After learning about Buddhism using an online course run by Humanatees, I contacted the Manchester Buddhist Centre to see if we could go for a visit to see Buddhism being practiced in real life. I had an incredibly welcoming response to my enquiry and so we arranged a personal tour of the centre before attending a public lunchtime meditation session which they run three-times a week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 1pm).
I must admit the centre was not at all what we were expecting (I did next to no research before the visit other than googling Buddhist centres in Manchester!) but it was no less fascinating and eye-opening. Our guide Patricia showed us around the centre and explained how it was used by its members. She was incredibly open to us about her experience with Buddhism and why she’d chosen to be a Buddhist. We all asked her many questions (poor woman!) and we discussed the movement at a really deep and personal level; all four of us were totally engrossed in the discussions.
The centre is pretty much exclusively run and used by the older generation with many seeking greater enlightenment in their lives post retirement and childcare responsibilities. The path they take for constant self-improvement is impressive and requires so much self-reflection and openness to criticism from others. I’m not sure I could do what they do but I left the centre feeling like I should at least attempt some of what they practise. We all left feeling inspired.
Our meditation session at the Manchester Buddhist Centre
After the tour, we attended the free lunchtime meditation session which lasted an hour. As complete newbies, we were made to feel incredibly welcome. At the start, the meditation instructor talked us through the different sitting poses which we may find the most comfortable although you were free to change your position at any time.
The session was simply lovely. We followed a loving-kindness meditation technique (Metta Bhavana) in which we wished ourselves and others happiness and well-being. The aim was to become more emotionally positive, kind and compassionate. We all relaxed into it (despite all getting pins and needles at some point in the hour!) and came out refreshed and with a real desire to be a little kinder and more thoughtful.
Whilst the Buddhism we encountered at the centre was incredibly different to the Buddhism we’d learned about on our online course, we came away asking lots of questions of ourselves and how we might become better people. All four of us gained a huge amount. We highly recommend a visit.
You can find out more about the Manchester Buddhist Centre via their website – https://manchesterbuddhistcentre.org.uk/
