We are pleased to announce that tickets are now available for this evening with monastics from Plum Village on 24th May 2023.

Click here to book your ticket on Eventbrite now.

Please join us at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, John Hope Gateway, Arboretum Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5NZ on Sunday 26 March 2023 at 10am for 10.00am-11.15am. Remember the clocks change that day!

This silent walking meditation is an open event. 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. Our silence and togetherness in nature says it all at this time.

Children are welcome when accompanied by adults.

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

We have an exciting time coming up in May with a visit by eight monastics from Plum Village in France. There will be three main events during the day. We are still finalising the details but they will be posted here as soon as we have them.

Tree dedication and Mindful Walk from 12:30pm on the Meadows

The dedication ceremony will include unveiling a plaque. There is still an opportunity to donate to the cost of the plaque through a crowd funding campaign.

WakeUp event for younger sangha members at Edinburgh University

To be hosted by the chaplaincy. Details to be confirmed.

Mindful Communities: Building a Future Together

The Power of Compassion and Mindful Communication

Experience the deep roots of Mindfulness through interacting with a group from Thich Nhat Hanh’s monastic community. Learn how to act and communicate from a place of more compassion, peace and freedom, in our daily lives. Cultivating and sustaining nourishing relationships, we build resilience for ourselves and for the Earth.

This will be a ticketed public talk from 7-9pm at St Marks Unitarian church on Castle Terrace.

Click here to book your ticket on Eventbrite now.

More details for the tree planting on 22nd of January at 1:30pm are on the Eventbrite site here. There is not need to book though. You can just turn up. The Community Garden is between the tennis courts and Middle Meadow Walk on the Meadows in Edinburgh. See you there!

Click here for Eventbrite event

We won’t be having a live meeting at St Marks on 29 December but will have a little Zoom Be-in instead at 7pm. This is a chance to have a cup of tea together from the comfort of our own homes and share any poems, readings, anecdotes, songs, tunes, stories or pretty much anything that has touched you this year or that you think might be uplifting/inspiring or encouraging for others. We’ll play it completely by ear and just see what crops up, or doesn’t, and just relax together for a while with whoever comes.

If you aren’t already on our mailing list but would like to take part please fill in the contact form and Pete will add you to the list.

The next in person meeting will be as usual at St Marks on Thursday 5th January at 7:15pm.

Save the date 1: There will be a tree planting ceremony on 22nd January 2023 1:30pm at the Meadows Community Garden. This is to commemorate Thich Nhat Hanh’s first visit to the UK. He lead a walk from the Meadows in 2003.

Save the date 2: A group of monastics from Plum Village will visit Edinburgh on 24th May 2023. There will be a number of events on that day including a dedication of the tree.

More details of both events will be posted here and on our mailing list.

“Most of us experience a life full of wonderful moments and difficult moments. But for many of us, even when we are most joyful, there is fear behind our joy…. Fearlessness is not only possible, it is the ultimate joy. When you touch nonfear, you are free.”

Thich Nhat Hanh, Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm

We live in troubled times. Who knows what the future holds? The narrative of despair, fear, lack, antagonism, impending catastrophe grows with every newscast. Yet deep down we know that another future is possible. And the future begins in the present moment. Only by living in trust, faith, beauty, and joy can we create the future we want.

True joy is possible only when we acknowledge and accept the pain of living—grief, fear, rage, sorrow. Sometimes it is easier to do this in the company of compassionate friends. We will spend a day together exploring what gets in the way of joy, and experiencing joy through meditation, walking in nature, singing, and sharing from the heart.

“When you stay fully present with your feelings, your sensations, and the world around you, even when it seems dark and cold, joy will arise. Joy and suffering are two sides of the same coin.”

Cuong Lu, Wait: A Love Letter to Those in Despair

ST. MARKS CHURCH, 7 CASTLE TERRACE, EH1 2DP

Dear Friends

A wee reminder about the upcoming morning of mindfulness which will be led by Gill and Jess.

The focus will be on autumn and impermanence.

“The lifespan of a leaf and the powers of a leaf are like those of a Buddha, immeasurable. The same can be said for each one of us”

Thich Nhat Hanh

We will follow Interbeing practice with guided, walking, and silent sitting meditations along with touching the earth and dharma sharing.

Please bring some vegetarian food to share.

Autumn blessings to all from the Wild Geese Sangha.

We will be facilitating a mindful peace walk at Saughton Park on Sunday 4th September 2022 organised jointly with the Edinburgh International Centre for Spirituality and Peace, EICSP. The walk will start at noon. Please see the EICSP website for details.

After our August break for the festival we will begin regular sessions at St Mark’s Unitarian on Castle Terrace at 7:15pm on Thursday 1st September. Looking forward to seeing you there.