About Us & FAQ

Everybody welcome.

We’re delighted to offer a series of short courses on meditation and Modern Buddhism in Oxford, starting in the spring and running through to the summer. These courses delve into key themes and topics from Buddha’s teachings and aim to be engaging, practical, and relevant to everyday life. 

You can book for a course or individual classes. Although drop-ins are always welcome, we recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment as seating is limited at the venue. Please note, the Long Room at the Quaker Meeting House is on the first floor, and there is no lift. We hope to make classes in future more accessible.

The classes are part of the events programme of Akanishta Kadampa Buddhist Centre in Cheltenham, a UK charity number 1125213 and a member of The New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Union (NKT-IKBU).

Modern Buddhism is the presentation of Buddha’s ancient teachings in a way that is clear, practical, and directly applicable to modern daily life - regardless of a a person’s background, cultures and personal beliefs.

This special presentation was pioneered over 40 years by meditation master and widely respected author, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche (1932-2022). His books and writings, teachings around the world, and guidance over many years have inspired a worldwide community to find answers to questions and solutions to problems in daily life through putting Buddha’s teachings into practice.

In his words: “Modern Buddhism is a special presentation of Buddha’s teachings that retains their original meaning while making them easy to understand and practise in modern society.” — from the book Modern Buddhism, which is available as a free eBook, a gift from the author.

The teachings of Modern Buddhism are based on the collected works of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche (1932 - 2022).

The classes in Oxford are taught by English Buddhist monk Gen Kelsang Jangchub, a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for many years.

Gen Jangchub is the resident teacher at Akanishta Kadampa Buddhist Centre in Cheltenham, where he teaches the Teacher Training Programme as well as weekly classes in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds.  He presents Buddha's teachings in a clear and practical way, making Buddha's teachings and the practice of meditation accessible to everyone.

Classes are offered seated on chairs and include an initial relaxation breathing meditation, a talk on a specific topic or theme, a guided meditation, and time for discussion and questions at the end. The classes are structured to facilitate understanding the class topic, using this understanding in meditation and discussion on how to apply it in daily life to help solve life’s problems and challenges.

People often ask if they should wear special clothing or bring anything with them. There’s no specific advice about clothing. Participants often say they feel most comfortable in loose-fitting clothes in summer and warmer clothes in winter. You don’t need to bring anything with you, although some people take notes to be able to review the class material afterwards.

There is a small shop at classes with a selection of books and guided meditations. A more extensive collection of books, guided meditations, Buddhist art, and prayers is available from Tharpa Publications.