I have felt jubilant these past weeks on hearing the news of successful vaccines. Then, this week, on ‘V-Day’, I felt joyfully moved listening to the news report about Margaret Keenan being given the first Covid-19 jab at University Hospital in Coventry. To be sure, the pandemic with all its restrictions and losses is not…

I’ve been reflecting a lot on sangha this week, not surprising given that it was recently Sangha Day, one of the major Buddhist Festivals celebrated by Buddhists around the world. On Saturday we marked Sangha Day with an online celebration across time zones in the international Triratna community and then on Sunday we celebrated it…

Meditating on Zoom Sitting alone in my front room in front of a rectangle of light with others sitting alone in their homes A gathering of sorts feeling a sense of connection absorbing and radiating affecting each other like tiny particles are said to affect one another over vast spaces by modern physics or lovers…

Keep the West London Buddhist Centre Shining Dear West London Sangha Member, We hope you are well and keeping safe. Difficult and potentially isolating times like these show more than ever how lucky we are to have Sangha, a context of fellowship, meaningful communication and shared purpose. Sangha, though, as we all know only comes…

Last month I shared our plans to begin offering some socially distanced events at the West London Buddhist Centre. Today, as England begins a second period of lockdown, it is clear that we will not be opening the centre until next year, and with so much uncertainty about the future there is no telling when…

I was enthralled by the recent serialisation of Adous Huxley’s dystopian futuristic novel ‘Brave New World’. In case you’re not familiar with the story (spoiler alert!) ‘New London’ is populated by humans who have been genetically engineered to conform to a given role within a strictly stratified society. All one’s basic physical needs are catered…

If somebody asked you to put aside an evening every week for the next five years, what would your response be? Would you consider turning up each week for a study group requiring you to read and reflect beforehand, being prepared to share yourself wholeheartedly with others? Would you also be willing to examine your…

Dear Friends, I know it’s been a long time since I’ve written to you in this way but you have been in my thoughts throughout this challenging time. Some of you I have seen online, others I hope to see in the future either online or in person at the West London Buddhist Centre. It’s…