Calendar: dates, times, news....
last updated: May 17, 2012
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BEGINNERS:
'Joy of Meditation' initial courses (every Tuesday)
Introductory courses ordinarily last seven weeks and run throughout
the year as part of a permanent tuition group for beginners from 7pm - 9pm every
Tuesday. No booking or registration is required but newcomers may only join a 
course in
its first week. If unsure about when to attend, please email the Centre for guidance. Admission free, donations welcome.
(Course 3/12) Tuesdays 17th April - 29th May [CLOSED]
(Course 4/12) Tuesdays 12th June - 24th July
(Course 5/12) Tuesdays 14th August - 18th September
The next start point for newcomers will be Tuesday 12th June, as above. Please note that there will be no Tuesday session on 5th June (Queen's Jubilee Holiday), nor on 31st July & 7th August due to the Olympic Games. As a result, Courses 5/12 and 6/12 will both be reduced to 6 weeks in order to re-establish the schedule and the traditional 7 week format will return in November.
BEGINNERS:
intensive workshops (Sundays, seven times a year)
A thorough, practical introduction to meditation in one session covering the first three weeks of the beginners' course in a truncated form. These intensive workshops are held at the Dhyana Centre regularly throughout the year, after which participants may join the Tuesday course at week four. Open to all comers, no preparation or registration/booking is required; just turn up on the day. Admission free, donations welcome.
[NB. Unless you have special dietary needs, there is no need to bring a packed lunch; instead, plan to have your main meal of the day later. There will be a 30 minute break in the middle of the session during which snack refreshments will be provided.]
The next intensive will be held on: Sunday 24th June (11am - 4pm)
The following dates, all Sundays 11am - 4pm, are also booked for intensives:-
- 26th August
- 14th October
- 25th November
INTERMEDIATE:
Ramakrishna Group (every Friday and Saturday 7pm)
For those graduating from the introductory classes, these intermediate-level groups are held at the Dhyana Centre every Friday 7pm - 9.30pm [with a break at about 8.15pm allowing participants either to leave or arrive] and Saturday 7pm - 9pm. Sessions differ in content but the emphasis of both groups is on practice rather than formal tuition. The Friday session involves a 40 minute meditation plus spiritual readings and either an Open Forum discussion group or an OM Healing circle. The Saturday session involves either two meditations of variable length or OM Healing followed by a 40 minute meditation. Individuals with prior yogic experience who have not been through one of the Centre's introductory sessions may be able to attend after consultation by email with the group leader (ordinarily, all newcomers should come for the first time on a Tuesday course or a Sunday workshop).
There will be occasional exceptions on Saturdays, and the days currently affected are:
- 2nd June (retreat at Kairos)
- 30th June (satsang with Sri Shivarudra Balayogi)
- 28th July (retreat at Kairos)
ADVANCED:
Lahiri Group TS (2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month)
This is a more advanced group for experienced members of the DC, held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. Sessions are from 7pm - 9pm and involve a 75 minute silent main meditation, followed by a feedback/sharing session and a shorter second meditation to finish. This is a focused teaching group and its purpose is to help those so inclined to develop the capacity for longer, more sustained periods of inner silence. Open to DC associates and members only in consultation with the group leader; no visitors.
Lahiri Group dates are as follows:
- 24th May
- 14th June
- 28th June
OM
Healing group (weekly on Friday or Saturday)
OM Healing currently takes place weekly on either Friday or Saturday evening as part of the intermediate Ramakrishna Group. These sessions start promptly and there is no late admittance. Non-DC members and those seeking any sort of healing are welcome to attend this group but first-time attendees may like to email Alan Perry in advance.
The next sessions will be (please note the variation in timings):
- Friday 18th May (8.15pm)
- Saturday 26th May (7pm)
- Friday 1st June (8.15pm)
- Friday 8th June(8.15pm)
FRIDAY sessions: OM Healing on Fridays takes place at 8.15pm after a silent group meditation which starts promptly at 7pm. Visitors for the healing are also welcome to participate in the meditation or may come solely for the healing, in which case they should arrive between 8pm and 8.15pm (not before or after).
SATURDAY sessions: on Saturday, the OM Healing is held first and commences promptly at 7pm. It is then followed by an optional period of 40 minutes silent meditation, ie. the reverse of the meditation-first format which applies on Fridays. As always, participants may come for both parts of the session or just the OM Healing but either way punctuality is essential.
Click here for more information regarding OM Healing groups in London.
Silent
Retreats (occasional Saturdays or Sundays)
One day retreats for meditation and silent devotion are held either at the Kairos
Centre in Roehampton, London SW.15 on Saturdays or at the Theosophical Society in central London on Sundays. If you
wish to attend but have not previously been to one of these retreats, please
consult with Alan Perry by email or in person. These retreats are not suitable for absolute beginners.
The next retreat will be held on: Saturday 2nd June (Kairos, 10am - 6pm)
Future dates are:
- Saturday 28th July (Kairos, 10am - 6pm)
- Sunday 2nd September (TS, 12 noon - 6pm)
- Saturday 3rd November (Kairos, 10am - 6pm)
Multi-faith
devotional services (quarterly)
Two hour participatory services are held at the Dhyana Centre on a quarterly basis as part of the Ramakrishna Group. These involve multi-faith prayers, devotional singing, arati, readings, meditation and absent healing. The programme is followed by a buffet meal. All DC members, associates and their guests are welcome.
The following dates have been booked, both Saturdays 7pm - 9.30pm:-
- 9th June
- 8th September
ADVANCED:
Lahiri Group CP (every Monday)
This is a private group for more advanced members of the Dhyana Centre. Meetings are held in Crystal Palace every Monday and attendance is by invitation only.