Meditation Classes in Reading

Thursday Evening

Join us for our Thursday evening meditation classes with Experienced teacher Darren Vass. Everyone is welcome – you can attend a whole course or drop in to individual sessions.

Thursday evening meditation class

7.30pm-8.30pm | with Darren Vass

£10 each session (drop in or pre-book) ¦ £28 for whole 4 week course 30% whole course discount ¦ free with membership ¦ online option with membership

Meditation for Daily Life: Four Noble Truths

September 10, 17, 24 and 1 October

£28  for whole 4 week course (30% discount) /  £10 each session (drop in or pre-book) / free with membership

Discover Practical Solutions to Everyday Problems Through Meditation
Are stress, worry, frustration, or difficult relationships affecting your peace of mind? Despite our best efforts, many of us find ourselves facing the same challenges again and again. Why is this, and what can we do about it?
During these sessions, we will explore timeless Buddhist wisdom and practical meditation techniques that help us understand the true causes of our problems and discover lasting solutions from within.
Bases on the book, How to Solve Our Human Problems by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, this course offers a clear and accessible introduction to the Four Noble Truths—the foundation of Buddhist teachings and a powerful framework for transforming daily life.
Through guided meditations, practical reflections, and group discussion, you will learn how to:
• Understand the deeper causes of stress, dissatisfaction, and unhappiness.
• Recognize unhelpful mental habits that keep problems recurring.
• Develop greater inner peace, resilience, and emotional balance.
• Respond to challenges with wisdom rather than reactivity.
• Create a meditation practice that supports inner peace and well-being.

Everybody welcome!

Booking

Drop in to individual sessions or book online £10. We also offer a whole course 30% discount.

Bookings

Meditation for Daily Life: Dealing with Difficulties

October 22th, 29th, November 5th and 12th

£28  for whole 4 week course (30% discount) /  £10 each session (drop in or pre-book) / free with membership

Everyone experiences difficulties, such as challenging relationships, stress at work, disappointment, loss, frustration, or unexpected setbacks. Life’s challenges can easily leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or angry.
In these sessions, we will explore practical methods for responding to life’s problems with greater wisdom, patience, and inner strength. Based on the text, How to Solve Our Human Problems by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, we will learn how meditation can help us transform the way we experience difficulties rather than simply wishing them away.
Many of our greatest challenges are made harder by our mental reactions—especially anger, frustration, resentment, and resistance. By understanding these habits of mind and learning to work with them skilfully, we can discover a more peaceful and resilient way of living.
Week 1: The Faults of Irritation and Anger
Discover why anger is one of the most destructive states of mind and how it robs us of peace, happiness, and good judgment. Learn meditation techniques that help create space between difficult situations and our reactions.
Week 2: Why Do We Become Irritable? Explore the underlying causes of anger, frustration, and resentment. Learn how unmet expectations, attachment, and habitual ways of thinking contribute to emotional suffering and conflict.
Week 3: Learning to Accept Difficulties
Can difficulties become opportunities for growth? This week we will explore the practice of patient acceptance and learn how resisting reality often increases our suffering. Through meditation, we will develop greater emotional balance and resilience.
Week 4: Responding Wisely to Challenges
Bring together the insights from the course and learn practical ways to meet daily difficulties with patience, understanding, and compassion. Develop a personal toolkit for maintaining inner peace when faced with difficulties.

Everyone is welcome to attend these classes. Whether you are new to meditation or looking to deepen your practice, this course provides practical tools you can begin using immediately in your daily life.

Everybody welcome!

Booking

Drop in to individual sessions or book online £10. We also offer a whole course 30% discount.

Bookings

Teacher

Thursday Evening Meditation

With experienced teacher Darren Vass

Quick facts for newcomers…

What is Meditation?

  • Purpose: Cultivate positive states of mind for peace and well-being.
  • Happiness source: Lies in the mind, not external conditions.
  • Benefits: Reduces stress, anxiety, promotes physical and mental well-being.

Accessible class format

  • Non-sectarian, non-judgmental, and universal.
  • Simple methods to tackle stress and anxiety in modern daily life.

Flexible sitting arrangements

  • Option to sit on a chair or a cushion on the floor.

No religious affiliation necessary

  • Not required; accessible to everyone.

Open to all experience levels

  • Beginners welcome; teachings designed to be simple yet profound.

Interaction during classes optional

  • No requirement to speak in front of a group.
  • Questions are welcome.

No physical exercise necessary

  • Focus is on meditation – no yoga or physical exercises.

What to Bring

  • No specific requirements; some find it useful to bring a notepad and pen.

Simple dress code

  • No special requirements; comfortable clothing suggested.

Join a class anytime

  • Classes are self-contained; drop in whenever you can, no need to wait for the next course.

Book in advance or drop-in