Sangha Morning
A class at the Buddhist Centre with led meditations of the two main practices, talks and discussion around a variety of Buddhist topics.
Suitable for all levels of experience.
Practice Night Class
Our new series explores one of Sangharakshita's classic talks.
In 1991 Sangharakshita, the founder of Triratna, gave what has been described as a ‘landmark’ talk in which he spoke of Triratna as a temple supported by 5 great pillars - the pillars of Ideas, Practices, Institutions, Experimentation and Imagination. In this talk, he drew out what was traditional about Triratna’s approach to Buddhism and what were particular emphases for this relatively new Buddhist movement. Join us on Thursday evenings as we explore these 5 Pillars in more depth, from the perspective of more than 30 years since the original talk was given. Perhaps at the end we will more fully, in Sangharakshita’s words, ‘know our temple……know our Movement….know ourselves”.
As usual with our Practice Night class, experience of our meditation practices is required, however no experience of puja is needed.
This class is an ideal progression from our Wednesday night newcomers class or our Saturday sangha morning class. If you're not sure whether to attend the class feel free to speak to any of our experienced team.
Programme
In progress
4 September 2025 — 23 October: The Five Pillars of Triratna — A new Thursday Night Practice series
The new Thursday Practice Night series aims to explore one of Sangharakshita's classic talks from 1991 - The Five Pillars of Triratna (formerly the FWBO).
Each week we will look into one of these pillars with a talk and discussion.
| Date | Subject | Class Leader |
|---|---|---|
| 4 September 2025 | Full Moon Puja | Harsharatna |
| 11 September 2025 | Introduction to the Five Pillars of Triratna | Candraprabha |
| 18 September 2025 | The Five Pillars - Ideas | Candraprabha |
| 25 September 2025 | The Five Pillars - Practices | Harsharatna |
| 2 October 2025 | The Five Pillars - Imagination | Sthiranāga & Melody |
| 9 October | Full Moon Puja | Sthiranāga |
| 16 October | The Five Pillars - Experimentation | Candraprabha |
| 23 October | The Five Pillars - Institutions | Candraprabha & Maitreyi |
More questions? Get in touch
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it okay to join in the middle of the series?
Absolutely. Though of course you'll get those most out of the class by attending the whole series, there's no need to wait until the start of the next series if you want to start coming.
Do I need to book?
No - just arrive at the Buddhist centre in time to begin promptly at 7pm.
How long do I need to have been coming?
The class is best suited for those who have attended an entire series (or most of a series) on Newcomers Night or have completed an Introductory Course.
I can't make it to any of the introductory classes, can I come to this class instead?
Since the meditation practice is usually without instruction, and the topics covered are quite in depth, this class is not well suited for newcomers.
How much does the class cost?
We don't charge for our classes, and the team are not paid for their time. We simply ask that those who are able to do so make a donation to the centre to help us cover our running costs.
Can I still attend if I am under 18?
All are welcome at our classes however if you are under the age of 18 please contact us in advance of joining the session (contact@colchesterbuddhistcentre.com)
The Team
