Who would have thought that there is a Buddhist temple right off Oxford Street?…read more The London Fo Guang Temple is a branch of the Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Taiwan, which advocates Humanistic Buddhism. But anyhow, I stopped by to have a look and, after mentioning that it was my first visit, was led through the three prayer rooms by a member of staff, who explained the meaning of the individual rooms. Altogether a very friendly welcome and I stayed for a spot of much-needed reflection, only to be disturbed by a member of staff every few minutes; I had the impression that she wanted to make sure that I was not packing the four foot Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue into my handbag. There are daily chants, regular tea ceremonies, meditation classes and other events. This temple is worth checking out although visitors seem to be approached with a mixture of friendliness and wariness.

I went on a retreat organised by this company in September 2024. My experience was not good. The…read moreretreat was a brainwashing exercise to recruit people into the Triatna cult, which I subsequently discovered was founded by a peodophile. I was triggered by the actions, behaviour and 'demands' of the 'leaders' during the retreat. I was left feeling duped, offended, shocked and bitterly disappointed at what I thought would be a peaceful, self-nurturing experience. I was particularly concerned that there were young women on the retreat, who were obviously triggered by the events. No support was offered for these vulnerable young adults. No information was shared about organisations they may access once back at home after the retreat. Mental health issues came up for many people I spoke to on the retreat however, at no point did any 'leader' offer on-going support. This is a dangerous practice. If you want to convert to Buddhism it might suit you. If you're looking for an experience that promotes self-growth don't bother.

I went to a few meditation classes and attended other events. During the break there is lots of…read moreinformation about other classes and retreats. They are very good at luring you in, using a lot of self help speak, attracting vulnerable people. But I discovered that the centre and their founder, Sangharkshita, has a very dark past as part of a wider movement. I'm not sure if the movement has fully moved on from this, there is a very strong sense of hierarchy and shutting down of critical voices by older members. I get a sense there is a lot of individuals suppressing dark thoughts here by believing they are enlightened. And of course there is the fact that Suella Braverman was a regular attender to the centre (until it broke as a news story) and was allowed to become a Mitra in the movement. For me that sums up LBC and the whole wider movement.

I've stayed in these places a few times. The hygiene leaves a lot to be desired. Dirty bedding that…read morehasn't been changed. Yellow pillows (I had a bacterial infection of the scalp after my last stay, which required antifungal and antibiotic treatment), Windows and doors that don't shut properly, and bang throughout the night if it's windy. Dirty carpets. Showers that don't work properly and need fixing. Disgusting and disappointing. For £55 a night, I would expect better.

I'm not a religious person, so for me meditation is a form of relaxation. Out of a few Buddhist…read morecentres I've tried in the past, this one was the first to offer classes aiming at helping you to find inner balance and peace of mind without religious indoctrination. So if you want to try meditation without going too deep into the religious stuff, this is the perfect place. I've tried 3 of their centres, and as it all comes down to the teacher, their abilities to sell the knowledge can differ, but about one thing you can be sure, that noone is gonna convince you that Buddhism is the best and only way you should follow. Though be prepared that the idea of living in harmony with others and respect for all creatures will be promoted. Obviously, you will hear about reincarnation and karma, but all the time it's underlined that you don't have to agree with it, that it's their perspective on certain things and that you are free to do what you want with this knowledge. 90 min. session costs £8, but there is a way to do it for free by becoming a volunteer, which means buying cookies and drinks for the class and collecting money from the people who attend them. If you get hooked, they organize all-day-sessions and weekend retreats outside of London as well.

From the Buddhist movement in Japan that is building, donating and erecting these peace pagodas…read moreworldwide. It has 4 golden statues (one on each side) representing phases of the Buddha's life. You climb a short set of stairs to see them all. Overlooks the Thames on one side.

When I worked in South Kensington I used to cycle home from work along the Chelsea embankment…read more Every night I would stare across at the giant golden buddha on the opposite bank and wonder what on earth it represented and how it came to be. Since then I have had time to investigate. In 1985, the decision was taken to build a Peace Pagoda here in Battersea Park to join the dozens of other examples dotted around the globe. There is only one monk in residence currently, but apparently you can watch him ringing his bell and chanting every morning - though I haven't visited early enough to witness this yet! Even without him, the Peace Pagoda is a striking addition to Battersea's skyline. If you visit, take a few minutes to walk right around the structure and admire the individually-carved wooden decorations such as dragons and other mythical figures.

It was amazing how the children from the audience asked questions and the monk was giving answeres…read moreprecisely.