Bodhicharya UK Centre

The Bodhicharya UK Centre is a new home for the beneficial activities of Bodhicharya, a place for them to deepen, grow, and flourish in the UK for generations to come.

Guided by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, our Patron and an eminent Buddhist master, this Centre will serve as a base for Dharma study, meditation, community practice, and compassionate action rooted in our guiding principles: Healing, Helping, and Harmony.

 

Rinpoche’s visit and opening ceremony in June/July 2025 with the Mayor of Medway, Cllr Nina Gurung, and Sangha.

Bodhicharya UK was founded in 2021 and is registered with the UK Charity Commission (Charity No. 1190768).

Our charitable objectives are to advance the understanding and practice of the Buddhist faith and philosophy by:

  • Providing meetings, teachings, courses, and retreats (Healing)

  • Promoting intercultural, interfaith, and interdisciplinary dialogue (Harmony)

  • Supporting well-being in body, mind, and spirit (Healing)

  • Aiding the relief of those in need (Helping)

On 30th June and 1st July 2025, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, alongside the Mayor of Medway, Cllr Nina Gurung, and members of the Sangha, formally opened the Bodhicharya Buddhist Meditation Centre for Healing, Helping, and Harmony in Rochester, Kent, a joyful and historic occasion for all involved.

🪷 Groups and Practice at the Centre

The Bodhicharya UK Centre in Rochester is home to local Buddhist and meditation groups inspired by the teachings of Ringu Tulku Rinpoche and the wider Bodhicharya community.

Bodhicharya Kent

Founded in 2013 under the guidance of Ringu Tulku Rinpoche and facilitated by Cesare Saguato, Bodhicharya Kent offers a space to learn and practise Buddhist meditation and explore the teachings of the Buddha in a warm and inclusive setting.

The group is based within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and is focused around learning and practising various forms of Buddhist meditation, as well as reflecting on and discussing the Buddhist teachings. However everyone is welcome, whether you are a Buddhist from the same or different tradition, a practitioner of another faith, someone who is curious about Buddhism or you are simply looking to learn about Buddhist meditation and begin to integrate its many benefits into your daily life.

We have regular weekly meetings, day and weekend retreats and other events throughout the year. As well as our regular group facilitator, we also have visiting senior teachers from the Bodhicharya family of teachers and friends of Bodhicharya, including an annual visit by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche.

Bodhicharya Kent is Bodhicharya UK in Rochester, a registered charity with the UK Charity Commission (1190768) and part of the Bodhicharya family, a world-wide network of people, centres and organisations taking various forms at 35 locations in 13 countries, all inspired and guided by the Buddhist teachings and Ringu Tulku Rinpoche. Our guiding principles are: Healing – Helping – Harmony.
To find out more about Bodhicharya Kent please see here.

Kent Chan Group

The Kent Chan Group meets every Thursday from 7.30–9.30pm, both in person and online.

Each session includes two 25–30 minute sitting meditations, mindful movement (qigong), tea, a short talk or reading on a Buddhist or Chan theme, and group discussion.

The group operates on a drop-in basis, and newcomers and beginners are warmly welcome. Once a month, there is an “extended practice evening” for those wishing to deepen their meditation practice.

To find out more about Kent Chan Group please see here.

📅 What’s On at the Centre

Our calendar includes regular meditation groups, day and weekend retreats, special teachings, visiting teachers, and community gatherings.

For room bookings or enquiries about hosting events at the Bodhicharya UK Centre, please contact John, the Centre Manager, at bcukcentre@Bodhicharya.org.

April 2026

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
2
  • Chan Buddhist Group 19:30 to 21:30 with Stuart
3
4
5
  • Family Buddhist Service - 11:00 to 12:00 with Rev. David
6
  • Yoga Class - 19:00 to 20:00 with Nina Long
7
8
9
  • Chan Buddhist Group 19:30 to 21:30 with Stuart
10
11
12
13
  • Yoga Class - 19:00 to 20:00 with Nina Long
14
15
  • Tai Chi Movements for Well Being - 19:00 to 20:15 with Stuart McLeod
16
  • Chan Buddhist Group 19:30 to 21:30 with Stuart
17
18
19
  • Teaching on the Mahamudra Lineage Prayer – 10:00 to 17:00 With Lama Tsultrim Guelek
20
  • Yoga Class - 19:00 to 20:00 with Nina Long
21
  • Buddhist Meditation, Reflection and Study - 20:00 to 21:30 with Cesare (https://bodhicharya-kent.org/bodhicharya-kent/)
22
  • Tai Chi Movements for Well Being - 19:00 to 20:15 with Stuart McLeod
23
  • Chan Buddhist Group 19:30 to 21:30 with Stuart
24
25
26
  • White Tara Study and Practice 11:00 to 13:00 with Cesare
27
  • Yoga Class - 19:00 to 20:00 with Nina Long
28
  • Buddhist Meditation, Reflection and Study - 20:00 to 21:30 with Cesare (https://bodhicharya-kent.org/bodhicharya-kent/)
29
  • Tai Chi Movements for Well Being - 19:00 to 20:15 with Stuart McLeod
30
  • Chan Buddhist Group 19:30 to 21:30 with Stuart

 

💖 Support the Centre

The Bodhicharya UK Centre exists thanks to the generosity and volunteer spirit of our Sangha.
Your donation helps us sustain this new home for the Dharma and continue our activities of Healing, Helping, and Harmony for the benefit of all beings.

Can you help?

We are reaching out to you now to ask for support with our fixed running costs such as rent, utilities and insurance [these will be around £450 per month], to see if you are able to support this project with a monthly offering that is comfortable and affordable to you. In this way the Centre, its activities and many volunteers can be unencumbered by the day to day financial burden of running costs and instead be fully focused on delivering the charity’s objectives.

You decide what monthly contribution you would like to offer, but here are some suggested amounts:

£5.00 monthly – Supporter

£10.00 monthly – Founder

£15.00 monthly – Patron

UK Bank Transfer

If you would like to contribute in this way, then please contact your bank to set up a monthly payment schedule starting 1st February 2025, remembering every amount really does help. Thank you for your generosity.

BCUK Bank details:

Cooperative Bank plc
Name of Account: Bodhicharya UK
Account no: 67222546
Sort code: 08 92 99

Please Reference: New Centre Fund

Online Donation

Alternatively to setting up a bank transfer, you can make a regular donation via PayPal using the following link. Simply click on either ‘monthly’ or ‘yearly’ and choose your donation amount.

 

Online Donation