Brighton Buddhist Centre

I was completely in awe on my first visit here on 6^th June.
I am completely new to Buddhism and was so happy to be so welcomed, so accepted, and so happy to be around people that I can relate to and learn from. I arrived at 12:30 when free meditation was open and had a look around the reception area. I was very happy to be offered a cup of tea and be so pleasantly chatted to. The lady kindly took me on a tour of the building, showing me the beautiful two large shrine rooms and the small personal shrine room. She not only told me a bit of the history of the charity and the founder, but also showed me how to meditate, and did some guided meditation for me.
I’ll have to save up to get the train back to Brighton just to visit here again. I’m so glad these people exist.

Situated in the North Lanes, just off Church St it is one of my favorite places in Brighton — a haven of peace and tranquillity amidst the business of everyday life.
The centre offers Mediation Classes, Yoga Classes, as well as courses in Buddhism and other spiritual practises. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtimes there are Drop-​in Meditation classes to suit both experienced and inexperienced meditators.

The Brighton Buddhist Centre offers classes in meditation, Yoga and Buddhism. Located in teh city centre, between North Road and Church Street, the centre also features courses on coping with depression and living well with pain and illness.
The centre has a reference library of Buddhist books and related subjects plus a bookshop which also sells smells, bells and images.
It hosts cultural events once a week, open days four times a year, and takes part in the Brighton festival in May and the carnival in June. There is also a drop-​in group for carers.

The Buddhist centre is a very warm and welcoming place but also comes across as professional.
The building commands an air of respect. It is set out in a simple way. The top floor room is one that I find great for guided meditation (the only reason I’ve used the centre so far). It’s full of light due to the amount of glass, including in the ceiling.
There is something lovely about meditating in the heart of a busy city from a building that feels so calm.
I’ve heard good things from others about the other classes, such as yoga.
Information about the Buddhist Centre is easily found on their website or alternatively they have a leaflet dispenser by the front door containing class timetables.

Brighton Buddhist Centre is the hub of Buddhist study and practise in Brighton– they have been teaching and practising Buddhism, meditation and yoga for over thirty years. The organisation aims to make spiritual practise accessible to all sorts of people with all levels of knowledge and experience. The centre is staffed by friendly volunteers who will welcome anyone who wishes to drop in for a chat about what’s on offer. Amongst the many classes and courses available, they run led drop in meditation for those who aren’t yet ready to commit to a full course. Similarly you can drop in to an impressive range of yoga classes– choose from: Hatha, Iyengar, Astanga and Vajrasati. There are lunchtime and evening classes to suit all schedules.
The building itself has a calm, peaceful atmosphere (as one might expect!). A small shrine room is available for individual meditation and a beautiful large room with a glass roof is used for group meditation practise. The centre is a really great resource, not only for supporting Brighton’s Buddhist community but for educating people as to what Buddhism is really all about! That said, you don’t need to be interested in spiritual study to attend the meditation or yoga classes… they’re open to all.

(Say in kharmic transcendental way)
Om
Om
Om
Om well how to start writing about this place? Come to the Brighton Buddhist centre and you can expect your fair share of Buddhism (obviously), Meditation, insense and about a hundred different types of Yoga.
The building, tucked away within the North Laines and sandwiched between North Road and Church Street on a residential street doesn’t really look like an obvious place for a Buddhist Centre, but step inside and it transforms into an oasis of calm and quiet really… very quiet.
There’s a really welcoming, informal and again quiet set up in the main room, where anyone is invited to come in browse the books, make green tea, talk to a teacher or just wait for their lessons. The lessons themselves comprise of drop in meditation (wednesday evening and tuesday, thursday and saturday afternoons) and various yoga classes (running at different times throughout the day from wednesday to Friday) aswell as longer, paid for classes. I personally did (well did some) of a 10 week mindfulness course, which was really interesting and inclusive for everyone, however due to university and laziness, didn’t continue.
I would recommend the Buddhist centre for anyone looking for, well a number of things. It could be to find your inner calm, to deal with real stress issues or just to bounce about and exercise yourself, its all here and with a welcoming vibe to boot.
Of course its not everyone’s cup of (green) tea and you might well find that your searching the room with one eye trying not to laugh as a bunch of hippies look like they’ve taken too much acid. Even if you think that’ll be you, come along and Om.
Om
Om
Om
(Om…well…I think that’s it.)