Based within a Buddhist context the East Surrey Buddhism and Meditation Group (ESBMG) offers individuals the opportunity to come together for collective practise in a friendly enviroment. I had recently left the Croydon Buddhist Centre and the very successful Guildford University Group, affectionately known as GUM's had come to its conclusion thus I was looking for a little time to just get on wit
h a bit of personal practise for a while. Thanks to a few rather persistent people like Stuart, Mel and Matt the Redhill meditation group was created. Initially this was hosted at a small studio flat I shared with my partner Susie but it became clear quite quickly, as word spread, that we would require a larger space to meet. In Autumn 2011 Heaven-Nutfield opened farther along the road I lived on and as I needed to provide a small income to support myself I worked adhoc shifts making teas, coffees and offering Thai Massage to Heavens clients. The then proprietors of Heaven where incredibly supportive of me personally and to the Buddhist philosophy I had chosen to live my life within. They where particularly interested in meditation and the benefits it might offer there client base, so, we began running six week courses in meditation. These where quickly followed by day and weekend retreats in France and Spain. It was through these activities a small but committed group of individuals that, at the very least, where more than just sympathetic to Buddhism and its teachings. With interest at a high we began to run Dharma discussion evenings, then introduced a full moon Puja evening and so the group became something a little more directed and consequently more in line with the Buddhist tradition as exemplified within the Triratna Community to which both myself and Dhruvamati, belong and Others aspire to join. The group had evolved sufficiently enough to be deemed a Triratna group and was therefore renamed as The East Surrey Buddhism and Meditation Group. We continue to meet weekly at Heaven, hold day and week/weekend retreats as well as explore life through the Buddhist eyes. The group is open to all, regardless or gender, beliefs or social status and is run on a Dana (Donation) basis which is used to purchase meditation cushions, mat's and stools as well as a bursary for those wishing to go on retreat but cannot afford to.
