About SHEFFIELD INSIGHT

Sheffield Insight Meditation has offered retreats and meditation groups since 2006. We are linked to the Vipassana (Insight) movement that began in the Theravada (South East Asian) schools of Buddhism in the early 20th century, and sought to reconnect with the teachings of early Buddhism.

Our regular groups and practice days are peer-led, and our retreats are led by teachers associated with Gaia House Retreat Centre in Devon. These are reputable, trained, highly experienced teachers who commit to a Code of Ethics.

We are INCLUSIVE

We whole-heartedly welcome all, irrespective of religious or political beliefs, race, ethnic origin, gender identity, class and social background, mental health, physical ability or appearance, age, sexual orientation or disability. We do not seek to convert others or to discriminate against those who hold differing views.

Our retreats and groups are open to anyone aged 18 and over, irrespective of means. We have a Retreatant Support Fund and to broaden access to our events, we offer a £0 fee option. All our events are held in venues that are accessible to wheelchair users and people with mobility difficulties. If you need information about exact access arrangements please contact us.

Our events are organised by a team of volunteers and we warmly welcome all contributions of time and service, however small.

Traditions

As well as those practising in the Insight Meditation tradition, our regular participants also  include those who practice secular mindfulness, as well as those who draw from Tibetan and Zen Buddhism, and the Quaker traditions. Some of us consider ourselves ‘Buddhists’, some not.

We aim to offer a practical and accessible opportunity to develop and directly experience freedom, compassion and wisdom, in ways that take account of our psychology and embodiment as human beings.

You do not need to have any particular beliefs or think of yourself as a Buddhist to attend our events.

Community

As a Sangha (community of practitioners) we are committed to building and supporting community, through developing our understanding and practice of ethical living, interconnection, compassion for ourselves, others and the world we live in.

As part of compassionate action we seek to engage with the great challenge of climate and environmental crisis, and the many forms of social and economic injustice. We seek to support each other in rooting the Dharma (teachings of the Buddhist tradition) in our daily lives, in ways that are accessible and relevant for the 21st century, and are for the benefit of all.

Our Story

Sheffield Insight Meditation has offered retreats, courses and meditation groups since 2006. Our first retreat was taught by Catherine McGee, and since Sheffield is long way from Gaia House in Devon where Catherine is based, we decided to offer two day non-residential retreats rather than the one day retreat model then used by other Insight communities who were becoming established in different UK cities.

As we grew, we added regular peer-led sitting groups and Sangha Saturdays, and since 2012 we’ve also run five residential retreats in the Peak District. In 2013 we began offering a popular New Year three day non-residential retreat at the Central Sheffield Quaker Meeting House.

We currently offer five or six one- or two-day retreats a year. In 2019 we became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

We have a small team of trustees who organise our events together with volunteers; we warmly welcome all contributions of time and service, however small.