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Dear Friends,

I hope you’ve had a restful Christmas break. As we prepare to return to our routines on Monday, I’ve been reflecting on how easy it is to lose that sense of spaciousness the holidays can bring – those moments when time seems to slow and we catch ourselves simply being rather than constantly doing.

The question I keep coming back to is: how do we hold onto some of that stillness as life speeds up again? This is, in essence, what meditation offers – not an escape from our busy lives, but a way of being more fully present within them.

Six Week Meditation Challenge

With this in mind, I’m pleased to say that our Six Week Meditation Challenge begins this Tuesday, 6th January, at The Millbridge Rooms in Hertford. Just turn up between 7:00 and 7:15 PM – it’s open to all, and is on a donation basis.

Over the six weeks we’ll explore themes that build upon one another: awakening to reality, cultivating a calm and focused mind, developing loving-kindness (metta), balancing effort with openness, and integrating practice into daily life. We’ll be learning two core meditation practices – the Mindfulness of Breathing and the Metta Bhavana – with full instruction given each week.

The “challenge” element is simply an invitation to commit to meditating regularly during the course – whether that’s five, six, or seven days a week. There’s something powerful about making such a commitment within a supportive group.

If you’re new to meditation, this is a perfect time to join us. This first evening in January is always our meeting with the most newcomers, and we’ll be teaching from first principles.

And if you’ve been practising for a while but haven’t been along recently, or feel stuck in a rut, the momentum of a group commitment can be wonderfully reinvigorating. It is always good to see our old friends 🙂

The course works best if you can come every week, but come when you can – and if you miss a week or two or several, please come back anyway!

As always, there’ll be meditation instruction, discussion, friendly faces, and yes – tea and biscuits.

With warmth,

Keith

Dear Friends,

As the gentle warmth of summer continues to embrace us, I find myself reflecting on the beautiful tapestry of experiences we’ve woven together in recent weeks. There’s something quite magical about this season – perhaps it’s the longer days that seem to invite deeper contemplation, or the way our sangha continues to flourish with such diverse voices and perspectives.

Celebrating Our Recent Journey

What a wonderfully rich July we’ve had! We concluded our Greater Mandala Course, and I’m still absorbing the profound insights that emerged from our explorations together. The depth of engagement and quality of discussion throughout those weeks reminded me once again how the dharma truly comes alive when we explore it as a community. Following this, Samudraghosha led us through a workshop on metta bhavana, and I watched participants discover new dimensions to this fundamental practice – there’s something deeply moving about witnessing these moments of insight unfold.

One of the highlights was Mangala’s visit from London, sharing his personal memories of Bhante from their time together in the 1960s and from living in community with him later on. Having heard Bhante speak many times through recordings, there was something irreplaceable about Mangala’s first-hand accounts. He painted a picture of our founder not just as a great teacher, but as a human being navigating his own spiritual journey with all its complexities and discoveries. These stories have a remarkable way of making the dharma feel more immediate and accessible – they remind us that even our most revered teachers walked the same uncertain path we find ourselves on.

Voices from Our Community

Perhaps most moving of all were the heartfelt shares from all of our newest mitras, Natalie,  Vickie, Karen, Danielle and Ruchi who courageously opened their hearts to tell us about their spiritual journeys. Listening to them, I was struck by something beautiful: while each of our paths is utterly unique, there are these golden threads that weave through all our stories. We all recognise that familiar tug-of-war between the call of the spiritual path and the gravitational pull of our everyday, worldly concerns. Hearing how others navigate this eternal dance can be both deeply reassuring and genuinely inspiring.

Fresh Energy and New Perspectives

Last Tuesday brought something wonderfully different – our young people’s takeover! My heartfelt thanks go to Charlotte, Zoe, and Jordan for breathing such fresh energy into our gathering. While our classes have welcomed people from ages 18 to 98 (my dear mother being our most senior participant!), it’s true that those of us who usually lead tend to have been round the block a few times. But there’s something irreplaceable about youthful perspective – that natural energetic, questioning spirit, that willingness to challenge assumptions, that infectious enthusiasm for exploration that can revitalise all of us.

If you’re between 18 and 35, I warmly encourage you to connect with this vibrant part of our sangha at https://hertfordbuddhistgroup.co.uk/young-people/, or simply ask about it when you join us on a Tuesday evening. We’re already planning another youth-led session for October or November – watch this space!

Looking Ahead with Anticipation

As we move through August and into early September, we have some truly exciting offerings coming up:

12th August: My good friend Khemananda travels from London to be with us
19th August: To be confirmed
26th August: Samudraghosha returns to celebrate our founder’s life exactly 100 years to the day since his birth – a very special evening indeed
2nd September: Shubhadasa joins us all the way from Suffolk
9th September: The beginning of our new 6-week meditation and Buddhism course, “Breaking through into Buddhahood”

Each gathering promises its own unique flavour of discovery and connection. As always, there’s no pressure to attend every session – come when you can, when your heart calls you, when life allows.

The Heart of Our Practice

As we continue through these summer weeks, I’m continually reminded that our practice isn’t confined to Tuesday evenings. The dharma lives in the spaces between our formal gatherings – in how we respond to a difficult conversation, in moments of quiet contemplation during a summer walk, in the kindness we extend to ourselves when we’re struggling, in the way we truly listen to a friend who needs support.

What strikes me most about our Hertford sangha is the genuine warmth and openness that characterises our gatherings. Whether you’re someone who’s been exploring Buddhism for years or someone who’s never meditated before, there’s a quality of acceptance and curiosity that makes our Tuesday evenings feel like coming home to a spiritual family.

An Invitation to Meaning

Whether you’re planning summer adventures, finding peace in familiar routines, or perhaps feeling a bit unsettled by life’s current challenges, know that our sangha family is here. We’re ready to explore the depths and mysteries of this spiritual life together, to support each other through the inevitable ups and downs, and to celebrate the simple joy of genuine human connection.

As one of our community members beautifully put it recently, returning to our group after some time away helped her “experience more meaning in her life” again. That phrase has stayed with me – because isn’t that what we’re all seeking? Not just understanding or even peace, but that deep sense that our lives matter, that we’re part of something larger, that our struggles and joys have meaning.

Until we meet again, may your summer days be filled with the warmth of the season and the deeper warmth of spiritual friendship. May you find moments of genuine connection – with others, with nature, with your own deepest wisdom.

With much metta,

Keith

Dear Friends,

As the golden warmth of summer settles around us, I find myself pausing often – to listen, to feel, to notice the subtle unfolding of life both around and within us. Just like the natural world, our spiritual lives seem to follow their own organic rhythm, blooming in their own perfect time. And lately, our Hertford sangha has witnessed the most beautiful, heartfelt growth.

A Day of Quiet Luminescence

Last Saturday was one of those quietly radiant days that seem to shimmer in memory even as they unfold. Five beloved members of our sangha stepped forward in a ceremony of deep sincerity and joy – becoming mitras, pledging themselves anew to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

Watching each of them voice their commitment, surrounded by spiritual friends, was like witnessing flowers opening all at once under the gentle gaze of morning light. It reminded me that this path isn’t merely about ideas or practices – it’s about people, hearts, lives transformed. It’s about us, walking together through the turning seasons of our spiritual journey.

To honour these profound moments, I’ve invited each new mitra to share their story in the coming weeks. Not just summaries, but the real turning points, the moments of doubt and grace that led them here. These autobiographical talks are always raw and radiant, reminding us that the dharma touches each life in its own extraordinary way.

Dharma Day: A Personal Invitation

Next  Sunday 13^th July, many of us will journey to Cambridge for Dharma Day – celebrating the anniversary of the Buddha’s first teaching. Imagine that moment: the lighting of awakening’s flame in this world. And we, centuries later, are still warmed by that same luminous fire.

Families are warmly welcome for part of the day, with activities for children– so do bring your young spiritual family members along. You can find details at https://www.cambridgebuddhistcentre.com/DharmaDay25.

What Lies Ahead: Our Shared Summer Journey

Here’s what’s unfolding in our Tuesday evening gatherings:

• 8th July – Samudraghosha guides us through the evening
• 15th July – Mangala returns, sharing the wisdom and kindness he’s cherished for
• 22nd July – Mitra Stories: Part One – witness the unfolding of spiritual commitment
• 29th July – Young Person’s Takeover – fresh perspectives and energy, open to all ages
• 5th August – Mitra Stories: Part Two – more hearts, more turning points
• 12th August – Khemananda visits from London, always a nourishing presence
• 19th August – To be confirmed – perhaps a spontaneous evening of inquiry and reflection
• 26th August – A truly special evening: Samudraghosha leads us in celebrating exactly 100 years since Bhante’s birth
• 2nd September – Shubhadasa helps guide us gently into autumn’s embrace
• 9th September – We begin our new 6-week course: “Meditation and Breaking Through into Buddhahood” – an invitation to dive deeper

In Closing

In each gathering, each story shared, each cup of tea after meditation, we’re weaving something sacred together. A space of beauty, presence, and genuine spiritual friendship. Whether you join us every week or just when  moved to do so, you are part of this living mandala of connection and growth.

So come when you can, bring your open heart, and know there’s always a place here waiting for you. Your presence makes our sangha brighter, and together we continue this ancient journey of awakening in our own unique, contemporary way.

With warmth, wonder, and boundless metta,

Keith

Dear Friends,

As the gentle warmth of early summer embraces us, I find myself reflecting on the richness of our recent gatherings and the beautiful tapestry of experiences we’ve woven together these past weeks at Hertford Buddhist Group.

The Alchemy of Joy

What a journey May has been! Each evening seemed to unfold like a flower, revealing new petals of understanding about one of life’s most precious qualities – joy. We began with an illuminating film night, where Suryagupta’s wisdom reminded us of something profound: joy isn’t something that simply happens to us, in fact we can consciously and effectively cultivate the conditions that lead to it.

In Buddhism, we’re not passive recipients of whatever mental states drift our way. Instead, we become gardeners of the mind, deliberately planting the seeds of positive experience. How liberating to realise that we need not remain at the mercy of circumstances, suffering in silence when life feels heavy!

Mangala’s visit brought us face-to-face with the beautiful truth that ethical practice isn’t just a moral obligation – it’s actually a pathway to joy itself. There’s something deeply satisfying about living in alignment with our values, isn’t there? It’s as if our whole being sighs with relief when we act from kindness rather than reactivity.

Then came Shubhadasa’s exploration of gratitude, complete with meditation and some wonderful small group discussions that seem to weave us closer together as a sangha. It’s fascinating how ancient Buddhist wisdom and modern neuroscience are arriving at the same destination from different directions. I recently heard a neuroscientist explain how gratitude practice literally rewires our brains for greater bliss and less stress – the Buddha would surely smile at this confirmation of what contemplatives have known for millennia!

Our second film night proved equally enriching, as we witnessed the deep dialogue between Jnanavaca and Iain McGilchrist on “The Sense of the Sacred.” Watching a senior Buddhist teacher and a renowned psychiatrist, philosopher and neuroscientist find common ground about life’s deeper meanings felt very profound.

Entering the Greater Mandala

Last week, we embarked on what may be our most transformative journey yet – a five-week course we’re calling “The Joy of Uselessness” (originally titled “The Greater Mandala”). This is the first time we’re offering this profound exploration in Hertford, and already I can sense its potential to shift how we approach our daily lives.

In our achievement-obsessed culture, there’s something deliciously subversive about exploring uselessness, isn’t there? Not the uselessness of apathy or laziness, but the spacious uselessness of being rather than doing – of moving through life with purpose and love within a wider, more sacred circle of meaning.

In Buddhist understanding, a mandala represents far more than beautiful geometric patterns. It’s a sacred space, a cosmic map of the enlightened mind. Through the remaining four weeks, we’ll explore what it means to live within such a mandala – where beauty, awareness, and loving-kindness transform even the most ordinary moments into something precious.

What we’re cultivating together:

• Loving-kindness and genuine connection
• Clarity and inner spaciousness
• Contentment and deep ease

We’ll discover how our choices, especially those seemingly small ones we make moment by moment, either trap us in reactive patterns or open doorways to freedom. Through meditation, reflection, and our cherished discussions, we’re learning to live more spaciously, more beautifully.

A Feast for a Sacred Cause

On Sunday, June 15th, we have the privilege of supporting something truly special – a fundraising meal for Tiratanaloka. This remarkable retreat centre has long been a sanctuary for women deepening their Buddhist practice and preparing for ordination into the Triratna Order. Now they’re moving to a much larger property in Ware, making them our spiritual neighbours!

How wonderful to think that we’ll soon have such a dedicated space for practice so close to home. Our talented sangha cooks will be preparing a home-made, two-course vegan Gujarati feast – it’s not just a meal but an offering towards something beautiful taking root in our community.

The Details:

• When: Sunday, June 15th – arrive 12:30pm for 12:45pm start, finishing at 2pm
• Cost: £12.50 (or £15 with additional donations welcome)
• Booking: Essential by Wednesday, June 11th at https://hertfordbuddhistgroup.co.uk/meal

Karunadhi, Chair of Tiratanaloka, is planning to join us, which promises to make the afternoon even more meaningful. Please bring family and friends – there’s something magical about sharing both food and purpose with those we care about, and early booking helps our wonderful cooks plan this feast of generosity.

In Closing

As we move deeper into summer’s embrace, I’m struck by how our sangha continues to grow not just in numbers, but in depth and connection. Whether you’re drawn to join us for the remaining weeks of “The Joy of Uselessness,” planning to share a meal for a sacred cause, or simply carrying our discussions into your daily life, know that you’re part of something beautiful – a community where ancient wisdom meets modern hearts, where joy is cultivated consciously, and where the sacred is discovered in the utterly ordinary.

Until we meet again, may your days be touched with wonder, your practices bear fruit, and your heart find that spacious joy that needs no external cause to flourish.

With warmth and summer blessings,

Keith

Hi there,

I hope you’re basking in the sunshine and feeling the gentle energy of spring all around.

We’ve had some really special gatherings over the past few Tuesdays.
Recently, we shared a wonderful film night and watched part of Suryaprabha’s excellent documentary, “An Opening of the Heart,” which tells the inspiring story of our movement’s beginnings. (You can watch the full film at https://lightsinthesky.org )

Now, here’s a little taste of what’s coming up:

🌟 Tuesday Night Programme 🌟
6th May — Keith – Film Night
13th May — Mangala
20th May — Shubhadasa
27th May — Samudraghosha
3rd June — Launch of a brand new 5-week course: The Greater Mandala

Each evening includes meditation with instruction, an inspiring talk, small group discussions, and of course — tea and biscuits to nourish our connections.

✨ The Greater Mandala Course (starting 3rd June)
In our often busy world, The Greater Mandala invites us to pause… and expand our hearts. This gentle and profound course will help us embrace spaciousness, step back from endless striving, and discover a freer, more meaningful way of being.

Through Buddhist wisdom, meditation, and friendly exploration, we’ll gently move beyond “doing” into being — living with presence, connection, and joy.

Whether you’re brand new or a regular, this promises to be an uplifting and transformative journey. No need to book — it’s drop-in, donation-based, and you are welcome to attend as many or as few evenings as you like. Just come along!

🌸 Buddha Day (Wesak) — Cambridge Buddhist Centre — Sunday 18th May, 9:30am–4:00pm
Buddha Day is the biggest festival in the Buddhist calendar — a celebration of the Buddha’s enlightenment and his boundless compassion.

This year’s celebration will be joyful, inclusive, and playful, with activities for all ages. Expect:

Meditation, reflection, and ritual for everyone
Play-based practice and enactments for families and children
A shared vegetarian/vegan lunch
A beautiful Mitra ceremony during the afternoon Puja

Children are warmly welcome. Come and celebrate Buddha’s Awakening as a living, joyful journey. Full details here: https://www.cambridgebuddhistcentre.com/BuddhaDay25

🍛 Fundraising meal for Tiratanaloka, Sun 15th June
Tiratanaloka is a retreat centre dedicated to supporting women to deepen their Buddhist practice and join the Triratna Order. They are moving to a much larger property in Ware, and we will be their spiritual neighbours. Please join us to help raise the funds that they still need to make this new retreat centre a reality. Our cooks will be creating a home-made, two-course vegan Gujarati meal. Arrive at 12:30pm for a 12:45pm start, finishing at 2pm. £12.50/ £15 with additional donations welcome. Bring your family members and friends. Places are limited and booking and advance payment by Wednesday 11th June is required by filling in the form at https://hertfordbuddhistgroup.co.uk/meal .
Karunadhi, Chair of Tiratanaloka, is intending to come.

So much to look forward to as the warmer months unfold — meditation, exploration through The Greater Mandala, joyful Buddha Day festivities, and sharing food and friendship to support Tiratanaloka.

Wherever you are in your practice, there’s a place here for you in our sangha.
I look forward to seeing you soon — in stillness, in joy, and in heartfelt connection.

With love and warm wishes,
Keith

Dear friends,

As April gently unfolds her soft green hands, the cherry blossoms begin their fleeting dance—and I find myself reflecting on how our practice, too, follows the same rhythm: quiet, steady, and full of promise. Just as buds become blossoms, we too awaken and open, moment by moment.

Cherry Blossoms at Vajrasana: A Springtime Retreat

We recently shared a beautiful retreat at Vajrasana in Suffolk with our friends from the Bury St. Edmunds Sangha. Thirty-six of us came together as the first whispers of spring stirred the land—cherry blossoms blooming like gentle reminders of impermanence and renewal.

I was co-organising with the ever-wonderful Tejodhi, and supported by a vibrant, loving team. Together, we created something precious: a space of friendship, stillness, depth, and joy. Moments like these remind me why sangha is at the heart of the path.

Craving: Root of Suffering, Gateway to Freedom

Last Tuesday we welcomed the thoughtful and inspiring Kuladipa from Cambridge to launch his new book “Thirsting for More: A Buddhist Approach to Craving.” I had the joy of interviewing him—and together we explored how craving sits at the very core of the Buddha’s teaching.

Where many approaches to wellbeing skim the surface, Buddhism dares to go deep—inviting us to see the fire of craving clearly, to understand its mechanisms, and to gently loosen its grip. Even the old biblical commandment “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife” gestures toward this—but whereas one path says “Don’t!” the other says, “Look. Feel. Understand. Be free.”

When we really begin to observe craving as it arises—without judgement, just with honest awareness—something magical happens. The heart begins to settle. Peace becomes possible.

🌿 Upcoming Opportunities for Practice

🌞 Day Event: “Opening to Freedom and Joy” with Sagaraghosa

Saturday 26th April, 10am–3pm in Ware (can leave early if you need to)
A beautiful chance to explore conditionality—how our experience arises and how we can meet it with wisdom.
🧡 Full details here

🕯️ Tuesday Evening Classes – Millbridge Rooms, Hertford (7.15–9.30pm)

Drop-in friendly, beginner-welcoming, and full of heart:

• 8 Apr – Film night with Keith 🍿
• 15 Apr – Khemananda
• 22 Apr – Keith
• 29 Apr – Samudraghosha
• 6 May – Mangala
• 13 May – Samudraghosha
• 20 May – Shubhadasa
• 27 May – Keith
• 3 Jun – Launch of a new 5-week course: “The Greater Mandala”

Each evening usually includes meditation with instruction, discussion, connection, and a sense of spiritual adventure.

🌧️ April Showers, Dharma Flowers

April brings both sunlight and storms. And isn’t that just like life? One moment soft and golden, the next wet and wild. Just like the worldly winds. Our practice helps us to hold all of it—with curiosity, courage, and a heart as open as the sky.

Whether you’re returning after time away or just feeling curious to begin, you are warmly invited. The sangha is here, always. A place to land, a place to grow, a place to remember who you really are.

Until we meet again—may you feel the beauty in every blossom, the teachings in every raindrop, and the vastness of love in every breath.

With love and metta

Keith

Saturday 26th April 10am – 3pm (or morning only if you can’t make full day). Bring lunch to share
Free, with an opportunity to make a donation

Please arrive at 10am for a 10.15 start.For parking see the following:

Ware station car park all day parking £4.95

https://www.eastherts.gov.uk/highways-and-parking/details-our-car-parks/car-parks-ware/priory-street-car-park

Kibes Lane South all day for £5.30

https://www.eastherts.gov.uk/highways-and-parking/details-our-car-parks/car-parks-ware/kibes-lane-south-car-park   . 

Led by Sagaraghosa
Venue: Place House Hall, Bluecoat Yard, Ware SG12 9HL

Conditionality is at the core of the Buddha’s teachings. In this day we shall explore how this teaching is relevant to our lives today. We shall look at how it can help us with the stresses of various kinds that we experience in our lives, and how it can help us to move towards freedom and joy.

The day will consist of short talks, interactive explorations, reflections, small group discussions and meditations. It will also include readings and poems. It is suitable for anyone who knows how to meditate and for a range of experience.
Sagaraghosa has been teaching Buddhism and meditation at the Cambridge Buddhist Centre for over 14 years, and is the author of the book Starting on the Buddhist Path – a clear, accessible introduction to Buddhism encouraging readers to explore the truth of the Buddha’s teachings in their own experience.

Questions about retreats


1. Bhante Sangharakshita said, “You go on retreat in order to come back.” This suggests that retreats are not an escape but a way to prepare for re-engaging with daily life.

• How do you think the conditions of a retreat—such as silence, meditation, and simplicity—help us return to our lives with greater clarity and purpose?
  
  

2. The retreat experience often involves disconnecting from technology and practicing mindfulness in a serene environment.

• What impact do you think stepping away from phones, screens, and other distractions has on your ability to be present with yourself and others? How might this influence your relationship with technology after the retreat?
  
  

3. A participant described “friendly silence” as a space for peace and reflection, while acknowledging that not everyone finds silence easy.

• What is your relationship with silence? How might periods of silence during a retreat help deepen self-awareness or bring clarity to unresolved questions?
  
  

4. Retreats often provide opportunities for personal insights or epiphanies through journaling, meditation, or group discussions.

• Have you ever experienced a moment of clarity or transformation during a retreat or period of reflection? How did it change your perspective or actions afterward?
  
  

5. Spiritual friendship (kalyana mitrata) is central to retreats, as shared experiences can create a sense of connection and mutual support.

• How does being part of a sangha or spiritual community during a retreat enhance your practice? What role do these connections play in sustaining your spiritual journey after the retreat?

Dear Friends,

As February unfolds, I find myself drawn to the quiet signs of renewal in our local park, where the first white flowers have bravely emerged to face the winter elements. These early harbingers of spring seem to mirror our own journey of practice – finding courage to grow even when conditions aren’t perfect.

Teaching Buddhism: Stories of Connection
Last week brought an inspiring challenge – teaching Buddhism to Year 10 students at a local school, with ten different classes of 26 students each given just 20 minutes to explore these profound teachings. Now in my fourth year of doing this, I’ve discovered that the heart of sharing Buddhism lies in authentic personal story.

I share with them my journey as a choirboy at my local church, including those transcendent moments when music and spirit merged into something beyond words. Then I tell them about the questions that arose when blind faith no longer resonated, and how Buddhism later opened a door to similar experiences – not through belief, but through direct exploration of consciousness. Through meditation, retreats, and study groups, I found a path of discovery rather than doctrine.

The most touching moment came when asking what brings them joy. One student raised her hand to share that the brief meditation she had practiced earlier had brought her peace. In that simple response lay the essence of what we hope to share – that direct experience of something genuine and transformative.

Life with Full Attention: Tuesday Evenings
Our Tuesday evening classes continue to explore Maitreyabandhu’s “Life with Full Attention” course. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or have been practising for years, you’re welcome to join us. No need to register – simply drop in and discover the power of mindfulness in community. The photo below was taken on week one of the course.

Spring Retreat at Vajrasana
We’re delighted to invite you to our spring retreat at the beautiful Vajrasana retreat centre, nestled in the Suffolk countryside near Bury St Edmunds. From March 21st-23rd, we’ll create a space for both beginners and experienced practitioners to deepen their practice together. As this will be our last retreat until October, I warmly encourage you to join us. Previous retreats have been profoundly uplifting experiences for all who attended. Book your place at https://hertfordbuddhistgroup.co.uk/retreat202503 (sliding scale £100-£155).

In Closing
Like those early spring flowers in the park, each of us has the capacity to bloom, even in challenging times. Whether you join us for Tuesday evenings or on retreat, know that you’re part of a community that values authentic growth and genuine connection.

Until we meet again, may your practice flourish like the first flowers of spring.

With metta,
Keith