EVERYONE WELCOME - FROM BEGINNERS TO EXPERIENCED!
About Welwyn Hatfield Chan Group
Welwyn Hatfield Chan Group meets every Tuesday evening to practice meditation and mindful community, 7.15pm to 9.15pm, at the following address:
The Backhouse Room, 116 Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6SZ
We are a Chan Buddhist group, Chan being the Chinese ancestor of the better-known Japanese school of Zen. You do not need to be Buddhist to join us or benefit from the teachings!
Our group was formed in January 2022, and is a mix of beginners and "old-hands" alike, and guided instructions are given as appropriate.
The evening is conducted in silence, with the exception of the mid-point, where we usually break for tea, biscuits and a reading on a suitable topic to aid your practice. Please see the "What to Expect On Meditation Night" section below for more information.
In addition to our regular Tuesday night sessions, we also run our own day retreats for regular attendees (or those with experience of meditation), which offer a wonderful opportunity to take your practice deeper, and a separate study group (see Study Group page in menu.)
For further details and to register your interest for either a Tuesday night session, Full Day Retreat or the Study Group, please contact Mark as below or go to our Contact page to submit an enquiry.
Email: welwynhatfieldchan@outlook.com
Mobile: 07846 088277 (Text/WhatsApp/Call)
The Backhouse Room, Welwyn Garden City
What to expect on meditation night
To help you get the most from the evening, here is some general information about our meditation sessions.
HATFIELD CHAN GROUP - GENERAL INFORMATION
We meet every Tuesday evening, 715pm-915pm at The Backhouse Room, 116, Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6SZ.
The evening focuses on a mixture of meditations (Eg. body scan, mindfulness of breathing, slow walking). We generally have a reading on a Buddhist topic to assist our practice. There are some Buddhist texts which we read together but you certainly don’t need to be a Buddhist and there is absolutely no obligation to join in with the reading if one does not feel comfortable. Just sit quietly and listen to the words.
If you have your own meditation mat, stool or cushion you'd like to bring then feel free otherwise there are chairs available and we do have a couple of spare cushions and blankets available (on a first come, first served basis!). Comfortable clothing should be worn, and we remove our shoes, so socks are a good idea to keep feet warm. The evening is conducted all in silence other than the break we have at the mid-point for a cup of tea and biscuits, where we usually have a reading on a suitable theme and sometimes a few minutes discussion around it.
The group is made up people with varying degrees of experience, and so if you are a beginner, it is no problem at all as we give guided instructions. We just ask that on your first visit if you arrive 5 to 10 minutes early so we can brief you on what we are doing before we start and familiarise you with the building, toilets, kitchen etc. so that you are settled in comfortably.
There's no need to pre-book, just turn up. The first visit is free of charge. Then after that there is suggested donation of £8.00 for the evening but we operate on a “pay what you wish/can afford”. The £8.00 suggested fee allows scope for free meditation sessions for those who cannot afford to pay. There is a box left out on a table during the evening for cash donations, so just put whatever you wish in the box at the beginning or end of the night. We also have a card reader for cashless transactions, and payment by BACS is possible if preferred. The group is not run for profit, and so long as there is enough funds available in the kitty to run the evening, covering our overheads, then we can continue to run sessions.
There is absolutely no commitment to the group. Some people come almost every week, other people dip in and out as their life allows them and that is absolutely fine - life is busy - but obviously the more you visit, the more you will benefit.
We have three leaders of the sessions, and rotate who is leading each week. See our 'Meet the Team' section on the menu for further details.
We run our own day retreats which can be found on our 'News & Events' section. If you would like to attend, please contact us in advance to book your place. The cost is usually free, but donations on the day are welcome, and we often arrange car-pooling in case transport is difficult for you.
We have a WhatsApp Community where we try to keep posts to a minimum, typically posting two or three times a week with any relevant news, events and where possible, readings from sessions. There is no obligation to join the digital group, but if you become a “regular” visitor you may wish to join, and so just let us know and we can add you in.
Please note the following:
If you would like to attend for the first time, it would be useful if you could let us know in advance and turn up 5 to 10 minutes early so we can familiarise you with the hall and ensure you are settled in comfortably before we begin.
We would politely ask that if you feel unwell, even with a slight temperature, cold or cough, please take the week off and come back when recovered. We have a few members who have low-immunity and are vulnerable and do not want to put them at risk.
Silence is beneficial to the sessions, and we would kindly ask that all mobile devices are turned off/set to silent and put away for the duration of the evening.
Our sessions are not counselling sessions and are not a substitute for professional medical help. Please consult your GP if in any doubt.
Should you have any questions that are not addressed above, please do not hesitate to contact us.
There is ample free parking at the hall or outside in Handside Lane. The hall (shown above) is a small, beautiful old Victorian cart storage shed. It is heated with a fully equipped kitchen, and two toilets, one of which is wheelchair accessible.
Although the Backhouse Room is situated alongside the road, it can be easily missed because it is tucked behind a wall. Here is a link to Google Maps to help with directions:
