Great Stour Zen Meditation Group

Come Sit With Us

“You should be sitting straight up as if you were supporting the sky with your head [in zazen]. This is not just form or breathing. . . . It is a perfect expression of your Buddha nature. . . . These forms are not a means of obtaining the right state of mind. To take this posture itself is the purpose of our practice. When you take this posture, you have the right state of mind, so there is no need to try to attain some special state.“

– Shunryu Suzuki

Upright sitting meditation (zazen) in community is the core of our practice, informed by the study and chanting of Buddhist texts and teachings, in harmony within ourselves and with the universe.

Beginners Welcome

Suzuki Roshi (“old teacher”) also famously said, “in the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.” So please don’t worry if you’re new to meditation. Your beginner’s mind is welcome here. If you have practised zazen for many years, you’re also welcome to join us in practising without preconceptions or judgements with what Suzuki Roshi called a “ready and empty mind.” 

You’re Included

Great Stour — and our practice of zazen — is open to everyone regardless of your age, sex, sexual orientation, gender (including trans or other gender identity or expression), pregnancy, marital or partnership status, ability or disability, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief.