Meditation at the Manchester Buddhist Centre
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
Amongst the chatter, clutter and coffee shops of the Northern Quarter you’ll find the Manchester Buddhist Centre. This enclave of calm, which prioritises simplicity and beauty, is an open and welcoming space for all. As well as having a shop full of fascinating texts relating to Buddhist practices, the centre runs daily meditation classes for a range of different levels. For absolute beginners, or those who enjoy a more guided practice, the weekday lunch time meditations, or those held early in the evening, Tue-Thu, are a must.
Classes are held on a first floor room putting a comfortable distance between the space and outside distractions. You can choose to sit in a chair or propped up with cushions on the floor as a member of the Triratna Buddhist Community takes you through one of two meditations.
In the lunchtime classes you will either be led through a Mindfulness of Breathing or Metta Bhavana meditation. Mindfulness of Breathing is a breath based practise which helps you to acknowledge and sit within your own body, becoming self aware, giving you an opportunity to enjoy a moment of stillness. The second meditation, Metta Bhavana, feels a bit more cerebral. You may find yourself drifting into a physically calm state as your mind is asked to focus on your relationships with people around you. Explore the friendships that we nurture, as well as more difficult ties and the relationship we have with ourselves.
The Triratna Buddhist Community, who run Manchester Buddhist Centre, follow a practice of Buddhism started in 1967 by Sangharakshita. Their main values are centred around the ‘three jewels’ of the Buddha, his teachings and the community. With this in mind the Buddhist Centre really emphasises a broad sense of community, as they welcome people from all walks of life into the building. The Centre is now also branching out and offering meditation sessions in the workplace, details can be found on their website.
