About us
Image New Forest Retreat by Twan Peeters
heart of london sangha
We are a peer-led community. Within each of our groups, different members facilitate each week, and each group has its own team of volunteers that deal with administrative tasks.
We rely on volunteers in other ways too, for instance to set up the rooms and to greet those arriving. Even as a new member, if you would like to help with these that would be welcome.
In addition to our regular meetings, we run retreats, social meetups and other special events. Please join our email list to be kept up to date with these.
The Heart of London Sangha is associated with UK charity Plum Village UK – also known as the Community of Interbeing – which is part of a wider global network of Zen practitioners founded by Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village Monastery in France.
For any questions about anything please get in touch by email or just chat with us when you come along.
Image by Monica Max West
resources
Essential Guides
- Five Mindfulness Trainings (engaged ethics for daily life)
- Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings (for Order of Interbeing members)
- Contemplations before Eating
- The Art of Mindful Living (foundational Zen practices)
Websites
For teachings, talks, videos, retreat information and in-depth information about our practice, these are places to look.
- Plum Village Monastery, France
Plum Village App
The Plum Village App has a guided meditations, teachings, videos, podcasts, music and other resources to support your daily practice.
Videos
You can visit our Heart of London Vimeo Page to find videos including talks by Dharma Teachers Michael Schwammberger and Dene Donalds. Vimeo is an ethical alternative to YouTube.
Plum Village talks can be found on their Plum Village channel.
Books
A comprehensive list of suggested books by Thich Nhat and other Plum Village teachers can be found here
25th Anniversary
In 2020 Heart of London Sangha had its 25th anniversary.
We have come a long way since November 1995 when a small group of practitioners started meeting in the Tower Room of St James Picadilly church. Ever since we have offered space and structure for practice in the Thich Nhat Hanh tradition.
Members of our sangha have included Natasha, Dylan and Ben, who are now senior monastic Dharma Teachers in Plum Village – Sister True Dedication, Brother Phap Linh and Brother Phap Lai.