Meditation to open the mind and find stillness
About us
The Meditation Fellowship offers in-person retreats and online sessions
Here is quietness for the healing of our spirits
Here is history for the background of our lives
Here is thinking for the enlarging of our minds
We would be delighted to welcome you to one of our weekend retreats, which are open to Unitarians and non-Unitarians alike.
Bringing meditation to the Unitarian movement and beyond for nearly four decades...
Our history
The Meditational Fellowship was founded 38 years ago by the late Rev David Monk, a Unitarian minister at Hindley, Lancashire.
The Fellowship was formed with the intention of encouraging, facilitating and teaching meditation in the UK Unitarian movement. At the time, meditation was an optional minority spiritual activity within both the ministers and the lay members of the movement. David’s initiative and his charismatic teaching succeeded in bringing meditation into the mainstream of a tradition often characterised by rational inquiry and intellect. Today ministers as part of their training can take modules in prayer and meditation. Some of this is in no small part due to the tireless work and teaching of David Monk in the late 1980s and 1990s.
The Meditation Fellowship continues to flourish and works to fulfil its original intentions.
We continue to run residential weekend retreats each year at centres in different parts of the country. TMF is both an interfaith fellowship and open to people of no religious connection as well. Whoever you are, you are welcome to join us at any of our events.
Our Aims
To promote the practice of meditation as an individual discipline and to encourage the formation of meditation groups in different localities through practical guidance in methods and techniques at organised retreats.
To provide opportunities for learning and discussion about various theoretical aspects of meditation - such as the psychology of meditation and the philosophical and theological factors implicit within the practice, and to explore the religious roots of meditation in the contemplative traditions of the world.
To emphasise the relevance of meditation to daily living as a practice which helps to promote personal growth and social harmony and which enhances in general the quality of life.
Get to know Richard
The current leader of TMF is Richard Bober. Richard is an experienced teacher of meditation, with a Buddhist training and a Unitarian background.
How did you first start meditating?
Aged 22 at university I met a group of Buddhist monks from Thailand who were studying at the same college.They offered free meditation classes. Being a penniless student, I thought this seemed a good activity to explore, as I thought it might help my grasshopper mind to study more effectively. I have been meditating ever since - for over 45 years.
What are the benefits of meditation for you, personally?
I no longer have a grasshopper mind!
More seriously, the are three aspects to mention here:
Firstly Meditation has been important if not crucial in maintaining my mental health.
To be more specific,it has to do with self regulation, inner balance and nurturing my capacity to relate well to myself.Sometimes for some of us(Perhaps many of us)being human is difficult.Meditation has the potential to give us the inner poise with which to cope with life’s inevitable challenges.
Secondly, meditation has the potential to enhance our connection with our heart centre and the source of love and compassion.
And thirdly, if our spiritual capacities are to be cultivated all the main spiritual traditions point to some form of inner silence as part of the route.
What is a good first step to starting a meditation practice?
Find a quiet space, a room where you can have few distractions and establish an upright seat where you can be both alert and comfortable.
Some people find it hard to meditate regularly. How do you make it a habit, keep going?
See if you can find a time of day where you will be regularly both awake and undisturbed. Then start with 5 minutes and gradually build it up. If you are never undisturbed then see if you can find a daily task(cleaning your teeth/washing the dishes) where you can attend to the task with mindful attention. To keep it going, reflect frequently on how growing anything takes time and happens slowly.
What is your hope for the Meditation Fellowship?
My hope is that with the current and future generations of Unitarians we can continue to promote the value and benefits of a personal meditation practice for all within our spiritual community.
Our Retreats
Retreats are held in Salisbury (Sarum College, The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 2EE) and Grasmere in the Lake District (Glenthorne Quaker Centre, Grasmere, Cumbria LA229QH)
2024
8-10 November in Salisbury
2025.
16-18 May - Salisbury
11-13 July - Glenthorne Quaker centre. Cumbria.
7-9 November -Salisbury.
2026
15-17 May -Salisbury
17-19 July -Glenthorne Quaker centre,Cumbria
6-8 November -Salisbury .
For more information and to book:
Newcomers very welcome. The balance for each retreat is payable one month beforehand. We do not aim to make a profit but must have sufficient funds to secure venues well in advance. (When Fellowship funds allow we offer a limited number of subsidised places to people experiencing temporary financial constraints.)
The Meditation Fellowship reserves the right of acceptance of applications to attend its events.
The Meditation Fellowship is committed to The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches Safeguarding Statement
of 1st June 2024.https://www.unitarian.org.uk/safeguarding/
The Meditation Fellowship Safeguarding policy and procedures document can be obtained from either Alf Withington or Richard Bober from the contact page below.TMF SAFEGUARDING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
"I'm glad I made time... just to be."
The retreat programmes include a variety of sessions led by experienced members of the Fellowship including:
- Guidance in meditational practices that help to develop concentration and insight, using techniques from different spiritual traditions.
- Periods of silent meditation and guided meditation.
- Talks on subjects related to the practice of meditation, with opportunities for discussion.
- Sessions of gentle movement, chanting and meditative dance.
Some of the sessions are designed simply to help participants relax and find spiritual renewal. Others focus on deepening insight into oneself and increasing awareness of others, which can sometimes be quite challenging. Individual support and guidance is available during the retreat, if required. Participants are invited to use the retreat in whatever way they feel is most helpful to themselves, with no pressure to attend sessions. There is usually a quiet room for those who wish to spend some time on their own. Venues are usually in rural settings with opportunities for country walks. Tape recordings and some printed copies of earlier TMF talks are available for those who may be interested.
Online Meditation
Weekly online meditation
Together in Meditation is a national, online, weekly, group for people to practice meditation together in a supportive environment. It is open to everyone, those with no experience of meditation can join alongside those with an established practice. More info
The Meditation Fellowship online gathering: Saturday 2nd September
10.30am to 11.30am
We will practice meditation together and then spend a little time sharing in fellowship. Led by Richard Bober. We very much hope you can join us.
Unitarian Transformers monthly online meditation
Findhorn Unitarian Network FUN Meditation
Sacred Stillness – support of meditation and worship leaders
This quiet and supportive online group is open to Unitarian ministers and lay leaders. It is also for anyone who uses holds silence for others such as mindfulness and yoga teachers and those involved in pastoral work. Second Tuesday of the month at 7.45pm More info
