London Buddhist Centre

The London Buddhist Centre (LBC) sits at the heart of a varied community of Buddhist practitioners in Bethnal Green, East London. It teaches meditation and Buddhism in a way that is relevant to contemporary life, with the aim of offering a path of ever-deepening meaning that can transform the mind and a life. The Centre describes its vision as "a vision of truth, in a culture of friendship, for the benefit of all."

Meditation is taught face-to-face, in the company of others, and the LBC holds that this is the best way to learn. Most of its events suit people with no previous experience of meditation or Buddhism, and no one needs to be a Buddhist to take part. Alongside meditation classes, it runs daily yoga classes, regular events for families, classes and retreats for under-25s and people of colour, and evenings with well-known artists at PoetryEast. It also hosts school visits and Buddhist festivals, and runs two charity shops. Some activities are single-sex, and the Mitra Convenors help newcomers find their way into the community.

Retreats are a central part of the work. The LBC designed and built its retreat centre, Vajrasana, in Suffolk, and offers solitary retreats there for practitioners within the Triratna Buddhist community. The Centre also draws on Adhisthana, in the Herefordshire countryside, for some of its retreats.

The LBC is part of Triratna, the wider Buddhist community founded by Sangharakshita. He founded the London Buddhist Centre in 1978 as a flagship centre of the movement. Its teaching leans on spiritual friendship, community and practice within a living sangha, so volunteering, teamwork and group study are encouraged. Its YouTube channel shares Dharma talks and guided meditations, and the Buddhamind app supports meditation at home.