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Thursdays weekly 6.15 p.m. Christian Zen Group
Introduction for beginners at 6.15 p.m., sitting 6.30 – 8 p.m. with two short periods of walking meditation.
Please bring your own mat and Zen cushions if you have one. You are welcome to sit on a chair or on the floor as you choose.
Sitting (Zazen) is a centuries-old practice by which we seek to experience clear reality in the present moment by sitting still and silent in God’s presence, quieting the constant stream of thoughts.
‘Be still and know that I am God.’ Psalm 46.10
Further information from the Rev. Maggie Hindley at the Centre on 020 7372 1765 or maggie.hindley@londoninterfaith.org.uk
background information on the work of LIFC …
The Centre aims to provide a space where inter faith meetings, study and dialogue can take place amongst different world religions. The centre is funded and run by a single faith (Christian) but with many faith involvements. The London Inter Faith Centre was founded by the Church of England ten years ago, for the last five of which it has been joined by the United Reformed Church. As a ’single faith’ Christian hosted place of meeting, study and dialogue between faith communities and with the secular world it functions ecumenically and benefits increasingly from many faith involvement.
The Centre works with a definition of inter faith as faiths in encounter and the issues raised thereby The Centre seeks through a variety of courses, conferences, seminars, open occasions and events, to promote the encounter between faiths, without foreclosing on the conclusions.
Just as the Centre works with a definition, so it has a motto true to self and open to others – and thus endeavours to create a safe space within which those of differing and sometimes conflicting points of view can start to build communication with one another, leading to mutuality, trust and sometimes cooperative shared action.
Many of those interested in such issues may not represent or wish to be perceived as representing a whole tradition or even part of it – and so the Centre also has a Friends scheme for individuals, whereby individuals as individuals, of any faith or none, can actively participate in particular aspects of the work.
‘Inter faith’ means different things to different people – and for some involves multi-faith worship. While recognising that there are ways in which different traditions can explore sacred space and time together (See Sacred Silence) and while pursuing issues of spirituality that impact upon the spectrum of religious and even sometimes non-specifically-religious response, nonetheless the Centre avoids that which may effectively compromise mainstream worshippers of different religions. This site is under development to address these and other issues. We would be interested to know your views.
