Hertford Chan Meditation Group

Hertford Chan (Chinese Zen) group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month, between 7.30 and 9.30 p.m.

The venue is Bengeo Parish Church Hall, Duncombe Road, Hertford, SG14 3DA.

Contact David Hope:

The group is open to all Buddhists and non-Buddhists who wish to support their own practice through meditation with others or who wish to learn how to meditate.

The pattern of the evening is 25 minutes sitting meditation, 10 minutes walking meditation, 25 minutes sitting meditation, 25 minutes tea and discussion around an area of Buddhism, 25 minutes recitation of Buddhist verses and sitting meditation.  The times are nominal and may vary.  People sit according to their needs, some on meditation cushions, some on meditation stools and some on chairs.  Guided meditations are sometimes given.  The dates of the meetings are shown below.

Apart from the evening "sits" we also hold at least 2 one-day, silent retreats each year.  These are an opportunity for people to practise sitting meditation for longer than is usually possible and to experience an extended period of silence. Forthcoming dates will be listed below when arranged. An indicative pogramme is shown lower down this page.

Dates of evening sits in 2012

  • December - 12

Whilst there is no formal cost, people generally make a contribution towards the cost of hiring the hall which is currently £24 per evening.  The hire charge will be £28 as from January 2013.

Dates of evening sits in 2013

  • January - 23
  • February - 13, 27
  • March - 13, 27
  • April - 10, 24
  • May - 8, 22
  • June - 12, 26
  • July - 10, 24
  • August - 14, 28
  • September - 11, 25
  • October - 9, 23
  • November - 13, 27
  • December - 11

Indicative programme for day retreats

09:30    Arrive, tea, coffee, orientation

09:50    Introduction

10:00    Opening verse for an occasional retreat / Three

             Refuges / Sitting meditation (guided relaxation)

10:30    Walking meditation

10:40    Slow, mindful exercise

10:50    Break

11:00    Sitting meditation

11:25    Walking meditation

11:40    Slow, mindful exercise

11:50    Break

12:00    Sitting meditation

12:25    Lunch: collect food, eat and clear away in continued silence.  A bell will indicate the end of silence.  At the end of lunch we return into silence.

13:30    Mantra / Sitting meditation

13:55    Slow walking meditation

14:10    Slow, mindful exercise

14:20    Break

14:30    Instruction on Direct Contemplation, followed by practise

14:55    Sitting meditation

15:20    Slow walking meditation

15:30    Break

15:35    Heart Sutra / Sitting meditation

16:00    Trasfer of Merit, formal close of retreat, end of silence, tea.

Please bring food to share in a communal lunch (green tea, tea and coffee are provided).  Also, your own mat, cushion, stool, if you have one.