NEW BUDDHA WAY

New Buddha Way (NBW) is a movement of meditators that meets regularly in Guildford and Woking, in Surrey, UK. It also runs an occasional introductory course in central London. It began in 2002.

The Founder of New Buddha Way is Geoffrey Hunt, 'Buddhist Chaplain' for the University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. He has learned directly from a range of meditational practices, including Rinzai Zen, Theravada, Tibetanism, Sufism and Christian mysticism before deciding to accept the role of a lay teacher making the Buddha's teachings accessible in 'Western' (or 'Westernised') culture.

He was Professor of Ethics at the university until May 2008, and is now Professor of Philosophy at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, London. He is the voluntary chair of the ethics committee of a major hospice, voluntary chair of a local government Faiths Forum, and is an international speaker and writer on the ethics of professionals, organizations and new technologies. He was the founder of 'Freedom to Care', a whistleblower support group, and founder of the International Centre for Nursing Ethics. He is the author of several books on employees speaking up in the public interest (whistleblowing), and on ethical aspects of health and social care, as well as on the risks of new technologies. He was a Visiting Professor in Kagawa, Japan in 2001 and regularly attended a Rinzai-shuu temple for instruction during that period.

NEW BUDDHA WAY:

• It is independent and not affiliated to any Eastern tradition.
• It is grown from core elements of the Buddha's original teachings.
• These teachings are brought into a contemporary social context, entirely in the English language, for ordinary people.
• It is a practice, not a belief system.
• It is flexible and questioning, and not afraid to let go of literalistic beliefs such as 'rebirth'.
• It is not a group (since it has no boundary, inside/outside), and has no membership.
• It has no priests, no guru and no master (except you).
• Its basic idea is that you already have what you need to enlighten yourself - you just forgot where you put it.
• There are no fees or charges for attending events, however donations are welcome.
• Participants come and go as they please, and are not expected to take any vows.
• Some NBW participants may belong to specific 'Buddhist' groups, traditions and lines, some to other religions, and some may have no commitment, belief or affiliation.
• Participants take responsibility for their own lives, in their own way, in their own time. NBW's approach is to look to no one for salvation, but only for guidance.
• Meditation is focussed in NBW sessions, but is meaningless if not taken into the ordinary life of each participant.
• Sessions are led by a number of facilitators (who have had several years of meditation experience), and any participant may learn to facilitate at an appropriate time.
• Note that there is nothing Eastern about these meditation sessions - no images, rituals, robes, technical terms, etc.
• Anyone of no religion or any religion, and any culture, gender, race, age, size, ability, educational qualification or none, employment or non-employment, or any persuasion may attend network events.
• It provides an easy-to-understand and practical Beginners and Newcomers' Class in Guildford, Woking and London every few weeks (according to demand) followed by free weekly Guided Sessions (with Noble Eightfold Path instruction) and Zen Sessions (with Mahayana study). It also puts on weekend retreats at peaceful venues in Surrey.
  
• It is democratic and participatory - we listen as a community to your questions and concerns.
• NBW as such has no special connection with a monastic way of life, and the choice of such a life (or any other lifestyle) is, of course, determined by the participant.
• NBW welcomes everyone, regardless of health or illness. The Buddha Dharma has no unique connection with psychotherapy, counselling or other health therapies, and NBW is of the view that using the name and positive associations of the Buddha to deploy his meditation techniques out of their specific spiritual context may be misleading about the Dharma and the Buddha's life work.
  
• NBW is not a company, and is not currently a charity. For resourcing it depends entirely on the donations of participants. Weekly accounts are kept and any regular participant may scrutinize them on request. NBW has its own bank account.

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