The Bodhicharya UK Centre in Rochester, Kent, is home to three local Buddhist groups from Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese traditions.
It is also a place where third-party groups who are motivated by the Bodhicharya principles of Healing, Helping and Harmony rent and run their activities from.
Bodhicharya Kent meets every Tuesday at 8pm – 9:30pm in term time, both in-person and online.
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 special events throughout the year. As well as our regular group facilitator, we also have visiting senior teachers from the Bodhicharya family, 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.
Address: Bodhicharya UK, Jacksons Field, New Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1DX
To find out more about Bodhicharya Kent please see here.
Chan Buddhism is the Chinese forerunner of Japanese Zen. It has been practised in Asia from the 6th century CE and is becoming increasingly popular in the West. Like other forms of Buddhism, it offers ways of investigating the mind and enabling practitioners to obtain greater insight through meditation into their own nature and the nature of existence.
The Kent Chan Group meets most Thursdays from 7.30–9.30pm, both in person and online.
The first meeting of the month is an Introduction to Chan which is specially designed for newcomers and beginners to meditation and Buddhism. If you haven’t joined us before, we recommend you attend one of these evenings first.
The programme for our regular meetings includes two periods of sitting meditation, mindful movement (qigong), tea, and then a short talk or reading on a Buddhist or Chan theme, and group discussion.
Most months we also aim to schedule an ‘extended practice evening’ which focuses exclusively on meditation practice and is therefore best suited to those with some prior experience of sitting meditation.
Please check the schedule before attending as there are some evenings that we are unable to offer a meeting. To find out more about Kent Chan Group please see here.
Address: Bodhicharya UK, Jacksons Field, New Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1DX
The Jōdo Shinshū group hold a family Buddhist service on the first Sunday of each month 11 – 12am.
The service is led by Rev. David, an ordained Jōdo Shinshū priest. Jōdo Shinshū is the largest Buddhist denomination in Japan with a significant presence also in Brazil, USA, Canada and now a growing community in Europe. Jōdo Shinshū is truly inclusive and the service welcomes all.
As part of the service, we remember those who have gone before us and if you would like a loved one listed in the remembrances please give their name to David-sensei before the service.
Address: Bodhicharya UK, Jacksons Field, New Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1DX
To find out more about the Jōdo Shinshū group please see here.
To contact Rev. David please email: david@quirke-thornton.com
Our calendar includes regular meditation groups, day and weekend retreats, special teachings, visiting teachers, community gatherings and what is on offer from our third-party renters and friends.
For room bookings or enquiries about hosting events at the Bodhicharya UK Centre, please contact John, the Centre Manager, at: bcukcentre@Bodhicharya.org.
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Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing - Free event - 10:00 to 10:40 with Stuart
23 August 2026 10:00 am - 10:40 am
Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Centre, New Rd, Rochester ME1 1DX, UK
Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing (TMW) is a unique blend of gentle movement with awareness, offering physical, mental and emotional benefits, and our free public events will provide you with the perfect introduction.
Yoga Class - 19:00 to 20:00 with Nina Long
24 August 2026 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Centre, New Rd, Rochester ME1 1DX, UK
Yoga Class - 19:00 to 20:00 with Nina Long
31 August 2026 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Centre, New Rd, Rochester ME1 1DX, UK
Family Buddhist Service - 11:00 to 12:00 with Rev. David
6 September 2026 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Centre, New Rd, Rochester ME1 1DX, UK
Yoga Class - 19:00 to 20:00 with Nina Long
7 September 2026 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Centre, New Rd, Rochester ME1 1DX, UK
Buddhist Meditation, Reflection and Study - 20:00 to 21:30 with Cesare (https://bodhicharya-kent.org/bodhicharya-kent/)
8 September 2026 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Centre, New Rd, Rochester ME1 1DX, UK
Bodhicharya Kent – Bodhicharya-Kent
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89795662518?pwd=VW9GVC9pTjExZ0gwTzhoVmJJWlZqdz09
Meeting ID: 897 9566 2518
Password: 700887
These meetings are open to all people who are new or who are familiar with Buddhism and Buddhist meditation. On the first Tuesday of the month we will spend a little more time explaining the Buddhist perspective on life and the meaning of the Refuge Prayer we begin our sessions with, but everyone is welcome at any of our meetings and you can begin anytime. The group is made up of the participants, so active engagement, questions, reflections and discussion are welcome, however, if you prefer to just sit back, listen, reflect and take it in, then that is perfectly okay too.
There are comfortable chairs and meditation cushions available and refreshments are provided.
Chan Buddhist Group 19:30 to 21:30 with Stuart
10 September 2026 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Centre, New Rd, Rochester ME1 1DX, UK
Tai Chi Movements for Well Being - 19:00 to 20:15 with Stuart McLeod
12 September 2026 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Centre, New Rd, Rochester ME1 1DX, UK
Cost - To Be Confirmed
Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing (TMW) is a unique blend of gentle movement with awareness, offering physical, mental and emotional benefits. Over the six weeks of the course, you will learn the 12-move TMW Flex Sequence and by the end be able to guide yourself through the whole practice.
White Tara Study and Practice 11:00 to 13:00 with Cesare
13 September 2026 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Centre, New Rd, Rochester ME1 1DX, UK
Yoga Class - 19:00 to 20:00 with Nina Long
14 September 2026 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Centre, New Rd, Rochester ME1 1DX, UK
Buddhist Meditation, Reflection and Study - 20:00 to 21:30 with Cesare (https://bodhicharya-kent.org/bodhicharya-kent/)
15 September 2026 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Centre, New Rd, Rochester ME1 1DX, UK
Bodhicharya Kent – Bodhicharya-Kent
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89795662518?pwd=VW9GVC9pTjExZ0gwTzhoVmJJWlZqdz09
Meeting ID: 897 9566 2518
Password: 700887
These meetings are open to all people who are new or who are familiar with Buddhism and Buddhist meditation. On the first Tuesday of the month we will spend a little more time explaining the Buddhist perspective on life and the meaning of the Refuge Prayer we begin our sessions with, but everyone is welcome at any of our meetings and you can begin anytime. The group is made up of the participants, so active engagement, questions, reflections and discussion are welcome, however, if you prefer to just sit back, listen, reflect and take it in, then that is perfectly okay too.
There are comfortable chairs and meditation cushions available and refreshments are provided.
Chan Buddhist Group 19:30 to 21:30 with Stuart
17 September 2026 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Centre, New Rd, Rochester ME1 1DX, UK
For room bookings or enquiries about hosting events at the Bodhicharya UK Centre, please contact John, the Centre Manager, at bcukcentre@Bodhicharya.org.
Support the centre here.