London Buddhist Centre - London

Epifania A.

Going to the London Buddhist Centre was the best decision I have ever made in a long time. The atmosphere is zen. The folk working there are so very lovely, especially the gentleman at reception. It is also in a great location, which pulls in a really diverse bunch of people. The bookshop is also amazing with so many gems. Wish I was still living in Hackney, I would be a regular at the Centre for sure.

Fiction F.

Been going for a very long time but went downhill after I became a Mitra, classes are virtually innacessible to those of us that have a physical disability and I’m irritated that I cannot complete my mitra studies and become ordained.

So if you’re chill with your journey not going beyond spiritual self awakening and your own Buddhist journey then by all means go.

Vibe there is awesome, people are very welcoming and supportive on your journey and I loved the youth club.

I also appreciate them being transparent about the sexual misconduct of Sangharakshita and gave me time to think about if being a Mitra was truly what I wanted.

They’re not too pushy with the Buddhism either. You can just go for the meditation classes and the yoga.
Just don’t buy anything from the gift shop. After spending a few hundred pounds in there I was made aware by one of the volunteers that everything they sell is cheaper online or secondhand.

Except the incense. The incense there are superior.

Also the donation thing irritates me. I get followed around until I give a donation. And for someone who has to live on disability, this isn’t ok to guilt people like that. I’m sure everyone wants to donate, but a lot of people can’t and you guys need to respect that.

Because I’m not one to complain without offering a solution, the one I came up with is- make an interactive workshop online. Like the ones they used to do for tests at school. You watch the video, answer questions, type what your observations are and then you send it to the teacher for them to mark.

I haven’t been in months due to some dirty looks I got for disturbing a meditation, trying to walk out of the room because of my disability pains. Thankfully one of the order members who I grew close with during my mitra ceremony assisted me.

Alana

Really recommend the yoga classes! My partner and I came as beginners to yoga, and we felt challenged by it but it was definitely not intimidating or too challenging. Lovely space for it and the instructor and others seemed nice!

Lida V.

Great yoga classes but way too crowded making it hard to practise without being overly conscious of the space you’re taking up. After providing the feedback to them they said that if anything the number of maximum participants is low as before the pandemic they’d allow 21 per class rather than 18 which is the current maximum. There is very little space between yoga mats and you always end up with your neighbours limbs on your mat, it is super distracting. I don’t see this changing anytime soon so I would say get there early to assure you get a precious corner spot so at least you’re bumping into the walls instead of other people.

Caïna V.

Been here a few times and so far so good! It feels like a nice and not too intimidating start into meditation and Buddhism that’s open to everyone and feels welcoming. They have a sliding pay scale too which is very welcomed. Only met good people and staff here so far.

Des B.

I visited the Shrine Room to pay respects to my brother who's Stupa is still there after 30 years. As always we were warmly welcomed by a member of the community who remembered him well. Thank you for looking after him.

Nicole F.

If you’re considering going to this place, just do it! I’d been meaning to go for years. I started with the January meditation challenge and then signed up to the mindfulness course with Maitrebandhu, the legend who is wise and hilarious in equal measure! It’s deep but lighthearted. I looked forward to it every week, seeing the people from our group each week and sharing our experiences. The teachings were so uplifting and applicable to daily life. I always came away much happier and lighter than when I walked in. Wonderful wonderful place! Keep up the good work 🙏

Charlotte M.

During a visit to the LBC I believe I was discriminated against because of a protected (medical) characteristic. I assumed this was due to a lack of education/understanding, rather than care. I politely messaged the Centre to explain the situation and ask if someone would be willing to discuss with me, to ensure lessons could be learnt and others in my position wouldn’t be left feeling like I was after my visit. Nearly two weeks later and with my email being completely ignored, I can only assume the Centre simply doesn’t care. This would be disappointing from a profit-making business, but from a centre for a religion that purports to practice ethical conduct and compassion, it’s genuinely sad.