Meet The Team

Session Leaders

Paul Goddard

Write a short text about your service

Write a short text about your service

Mark Dixon

Spencer White

I have been practising Buddhist meditation since 2006. I am a member of the Western Chan Fellowship (WCF) ( https://westernchanfellowship.org/ - Please note: We are not an official WCF group, but they kindly gave permission for us to use their wordings for our liturgy.)

I formed Welwyn Hatfield Chan Group in 2022 after lockdown following my teacher's departure from Hertfordshire.

I have attended numerous retreats over the years, including retreats with The WCF and solitary retreats in the solo retreat wing at Marpa House (Essex) and the shepherd's hut at Maenllwyd Retreat Centre (Wales).

I have regularly taught on Buddhism and meditation/mindfulness techniques at local schools close to where I live to the children, and have also conducted sessions with teachers and parents for more than ten years. I have also worked with The Quakers in Welwyn Garden City and a local business for Mental Health Awareness Week.

I represent the Buddhist community at Welwyn Hatfield's Interfaith group, sitting on core meetings and panels at our events. (https://www.interfaithwh.com)

In 2013 I left my career as a Medical Devices Procurement Manager to become a stay-at-home Dad for our three children and a writer. I had a short story published in an anthology called "Essex Belongs To Us" in 2019. I am currently working on a novel.

Spencer's section to be completed

Paul's section to be completed

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 is 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.

We are a mixture of "old hands" and people who are new to meditation, so if you are a beginner, it is no problem at all as we give guided instructions. I would just say on your first visit if possible, if you could come 5 to 10 mins early so I 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 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. Some people like to pay me by card, so I have a card reader. Alternatively some people pay by BACS transfer. It 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 it is fine.

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!

We have three leaders of the sessions, and rotate who is leading each week. See our 'Meet the Team' section 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:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hatfield+Chan+(Zen)+Meditation+Group/@51.796845,-.2169014,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x48763b653a360c9d:0x889408467103f0f0!8m2!3d51.796845!4d-0.2169014!16s%2Fg%2F11sxwww1kt?entry=ttu

What is Chan?

Chan is is a Mahāyāna Chinese Buddhist tradition and is the ancestor of the better-known Japanese school of Zen Buddhism.

The practices and doctrines that later formed Chan (Zen) Buddhism existed in China before a semi-legendary Indian monk called Bodhidharma arrived in the 5th or 6th century CE, but Chan as a distinct, self-conscious school did not.

Bodhidharma is traditionally credited as the first patriarch, but he was essentially a key figure in organizing and initiating a tradition based on existing meditation practices.

"Chan" (禪) is the Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which means "meditation," "contemplative absorption," or "meditative concentration". As a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, it represents a tradition focused on direct, experiential insight into the nature of reality and the attainment of awakening, rather than mere study of scriptures.

Chan Buddhism practices focus on direct insight into one's own Buddha-nature through meditation, mindfulness, and the cessation of clinging thoughts to achieve "no-mind".

Key techniques include seated and walking meditation, working with huatou and gong'an (koan) and the practice of silent illumination (mozhao).