Cheltenham Zen

09/06/2025

I'm delighted to announce the release of my new book, In Buddha's Wake!

https://www.cheltenhamzen.co.uk/in-buddhas-wake.html

In Buddha's Wake is a practical guide to meditation, mindfulness and a contemplative life.

The book uses the comprehensive yet accessible framework of early Buddhism, an extraordinarily rich and beautiful tradition which offers simple, effective methods for calming the mind and body, being more present in our daily life activities, opening our hearts to love and compassion, cultivating deep states of bliss, joy and peace, and discovering profound insights into who we really are.

If you have any interest at all in exploring your inner world, there’s something in here for you.

In Buddha's Wake is offered freely; donations are very welcome. Please give within your means.

'A teaching that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased; a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.' -Buddha, DN2 .

10/06/2024

Big news: I've just released a new (free) book on Zen practice, Resting in the Unborn! I've also got a Silent Illumination day retreat coming up on July 14th at OrangeYoga, where we'll explore some of the material from the book.

Find out more in my latest newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df31b10a9f6f/january-newsletter-17280870

21/12/2023

2023 is almost over, and 2024 is going to look a bit different for me. Take a look at my winter newsletter here for details: https://mailchi.mp/15580497b64b/january-newsletter-16046015

Merry Christmas, and have a Happy New Year!

14/12/2023

Wouldn't it be great if there were one practice that could serve as a kind of guided tour of awakening, covering all the key points of early Buddhism in one simple, accessible format? Well, there is! In this year's final article, we summarise the Anapanasati practice, and look at some ways to make it our own. Click here to read more:

Over the past few weeks, we've been looking at Majjhima Nikaya 118 , the Anapanasati Sutta - the discourse on mindfulness of breathing in and out. The Anapanasati Sutta presents a practice composed...

07/12/2023

It's often said that the only constant in life is change - but so what? What can we really learn from that kind of fortune cookie truism? Well, the Buddha thought that impermanence was pretty important - so in this week's article we're going to take a look at some insight practices focusing on exploring the changing nature of things. Click on the flowing river to read more:

This week we're continuing once again with our discussion of the Anapanasati Sutta, looking at the fourth and final section (or 'tetrad') of practices, before bringing it all together next week in...

30/11/2023

What is 'the mind', exactly? What does Zen master Dogen mean when he asks us to 'turn the light of awareness around'? And why would you want to do that anyway? All these questions and more are explored in this week's article! Click here to read more:

This week we're continuing once again with our discussion of the Anapanasati Sutta, looking at the third section (or 'tetrad') of practices. Each step in the Anapanasati Sutta builds on the ones that...

16/11/2023

Often in meditation circles we talk about paying attention to all aspects of experience non-judgementally - pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. But sometimes it can be very skilful to focus the mind on something pleasant. How come? Click here to find out!

This week we're continuing with our discussion of the Anapanasati Sutta. We covered the background of the discourse last week , so if you haven't read that article already it's probably better to...

09/11/2023

There's more to mindfulness of breathing than simply paying attention to the sensations of the breath. The Buddha laid out a 16-step practice for working with breathing, which we'll be exploring over the next few weeks. In this week's instalment, we look at the relationship between breath and body. Click here to read more:

"Bhikkhus, when mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated, it is of great fruit and great benefit. When mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated, it fulfils the four...

02/11/2023

In this week's article, we meet Indra, King of the Gods; we see a carp transform into a dragon; and, perhaps most importantly, we discover the One Road to Nirvana travelled by all Buddhas everywhere. Click on the dragon to read more:

A monk asked Master Qianfeng, '"The blessed ones of the ten directions have one road of Nirvana." Where is the road?' Qianfeng raised his staff, drew a line, and said, 'Here.' Subsequently the monk...

26/10/2023

The Zen path is not always an easy one - but help is at hand. In this week's article we take a look at three common barriers to progress, and how we might move past them. Click on the person overcoming a barrier to read more:

Master Tushuai Yue set up three barriers to question students: Brushing aside confusion to search out the hidden is only for the purpose of seeing essence. Right now where is your essence? Only when...

19/10/2023

The spiritual path is laden with subtle traps and sticking points that can ensnare even seasoned practitioners. In this week's article we take a look at a few of them. Click on the hundred-foot pole to read more:

Master Shishuang said, 'Atop a hundred-foot pole, how do you step forward?' Another ancient worthy said, 'One who sits atop a hundred-foot pole may have gained initiation, but this is not yet...

12/10/2023

What happens in the gaps between your thoughts? That's the subject of this week's article, which takes a look at the teachings of one of my favourite Zen teachers. Click on the big space to read more:

​Wuzu said, 'The past and future Buddhas are servants of another. Tell me, who is that?'