About us
The catalyst for the start of the Stirling Buddhist group occurred in 1997. Following an introductory course on meditation and Buddhism, taught by Vimalavajra and supported by Smritiratna of the Triratna Buddhist Order (formerly the Western Buddhist Order), a small group of people continued to meet informally and support each others' evolving meditation and Buddhist practice. From these
small beginnings a community of people has grown with a common interest in Buddhism or meditation. This common interest has led to an openness of communication and empathy for each other that is also passed on to people new to meditation or exploring Buddhism for themselves. We are affiliated with the Triratna Buddhist Community (formerly the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO)), a worldwide movement that aims to make Buddhist teachings and practices available in a form appropriate and accessible to the modern world. Our current programme is a reflection of the different interests that we have as a centre. Over the past few years this programme has been well supported by members of the Triratna Buddhist Order who have come from as far afield as Glasgow, Balquhidder and Forres, to give teachings on meditation and Buddhism. We also take an interest in other traditions - practitioners from the Kagyu Tibetan, the Community of Interbeing and the Nichiren school of Buddhism have also come along to share their experience. We support individual meditation practice with various 'sangha' or community activities. Our main regular pre-Covid event was a weekly get-together on Thursday evenings from 7.00pm to 9.45pm, in rented space at Logie Kirk Hall, Causewayhead Stirling. Currently, our weekly, Thursday, meetings are on Zoom:
7.00 pm: Tune in and chat
7.15 pm: Meditation session
7.50 pm: Break
8.00 pm: A talk, discussion, poetry reading or reporting in session
8.45 pm: Meeting closes. The meditation sessions are normally based around the following foundation practices:
- Mindfulness of Breathing Meditation: This meditation helps to develop your awareness and powers of concentration, and promotes calmness and peace of mind.
- Metta Bhavana (Loving-Kindness) Meditation: This meditation helps to develop emotional warmth, kindness and friendliness towards oneself and others.
