non-Buddhists as well as Buddhists are welcome to attend, except for Tuesday evening Sadhana sessions.
Please note sessions are not weekly. Check the Calendar for session dates.
Sunday Evenings 6pm til 7.30pm
Introductory Teachings & Meditation
An introduction to Buddhist philosophy covering the life of the Buddha,
Four Noble Truths and various other topics, as well as the correct posture, breathing and concentration for meditation.
Run by our team of lay volunteers under the guidance of our Lamas, the sessions are
very relaxed.
Spring 2025
Sunday 9th January |
TBC |
Sunday 26th September |
The First Noble Truth |
Sunday 9th February |
The Second Noble Truth |
Sunday 2nd March |
LOSAR celebration (Tibetan New Year) |
Sunday 16th March |
The Third and Fourth Noble Truths |
Sunday 6th April |
TBC |
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Wednesday Evenings 7.30pm til 9pm
Wednesday evening sessions run from 7.30 – 8.30pm, followed by tea and biscuits for anyone who would like to stay and chat. Although rooted in Buddhist meditation, these sessions are aimed at anyone who is interested in learning how to meditate rather than focussing on Buddhist philosophy. Everyone is welcome, regardless of your background or religious beliefs. We aim provide a space in which people can find peace, learn basic meditation techniques and practice together.
You will find each session focusses on a different aspect of meditation. Each session is divided into three periods of meditation which last approximately 15 minutes each with an opportunity to stretch and listen to a short talk or poem about approach or technique in between them. The session lasts one hour with refreshments afterwards.
If you would like to learn more about Buddhist philosophy, do consider attending the sessions on Sunday evening (6 – 7 pm) or Thursday morning (10 -11.30 am).
Spring 2025
The Wednesday sessions as a short introductory course so that each session builds on the previous one. Topics will include:
What is meditation?
The benefits of meditation
Meditation: a good environment and physical posture.
Focussing on the breath and ‘calm abiding’ meditation.
Different kinds of meditation
Taming thoughts and keeping focussed.
Some more meditation techniques
Loving kindness meditation – “Metta”.
Thursdays – 10.00am til ll.30am
Introductory Teachings and Meditation
A relaxed and friendly session that follows a similar course to that on Sunday evenings.
Tuesdays – 7.00pm til 8.00pm
Green Tara Sadhana
A session that is only open to Buddhists who have recieved the Green Tara initiation. We engage in a popular meditation in the Tantric tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
Thursdays - 10.00am til ll.30am
Introductory Teachings and Meditation
A relaxed and friendly session that follows a similar course to that on Sunday evenings.
First-time visitor?
For those of you attending for the first time, here are just a few easy to follow steps. Upon entering the building please:
2
Take off your shoes/coat and place them on the rack/hook
3
Place your donation in the box
4
Enter the shrine room and make yourself comfortable with the cushions or chairs provided
5
Be silent in the shrine room when waiting for the session to commence as people may be meditating
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Enjoy!
Donations
Suggested donation – £5.00 per session | Concessions – £2.50 per session
All donations go towards the maintenance of the Centre run by our volunteers.
If you have any other questions on arrival, you can ask one of our friendly lay volunteers.
We Welcome Everyone
The Sakya Thubten Ling is a Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Bournemouth which is open to Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.
We provide a quiet sanctuary for holding regular meditation sessions and open days where you are free to pop in at your leisure.
Summer Schedule 2024
April
Sunday | 6th | Teaching & Meditation | 18:00 - 19:30 |
May
Tuesday | 3rd | Green Tara Sadhana (Initiates only) | 19:00 - 20:00 |
Wednesday | 8th | Meditation | 19:30 - 21:00 |
Thursday | 9th | Teaching and Meditation | 10:00 - 11:30 |
Saturday | 18th | Saga Dowa & Celebration of 20 years anniversary of the Centre | 12:00 - 14:00 (See news post for detail) |
Sunday | 19th | Teaching and Meditation | 18:00 - 19:30 |
Tuesday | 21st | Green Tara Sadhana (Initiates only) | 19:00 - 20:00 |
Wednesday | 22nd | Meditation | 19:30 - 20:30 |
Thursday | 23rd | Talk & Meditation (Saga Dowa Duchen) | 09:30 - 11:00 |
June
Tuesday | 4th | Green Tara Sadhana (Initiates only) | 19:00 - 20:00 |
Wednesday | 5th | Meditation | 19:30 - 21:00 |
Thursday | 6th | Teaching and Meditation | 10:00 - 11:30 |
Tuesday | 18th | Green Tara Sadhana (Initiates only) | 19:00 - 20:00 |
Wednesday | 19th | Meditation | 19:30 - 20:30 |
Thursday | 20th | Teaching and Meditation | 10:00 - 11:30 |
Sunday | 23rd | Teaching and Meditation | 18:00 - 19:30 |
June
Tuesday | 4th | Green Tara Sadhana (Initiates only) | 19:00 - 20:00 |
Wednesday | 5th | Meditation | 19:30 - 21:00 |
Thursday | 6th | Teaching and Meditation | 10:00 - 11:30 |
Tuesday | 18th | Green Tara Sadhana (Initiates only) | 19:00 - 20:00 |
Wednesday | 19th | Meditation | 19:30 - 20:30 |
Thursday | 20th | Teaching and Meditation | 10:00 - 11:30 |
Sunday | 23rd | Teaching and Meditation | 18:00 - 19:30 |