Kent Chan Group

Chan is the Chinese precursor of Japanese Zen Buddhism. We practice Chan meditation.

Kent Chan Group weekly meditation class

What is Chan?
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.

Why is Chan special?
• It is an ancient eastern philosophical system and way of being that is equally relevant for people in the 21st century western world.
• It is a system that sits comfortably with modern science and psychology.
• It has an undogmatic and open approach to existence.
• It teaches a pragmatic, down-to-earth, wise and compassionate approach to living.
• It demands effort of practitioners and a willingness to accept responsibility for our thoughts and actions.

Kent Chan Group meditation class
Our meditation meetings are held on Thursday evenings at the Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Meditation Centre in Rochester, but also hosted online. Although most of our members are in Kent, as the meetings are also online they are of course open to anyone.

New to Buddhism/meditation/Chan? 
We ask that newcomers and beginners first attend our ‘Introduction to Chan’ sessions which are typically hosted on the first Thursday of the month. Please be sure to check the calendar below before attending as there are some evenings when we are unable to offer a class. 

The programme
The regular format for our meetings is two periods of sitting meditation (up to 30 minutes each) with mindful movement practice (qigong) in between. The practices are largely in silence with some simple instruction. We then have tea, and in the remaining time share a talk or reading on a Buddhist/Chan theme which we follow with a group discussion.

The evening runs from 7.30-9.30pm, and we ask that you please aim to have arrived/connected by at least 7.25pm so that we can start on time. We operate on a drop-in basis, so there's no expectation of people joining every week. 

As well as our Introduction to Chan sessions, we also have one 'extended practice evening' most months which just focuses on meditation practice. The extended practice sessions are less suitable for those who do not have experience of regular sitting meditation. 

For those attending in person 
The address is Bodhicharya UK Buddhist Meditation Centre, Jackson Recreation Ground, New Road, Rochester ME1 1BD, and we can be found on Google Maps. The Centre is a 12 minute walk from Chatham railway station or 16 minutes from Rochester station. There is also parking on New Road by the steps up to the Centre which is free after 7pm.

For those joining online 
Simply click the link below and follow the instructions to connect to the meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86119847385

Donations 
Contributions towards the running cost of the Centre are welcome, and on an annual basis we also ask for contributions when renewing our Zoom licence. If you are in a position to make a donation towards the Centre running costs, we suggest around £5 per meeting. This can be offered in cash for those attending in person or there are a variety of ways to donate either one-off or on a regular basis. See this link for more details: https://bodhicharya.org/uk/donate/ 

Kent Chan Group weekly meditation class - meeting schedule

April 2026

• Thursday 2nd April - meeting on
• Thursday 9th + 16th April - no meeting (Easter break)
• Thursday 23rd April - meeting on
• Thursday 30th April - meeting on (extended practice evening)

May 2026

• Thursday 7th May - meeting on (Introduction to Chan)
• Thursday 14th May - meeting on
• Thursday 21st May - no meeting
• Thursday 28th May - meeting on (extended practice evening)

June 2026

• Thursday 4th June - meeting on (Introduction to Chan)
• Thursday 11th June - no meeting
• Thursday 18th June - meeting on
• Thursday 25th June - no meeting

July 2026

• Thursday 2nd July - meeting on (Introduction to Chan)
• Thursday 9th July - no meeting
• Thursday 16th July - meeting on
• Thursday 23rd July - meeting on

August 2026

• Summer break - classes resume in September

Kent Chan Group Meditation Day Retreats (in person)

In addition to our online weekly meetings, we also offer the opportunity to meet in person for more extended periods of practice. For 2026, we will be either be meeting at the Bodhicharya Buddhist Centre in Rochester or the St Benedict's Centre in West Malling, Kent and the day runs from 10.00am to 4.30pm. We are also leading an additional day retreat in London.

• Sunday 15th March 2026 - St Benedict's Centre, West Malling
   
• Saturday 16th May 2026 - Buddhist Society, London
  An ‘Introduction to Chan’ day retreat as a guest of Bodhicharya London.
   

• Sunday 14th June 2026 - Bodhicharya Buddhist Centre, Rochester
  The Diamond Sutra with guest retreat leader Juliet Hackney.
  
  This day retreat will include sitting and walking meditation and other mindful movement practice. The Diamond Sutra will be the source of inspiration for the day, giving ourselves the opportunity to experience its final verse: 

  "All composed things are like a dream,
  a phantom, a drop of dew, a flash of lightning.
  That is how to meditate on them,
  that is how to observe them."
   

• Saturday 12th September 2026 - Bodhicharya Buddhist Centre, Rochester
   
• Sunday 6th December 2026 - St Benedict's Centre, West Malling
  With guest retreat leader Dan Meron.

The day of practice will include sitting and walking meditation, and other mindful movement practices. The day is best suited to anyone with prior experience of meditation practice, and we recommend you should have attended a weekly WCF class before attending.

We ask for donations of £30 to help cover the cost of the room hire. For full details about the retreat see the Kent Chan Group day retreat information pack.

Please contact Stuart (see below) to reserve your place.

Contact Kent Chan Group

Stuart McLeod

• kentchan@westernchanfellowship.org
• Tel 07913 858612