ATTAINING NIRVANA

A 4 week series on the 4 noble truths

Starting week beginning  24th November

• Matlock Bath Tuesday at 7.00pm and Thursday at 11.00am

• Chesterfield Tuesday at 1.30pm and Wednesday at 6.30pm

About the course

Buddha’s first teaching in this world after he showed the manner of attaining enlightenment himself, was the Sutra of the Four Noble Truths. His sole intention in doing so is to lead all beings to a state beyond sorrow, Nirvana, the experience of permanent inner peace.

Come along to this 4 week meditation series and discover the truth about suffering, where it comes from, and how we abandon it’s cause so we can’t finally find the freedom from suffering we long for.

Week 1: What we should know

Week 2: What we should abandon

Week 3: What we should practice

Week 4: What we should attain

‘Liberation cannot be attained without applying effort – just waiting and thinking that one day someone will bestow  upon us permanent liberation from all problems. It is only through following the path to liberation that we will attain nirvana. The path to liberation is not an external path, but an inner path. We know that external paths lead from one place to another, whereas the path to liberation is an inner path that leads from samsara to a Pure Land.‘ 

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

£20/4 week series | £7/class drop in | free for members

For information about each venue, click here.

A SPIRITUAL LIFE

A 5 week meditation class series on the initial scope meditations of the stages of the path to enlightenment 

Starting the week beginning 20th October

• Matlock Bath - Tuesdays at 7.00pm and Thursdays at 11.00am

• Chesterfield - Tuesdays at 1.30pm and Wednesdays 6.30pm

About the course:

These beautiful meditations enable us to fill our lives with joy and meaning, and open the doorway to living a spiritual life.

Everyone is welcome to come and explore these profound topics, such as the precious opportunity our life affords us, what our death means, how to protect ourself from suffering and how to create the future we desire.

Week 1: The preciousness of our human life

Week 2: How awareness of death enriches our life

Week 3: Avoiding future suffering

Week 4: Finding protection

Week 5: Believing in karma

“The essence of spiritual practice is to reduce and eventually completely eradicate our delusions, and replace them with permanent inner peace. This is the real meaning of our human life.”

How to Transform Your Life, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

£25/5 week series | £7/class drop in | free for members

For information about each venue, click here.

Please note we are not offering these classes in Mansfield. We will update the position in Mansfield as soon as we are able. We apologise for any inconvenience and please do join one of our other classes.

General information about the Foundation Programme

The Foundation Programme (FP) provides an opportunity for everyone to engage in systematic study and meditation on the essential subjects of Kadampa Buddhism based on six books by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. The emphasis in the classes, which consist of teachings, meditation, and discussion, is on gaining practical experience of Buddha’s teachings that you can apply to your daily life.

Studying in this way is a tried and tested method to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of Buddha’s teachings, maintain a daily meditation practice that is both focused and powerful, and make genuine spiritual progress. If you have been coming to classes regularly and have been getting a lot out of your General Programme classes but feel you want to go deeper with your study and practice - the systematic study of these essential Kadampa texts on the Foundation Programmes may be a perfect next step for you.

Specific information about Heart Jewel classes

Foundation Programme classes take place on Thursday evenings at Heart Jewel Centre from 7.00 - 9.00pm.

We are currently studying Meaningful to Behold: Becoming a Friend of the World by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche which is a commentary to Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life: how to enjoy a life of meaning and altruism by the Great Bodhisattva Shantidva.

This is a wonderful opportunity to ripen your potential and take the full meaning of your human life by awakening your Buddha nature - following the example of the great bodhisattva Shantideva - whose timeless instructions have led  countless people  to the supreme state of enlightenment.

Classes are led by our resident teacher, Gen Kelsang Osung.

We are holding a special free introductory session where you can find out move about the Foundation Programme and meet the teacher and other students on the Programme.

The introductory session will take place on Thursday 1 October from 7.00 - 9.00pm at Heart Jewel Centre. Please book the session using the button below or if you cannot attend but would like to know more about the Programme, please email our Education Programme Coordinator.

THE MAGIC OF MEDITATION

A 4 week meditation class series starting Tuesday 8th September in Matlock Bath and Chesterfield.

The classes will run at the following venues and times:

• Matlock Bath, Heart Jewel Centre - Tuesday 7pm / Thursday 11am

• Chesterfield Library - Tuesday 1:30pm / Wednesday 6.30pm

Please note we are not offering these classes in Mansfield. We will update the position in Mansfield as soon as we are able. We apologise for any inconvenience and please do join one of our other classes.

About the course:

What is so amazing about meditation? How does it function to calm our mind?

On this 4 week course, learn the basics of a meditation practice - meditation made simple, practical and for everyone. 

The truth is that anyone can learn to meditate, even if we may feel at the beginning our mind is too busy….this is a normal experience and doesn’t mean we can’t learn. 

Some of the benefits of a step-by-step meditation practice are that it leads to ever increasing inner peace, happiness and inner well-being. These claims seem miraculous until we try the methods out and start to experience the results for ourselves.

This course is perfect for beginners but also suitable for those who wish to improve their current meditation practice.

You can book the entire course below or drop in to any session..

Week 1: Why meditate?

Week 2: A meditation practice

Week 3: Contemplation and concentration

Week 4: What is the mind?

“The practice of meditation is a method for acquainting our mind with virtue. The more familiar our mind is with virtue, the calmer and more peaceful it becomes. When our mind is peaceful, we are free from worries and mental discomfort, and we experience true happiness. If we train our mind to become peaceful we will be happy all the time, even in the most adverse conditions; but if our mind is not peaceful, then even if we have the most pleasant external conditions we will not be happy. Therefore, it is important to train our mind through meditation.”

The New Meditation Handbook, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

£20/4 week series | £7/class drop in | free for members

For information about each venue, click here.