What we offer – Bristol Insight Meditation

Tuesday evening sitting group - weekly

The sitting group meets every Tuesday evening in central Bristol from 7.30 to 9.15pm. These evenings are peer led and are a good way to join with others to sustain and support meditation practice.
All are welcome. No need to book.

Rewilding Meditation

The Buddha found Enlightenment under a tree and taught extensively in forests, yet meditation mainly takes place indoors nowadays. Meditation woodland retreats aim to bring meditation back into nature to deepen your practice.

Teacher led retreats - every few months

Weekend day retreats led by experienced teachers. We feel very fortunate to have teachers come to us to share their experience.

Saturday self-led retreats - monthly

These popular, self-led day retreats provide a welcome day of retreat on the first Saturday of every month. The retreats are not led by a teacher and no meditation guidance is given, so they suit participants who are comfortable with a basic meditation practice.

Introductory courses to insight meditation

The aim of this short course is to introduce people to the basics of Insight Meditation – enough to confidently get started. The course covers the practicalities of posture, breathing, sitting and walking meditation as well as explorations of the experience of Insight Meditation and how it can be beneficial for ourselves and for others.

Please note that although mindfulness is an important element, the course is an Insight Meditation course and not a mindfulness course.

Although the course is primarily for those new to meditation, we also welcome those who wish to refresh, restart or gain confidence in their meditation practice.

The course is led by Mike Baker of Bristol Insight Meditation.

Please see our Introductory Course page for further details and how to book.

Longer courses

We run occasional longer courses in which we invite teachers and experienced practitioners to work with us over a month to help us support our practice.

Sangha walks - every few months

Walks tend to be on Saturdays or 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. All welcome.

Book reading groups

Our occasional book reading groups meet to read together a chosen inspirational book centred around meditation or Buddhist dharma practice.

Supporting our sangha online

With all Covid restrictions now removed we have now returned to in-person events. This has left our on-line support at present in need of development. We continue to aspire to online support wherever we can particularly as this enables sangha members who live some distance from the Bristol area to feel supported and engaged.

Nature meditation afternoons

Come meditate outdoors in beautiful, quiet, nourishing woods! This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with nature, explore your practice in new surroundings and meditate safely with others.

Our Annual General Meeting

As a registered charity we have an AGM. In recent years this has been held online. Participating in the AGM is great way to catch up with members of the wider sangha, to be part of a review of the past year and if you are a Supporter to vote for trustees or to stand as a trustee yourself.

Insightful Ageing

Exploring the challenges of ageing with a little help from the dharma.

Other Insight Events

Events offered by other insight groups are listed here.

Sutta study group

Study informs and inspires our meditation practice; meditation produces depth and clarity in understanding. We can balance our engagement with both study and meditation to optimize the cultivation of this liberating path.” (Shaila Catherine)

This group is in the process of formation.

Diversity and Inclusivity

We believe the path of awakening and the benefits of meditation should be available to anyone who wishes to practice the dharma.