Meditation in Darlington

15/09/2025

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso explains the importance of consistent practice in training the mind. Just as we dedicate time to learning practical skills like medicine, education, or even boxing, we need to actively learn how to protect our minds from anger, jealousy, and other delusions.

Through daily practice, we can make Dharma part of our lives, creating inner peace and improving relationships with others. When Dharma moves beyond mere words into our hearts and actions, it becomes the foundation of our happiness and a source of benefit for everyone around us.

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso explains the importance of consistent practice in training the mind. Just as we dedicate time to learning practical skills lik...

14/09/2025

What’s on this week 😍 you can find our digital calendar on our website here https://meditationindarlington.org/whats-on/timetable/

09/09/2025

SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION
Chanted prayers help us find inner peace, connect with wisdom, and prepare our mind for meditation.

Chanted prayers (called in Sanskrit “puja”) are an important training in a spiritual life and a significant part of Kadampa Buddhist practice. Everyone is welcome to participate in our chanted prayers. You do not need to book and it costs nothing. Each session consists of traditional Buddhist sung prayers with silent pauses for contemplation and meditation.

Below are some of the pujas we regularly practise together at the centre. Please check the online calendar for any schedule changes. Everyone is welcome. https://meditationindarlington.org/whats-on/timetable/

These events take place in the Meditation Room at Atisha Kadampa Meditation Centre, 81 Victoria Road, Darlington, DL1 5JQ

🙏 Heart Jewel with silent Lamrim meditation
⏰ Mon, Tue, Wed & Sat 5:15-6:15pm

🙏 Wishfulfilling Jewel with tsog offering
⏰ Sun 4:30-5:45pm

🙏 Dakini Yoga (Highest Yoga Ta**ra empowerment required)
⏰ Tues, Wed & Fri 8-9am

🙏 Offering to the Spiritual Guide
⏰ 10th & 25th of each month - Wed 10th Sept 11am-1pm

🙏 Liberation From Sorrow - Tara prayers
⏰ 8th of each month

09/09/2025

FREE GUIDED MEDITATIONS - Some of the meditations we teach in our weekly classes are available as free, guided meditations on the New Kadampa Tradition Youtube channel. These are so helpful as follow-up practice to our classes.

These guided meditations are group meditations that were filmed in a Kadampa Meditation Centre. They are based on the meditations in The New Meditation Handb...

07/09/2025

What’s on this week at Atisha KMC and our branch classes 😍
Info about classes is here https://meditationindarlington.org/meditation-classes-2/

Info and booking for the Saturday half day course is here https://meditationindarlington.org/meditation-courses/

03/09/2025

Book now for this special event in the newly built meditation hall at Tara International Kadampa Retreat Centre, Derbyshire. There's a discount if you book before 20th September! https://taraikrc.org/products/uk-dharma-celebration-2025-31-oct-3-nov

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞!

On Booking page from Wednesday 3rd September at 2pm - Mainly dormitory space 🙏

03/09/2025

💙 Classes are back on from tonight in Durham and Middlesbrough - don't forget we've got a new venue in Durham!
These classes are looking at how we can meditate on compassion and develop our wisdom. Everybody welcome!
More info at https://meditationindarlington.org/meditation-classes-in-local-towns/

DURHAM 7:30-8:45pm
Dunelm Club, 55 Old Elvet, DH1 3HN - NEW VENUE

MIDDLESBROUGH 7 - 8:30pm
Easterside Community Hub, Broughton Avenue, Marton, TS4 3PZ

30/08/2025

🤩 Welcome back from the summer break - what's coming up in this newsletter...
🌟 Starting a new book on the Foundation Programme (FP)
🌟 Info on new weekly classes starting next week
🌟 Two half-day courses coming up
Click the link to view the full article 📩

September Classes & Courses

28/08/2025

Weekly classes start next week in Darlington, Durham and Middlesbrough. We’ll be learning how to meditate on compassion and wisdom - focusing on how to integrate these qualities into our daily lives. There’s no need to book - just turn up at any class, any week.
No previous experience is needed - everybody is welcome!
More details can be found on our website https://meditationindarlington.org/meditation-classes-2/ or drop us a comment or message if you have any questions at all. 🙏🏼🥰

26/08/2025

🤩 We’re starting a new book in September on the Foundation Programme.

What is the The Foundation Programme (FP)
The FP at Atisha KMC provides an opportunity for students to engage in systematic study and meditation on the essential subjects of Kadampa Buddhism based on six books by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. The emphasis in the classes, which consist of teachings, meditation, and discussion, is on gaining practical experience of Buddha’s teachings that you can apply to your daily life.FP students enrol for a particular section of a book and undertake to attend all classes and sit a test at the end. Each section generally takes an academic year to complete and classes are organised with term breaks during school holidays and some Kadampa events.The Foundation Programme at Atisha KMC takes place on Thursday evenings 7 - 9pm and is taught by our Resident Teacher. You’ll need your own copy of the book being studied which can be purchased in our shop if you don’t already have one.

We’ll be starting a new book in September so, although you can join at any time, this is the perfect time to join the Foundation Programme. Get in touch if you’d like to arrange a month trial in September.

We’ll be studying Part One of How to Understand the Mind.

This book offers us deep insight into our mind, and shows how an understanding of its nature and functions can be used practically in every day experience to improve our lives.

Part One is a practical guide to developing and maintaining a light, positive mind – showing how to recognize and abandon states of mind that harm us, and to replace them with peaceful and beneficial ones.

Who is FP suitable for?
Students usually attend drop-in classes for a while in order to gain some basic experience of the meditations and teachings before moving on to FP. If you haven’t yet attended any classes with us, or at another NKT Centre, we would suggest attending those first and then try FP at a later date. If you have already been coming to classes and have been getting a lot out of your GP classes but feel you want to go a bit deeper with your study and practice, FP may be a perfect next step.

How much will it cost?
Payment for FP is through Gold Monthly Membership, where a standing order of £35 per month is made.
Being a member means you can come to any weekly meditation classes for free (in person and online), day retreats, half-day courses, plus discounts on special events.

You can pay for a month trial at any time before enrolling – please contact epc@meditationindarlington.org to arrange dates and payment.

More info can be found at https://meditationindarlington.org/meditation-classes-2/foundation-programme-thursday/

26/08/2025

This week at Atisha KMC - we've got the second of our How to Sleep Well classes happening tonight. Don't worry if you missed the first one as we'll be looking at different things tonight. Then this weekend we've got our Lamrim retreat with guided meditations led by Gen Chogma. This retreat is suitable for anyone who has been attending our regular classes or is already familiar with Lamrim meditations.
Let us know if you're planning on coming so we have an idea of numbers. It's free for monthly members - for everyone else it's £5 per session or £12 per day.
Next week all our classes start back as normal.