Classes are available to anyone with an interest in just meditation, or meditation and buddhist teachings made relevant to the modern age.
Book below or Text/Whatsapp 07597773096
Offering BOTH online and in person classes. We run a number of weekly classes in Belfast at 265 Ormeau Rd and Cityside Retail Park (next door to Costa), and in Derry-Londonderry at 11 Pump St, Studio 4 Garden of Reflection.
No special experience, clothing or equipment is needed. Complete beginners and those with years of experience can join in. You can sit on a chair or cross legged on a cushion. Everyone can do it.
Each classes includes:
- 25min guided breathing meditation
- 30min talk, pertaining to the class theme that week
- 15min guided meditation, to take the theme to heart, develop our own experience of it, as well as create positive intentions to carry out into that week.
Guided by local Buddhist Nun Gen Kelsang Chitta and other Kadampa teachers. Gen Chitta is a student of Tibetan Buddhist master Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for 17 years, and has been guiding classes and retreats in NI for the last 10 years and can offer gentle guidance and the clear wisdom of ancient Buddhist practice in a way that’s suitable for everyone of any age, background or belief.
Online classes through Zoom are EASY TO USE. ONE CLICK ACCESS. LEAVE YOUR OWN CAMERA AND MIC OFF. If you prefer we can send you a YouTube link to a recording to view at your convenience during the week.
Fees range from a donation of £6 full price or £3 concession /class, £24 /month gives you access to all sessions and recordings, and we have a request system at https://meditateni.org/request/ to access classes for free for those with low income.
Free 45min Meditation Class
7pm Thur 22 Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 Nov. Free 45min class with Bronagh Best. In person in Derry-Londonderry. 11 Pump St. Drop in or text 07597773096
Anxiety – A global pandemic. A Buddhist approach to an antidote
with Gen Chitta BOOK VIDEO
6pm – 7:15pm Monday 2 Nov. with Andrew Wallace in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £6 or £3 concession
The constant traveller. Taking a journey to the heart
6pm – 7pm Tuesday 20 Oct. with Ian McGlade in person @265 Ormeau Rd Belfast and ZOOM BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £5 or £3 concession
7pm – 8:15pm Thursday 22 Oct. with Ian McGlade in person @265 Ormeau Rd Belfast and ZOOM BOOK IN PERSON DROP IN or Text 07597773096. BOOK ZOOM & VIDEO £6 or £3 concession
1pm – 1:45pm Saturday 7 Nov. with Ian McGlade in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £4 or £2 concession
10am – 11:15am Sunday 8 Nov. with Ian McGlade in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £6 or £3 concession
6pm – 7:15pm Monday 9 Nov. with Andrew Wallace in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £6 or £3 concession
To Die is Normal. The uplifting energy of meditating on death. A guided afternoon meditation retreat 2pm – 5pm Saturday 31st Oct. In person @Cityside Yorkgate Belfast with Ian McGlade. £12 or £7 concession BOOK IN PERSON OR ONLINE
Online Buddhist Medicine Buddha Festival 23 – 29 Oct. a week of Buddhist teachings in your home or viewed on screen at Potala Centre Ormeau Rd More Info
Change is inevitable…The freedom of living in the flow of the changing moment
6pm – 7pm Tuesday 10 Nov. with Ian McGlade in person @265 Ormeau Rd Belfast and ZOOM BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. BOOK ZOOM & VIDEO £5 or £3 concession
1pm – 1:45pm Saturday 14 Nov. with Ian McGlade in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £4 or £2 concession
6pm – 7:15pm Monday 16 Nov. with Andrew Wallace in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £6 or £3 concession
Taming the green eyed monster. Learning to uproot jealousy
7pm – 8:15pm Thursday 12 Nov. with Gen Chitta in person @265 Ormeau Rd Belfast and ZOOM BOOK IN PERSON DROP IN or Text 07597773096. BOOK ZOOM & VIDEO £6 or £3 concession
10am – 11:15am Sunday 15 Nov. with Gen Chitta in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £6 or £3 concession
The relentless longing for approval and security . Finding deep satisfaction from within
6pm – 7pm Tuesday 17 Nov. with Ian McGlade in person @265 Ormeau Rd Belfast and ZOOM BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. BOOK ZOOM & VIDEO £5 or £3 concession
6pm – 7pm Thursday 19 Nov. with Ian McGlade in person @Culturlann Armagh BOOK IN PERSON. £5 or £3 concession
1pm – 1:45pm Saturday 21 Nov. with Ian McGlade in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £4 or £2 concession
6pm – 7:15pm Monday 23 Nov. with Andrew Wallace in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £6 or £3 concession
A closer look at attachment. Freeing ourselves from the mind that clings
7pm – 8:15pm Thursday 19 Nov. with Gen Chitta in person @265 Ormeau Rd Belfast and ZOOM BOOK IN PERSON DROP IN or Text 07597773096. BOOK ZOOM & VIDEO £6 or £3 concession
10am – 11:15am Sunday 22 Nov. with Gen Chitta in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £6 or £3 concession
Can I cope? Stress, anger and expectation. Finding the inner resources we didn’t know we had
6pm – 7pm Tuesday 24 Nov. with Ian McGlade in person @265 Ormeau Rd Belfast and ZOOM BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. BOOK ZOOM & VIDEO £5 or £3 concession
6pm – 7pm Thursday 26 Nov. with Ian McGlade in person @Culturlann Armagh BOOK IN PERSON. £5 or £3 concession
6pm – 7:15pm Monday 30 Nov. with Andrew Wallace in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £6 or £3 concession
Adjusting to seasonal change. Using meditation to dispel darkness in the mind
7pm – 8:15pm Thursday 26 Nov. with Gen Chitta in person @265 Ormeau Rd Belfast and ZOOM BOOK IN PERSON DROP IN or Text 07597773096. BOOK ZOOM & VIDEO £6 or £3 concession
10am – 11:15am Sunday 29 Nov. with Gen Chitta in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £6 or £3 concession
Anxiety – A global pandemic. A Buddhist approach to an antidote
6pm – 7pm Tuesday 1 Dec. with Ian McGlade in person @265 Ormeau Rd Belfast and ZOOM BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. BOOK ZOOM & VIDEO £5 or £3 concession
6pm – 7pm Thursday 3 Dec. with Ian McGlade in person @Culturlann Armagh BOOK IN PERSON. £5 or £3 concession
6pm – 7:15pm Monday 7 Dec. with Andrew Wallace in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £6 or £3 concession
The virus of fear, panic and blame.Shielding from the heart ♥️
7pm – 8:15pm Thursday 3 Dec. with Gen Chitta in person @265 Ormeau Rd Belfast and ZOOM BOOK IN PERSON DROP IN or Text 07597773096. BOOK ZOOM & VIDEO £6 or £3 concession
How do things really exist? An introduction to emptiness
6pm – 7pm Tuesday 8 Dec. with Ian McGlade in person @265 Ormeau Rd Belfast and ZOOM BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. BOOK ZOOM & VIDEO £5 or £3 concession
1pm – 1:45pm Saturday 12 Dec. with Ian McGlade in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £4 or £2 concession
6pm – 7:15pm Monday 14 Dec. with Andrew Wallace in person Cityside Yorkgate Belfast BOOK IN PERSON. DROP IN or Text 07597773096. £6 or £3 concession
Stepping out of expectations, stress and disharmony. Buddhist meditations for a peaceful season. A guided afternoon meditation retreat 2pm – 5pm Saturday 19 Dec. In person @Cityside Yorkgate Belfast with Ian McGlade. £12 or £7 concession BOOK IN PERSON OR ONLINE
Future class dates and events can be checked at MeditateNI.org/calendar
Video Meditation classes also available by donation or request
Audio Meditation Classes available by donation or request
Other opportunities
Live streamed UK wide from Manjushri KMC. See “Short Online Courses” at manjushri.org and weekend courses with Kadam Bridget Heyes meditateinnorthants.com
Here is some recent feedback on Gen Chitta’s classes
I have attended several Meditation Classes via Zoom with Potala Centre led by Gen Kelsang Chitta. The classes are excellent and very close to the “live” experience of attending Potala Centre. I usually turn my camera off during meditation and on during the teaching and that works great for me. The teachings from Gen Kelsang Chitta are as profound, accessible and relevant as always and the meditations relaxing and restorative. Having these classes available on Zoom is wonderful and they have become an essential part of my week. Valerie
In these uncertain times I think we all need some calm reflection more than ever! The zoom platform works really well and has allowed me to continue practicing meditation and the fact it is live stream helps you to feel connected to the class. With so much changing day by day, the opportunity to clear the mind, meditate and listen to a talk has greatly helped me to remain grounded and relaxed! Anita
Last week I attended my first ever session with Potala Centre after receiving a recommendation from a friend. I was concerned that the experience would be completely diminished using a video call but I am glad to report it was perfect. Lockdown has been stressful but the session last week helped to calm my nerves and realign myself to take on this challenge with a new energy and perspective. I would recommend this to anyone who is currently finding themselves exhausted from pandemic stress. Andrew
Gen Chitta is a wonderful teacher, using humor and examples from every day life to illustrate Buddhist teachings. Her gentle voice and rational explanations make great sense and help me to keep a peaceful mind during these uncertain times. The online classes work very well enabling us to share teachings and meditations even though we are far apart. We are very fortunate to have this opportunity. Catherine
I have valued the streamed classes as a way of keeping in touch with the practice of meditation and with Chitta’s always thought-provoking commentary. I’ll be hoping to continue to join in the sessions. Irene
Chitta’s sessions have been a real lifeline during these strange times of lockdown. I’ve attended three online meditation classes now and have already booked for another. Thankfully even when my income is low there are concession or donation options to suit my limited budget. Having been to classes in Potala I wasn’t sure how I’d find a virtual class, however the sense of community still persists. The relaxation and Chitta’s gentle reflections make the virtual sessions feel much more personal and engaging than I had imagined. I have even found that although I’m missing massage for pain conditions, the relaxation also eases my sore muscles. I think people who may be hesitant about attending a class may actually find the online session an easy introduction. As participants have audio muted there is no pressure to speak. You can keep your video off too if you wish and relax in your own home, not worrying how you look! I can’t recommend the zoom meditation classes enough. The mindfulness session allows time to reconnect with ourselves and helps to balance the current uncertainties of life. Thanks so much for the weekly chance to leave life’s stresses for an hour or so. Please keep them coming. Adele
Having participated in a few of the online meditations now I would highly recommend (and have done). I am so grateful for the online facility as every meditation and talk by Gen Chitta adds value to my week. Gen Chitta, thank you!! I always find the sessions give me a new perspective which I try to put into practice. The sessions are very easy to book and to join online. For anyone contemplating giving it a go I would say there’s nothing to lose and everything to gain so go for it. Angela
I really enjoyed my experience, the meditation was beautiful, I felt so relaxed and connected throughout. I look forward to joining again. this is the first time using zoom as I am quite resistant to technology however I found it simple to use. Thank you Gen Chitta. Ashlee