We are not having an organised day of mindfulness on the 4th April 2026 because there is a Mindful Peace Walk on 29th March and a Day of Mindfulness with visiting monastics organised by Wake Up on 11th April. Time to enjoy a freestyle day of mindfulness and enjoy the arrival of spring. A walk in the park? Coffee in a cafe? Gentle conversation with a friend?

This is just to make it clear that the Day of Mindfulness with the Plum Village Monastics on 11 April that has been organised by Edinburgh Wake Up is open to everyone to come to. It’s not just for Wake Up age people. Details are all on the flyer attached. 

Remember you need to book a place on Eventbrite and book soon to avoid disappointment.

10am for 10.15am-11.15am (Note that this is the day the clocks go forward for British Summer Time !!)

Meet at West Gate entrance to the John Hope Gateway, Arboretum Place.

Before the walk begins there will be a brief introduction to mindful walking as a meditation practice.

This is not a protest or a campaigning event,so please do not use any banners.
Children are welcome when accompanied by adults.

Please remember to wrap up warmly.
Please note that no animals except Registered Assistance Dogs are permitted within the Garden.

Thay’s teachings on the ‘Four Right Efforts’ are a very clear way to encourage wholesome states of mind to arise and be sustained.

Let’s explore together how to best put them into practice and how to practice consistently in these challenging times.

The day will include guided meditation, walking meditation, recordings readings, group sharing and a potluck lunch.

Saturday 7 March 2026 10am – 4pm (Please arrive from around 09:45 for a 10am start). St. Mark’s Unitarian Church, 7 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2DP.

Please bring some plant-based food to share for lunch.

Any questions please use the contact form.

We will be jointly facilitating the Sunday service from 11:00 to 12:00 at St Marks Unitarian, celebrating our continued friendship and also Imbloc – the start of spring. Please come along and join us.

Take a whole day to practice mindfulness in the company of friends old and new. We will explore the Buddhist teachings on freedom – learning to live with true autonomy and to develop our capacity for compassion towards ourselves and others.

Open to everyone, of all faiths and none. Please bring some plant-based food to share for lunch.

Note, we are meeting at a different venue this time! The pétanque/bowling club in the south-eastern corner of Inverleith Park. 7 Arboretum Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5NY. What3Words: radio.income.dare. Opposite the John Hope Gateway to the Botanics and down a bit.

Buses 8,9,23 & 27 stop on Inverleith Row and you can walk along Inverleith Terrace to the club. (The botanics doesn’t open till 10am). Buses 24 & 29 stop on Raeburn Place in Stockbridge and you can walk up Arboretum Avenue. Parking is available on Arboretum Place and Inverleith Terrace (possibly free on Saturday?)

Please arrive by 9:45am for a 10:00am start. We will finish by 4pm.

Any questions please use the contact us form.

Please enjoy the eighth edition of the newsletter for all who practice in the Plum Village tradition in Scotland. Download here or click on the image blow.

A springtime retreat led by Cliff Brown (Brother Phap Vu) In the beautiful surroundings of Wiston Lodge, Lanarkshire.

Well known to the Scottish sangha as Brother Phap Vu, Cliff Brown was a monastic dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition for 18 years. He recently returned to lay life and currently resides in Michigan, USA.

During this retreat we will enjoy dharma talks from Cliff and we will sit, eat and walk together as a sangha – strengthening our mindfulness practice in order to embrace the challenges of our lives with clarity, peace and joy.

Update: The cost is £290 to stay in the house or £200 camping in the field. Arrival is on Thursday 7th May from 2:00 PM onwards for dinner at 6:00 PM. Departure is after a 1pm lunch on Sunday 10th May.

More details and booking is available on the Plum Village UK site here.

We hope you can join us.

Core to our practice is our interbeing with each other and mother earth, Bodhisattva Gaia. If your feelings around the climate crisis can manifest as written words then you may like to take part in a project being run in Scotland by Glasgow University. Find out more at the link below. Closing date is 28th February 2026.

https://climatestories.co.uk/

This day of mindfulness will be offered with the intent of nothing to do, nowhere to go – in the spirit of the Plum Village idea of embracing laziness. Come and create a time of being together on one of the quietest days of the year.

Open to everyone, of all faiths and none. Please bring some plant-based food to share for lunch.

Arrive from 09:45 for a 10am start. Finish about 4pm.

St Mark’s Unitarian Church, 7 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2DP