Activities
Sitting Group
The sitting group meets on Tuesday evenings at Bristol Zen Dojo, 91-93 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8AT (between Miss Millie's and The Winning Post). Click here for a link to this location on the Multimap website.
Please arrive after 7.15pm for a 7.30pm sit. The door opens at 7.15 - please arrive in good time, as the sit starts at 7.30, after which time the door will be locked. There is no need to bring cushions or mats as these are available at the dojo, however you may wish to bring a blanket with you. The 45 minute sit is unguided and is held in silence. It is followed by a tea break and then a discussion or some form of mindful reflection, and we finish at 9.30pm.
To cover the cost of renting the space for the evening, a sitting fee of £3 (£2 concs) is payable.
Next Dates:
Tuesday 7th September
The post-sit discussion will be:
'Can regular meditation result in suppression of emotions?'
Tuesday 14th September
After the sit there will be a period of mindful sharing - with no pre-arranged topic - starting from a place of silence, and returning to silence, anyone can say anything they feel moved to, to the group, in a spirit of mindfulness.
Tuesday 21st September
After the sit there will be a free discussion - on any topic of interest that arises from the group.
Tuesday 28th September
The post-sit discussion will be:
'How can I cultivate compassion for myself and others?'
As well as the fortnightly Sitting Group and the One-Day Retreats with Gaia House teachers, BIMG members organise a number of other related groups and events, which are outlined below. Please see the e-newsletter for specific dates, contacts, and monthly variations in these meetings.
Focusing Group
This group meets monthly on the last Sunday of the month between 11am-1pm at Bristol Zen Dojo (see address above) and the fee for the meetings is £4 to cover rental of the space.
Focusing is very compatible with Insight Meditation and could be described as a sort of ‘verbal vipassana’, where the focuser opens to and verbally describes sensations arising in his/her body to a Focusing companion, and hears these descriptions reflected back by them. This connecting, verbalising and reflection process generally has the effect of allowing the sensations to be felt more fully, and enables a sort of unravelling to take place which can lead to bodily shifts, emotional release, insight and a sense of inner freedom.
Practice is based around Eugene Gendlin’s Focusing technique
as adapted by Ann Weiser Cornell and Barbara McGavin. Ann
Weiser Cornell describes Focusing as follows in her book ‘The
Power of Focusing’:
“Focusing is the process of listening to your body in
a gentle, accepting way, and hearing the messages that your
inner self is sending to you. It's a process of honoring the
wisdom that you have inside you by becoming aware of the subtle
level of knowing that speaks to you through the body.”
“The results of listening to your body are insight, physical
(and emotional) release, and positive life change. You understand
yourself better, you feel better, and you act in ways that
are more likely to create the life you want.”
“Focusing is the fastest way I know to get to the truth of
ourselves and live it.”
Sangha Walks
Walks tend to be on Sundays about once every month or two (more frequently in spring, summer and autumn), and can be anywhere within about a 40-minute drive of Bristol. We usually meet up at someone’s home prior to the walk to share lifts. The walks vary in length (typically 2-4 hours) and often include a pub or picnic lunch. Part of the walk is usually conducted in silence. Different members of the group lead walks and offers to lead walks are welcome. The sangha walks provide a good opportunity to make social connections with other group members as well as exploring different parts of the local countryside.
Social Events
Different group members occasionally organise other group social activities such as meals, picnics and evenings out. See the e-newsletter for details.