The Manchester Buddhist Centre is part of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, an international movement dedicated to the application of Buddhist principles in contemporary society. The FWBO was founded in London in 1967 by Sangharakshita, an English Buddhist monk who had returned from 20 years of Buddhist practice and study in India.

The FWBO aims to maintain Buddhism as a living tradition, responding creatively to the changing conditions of the modern West.

Meditation and Buddhism in Manchester

The Manchester Buddhist Centre (FWBO Manchester) was founded in 1977-8. Since then, it has taught the essential principles of meditation and Buddhism to thousands of Mancunians. In July 1996, the new Manchester Buddhist Centre in Turner Street, in the Northern Quarter, was opened by Sangharakshita.

Once a derelict Victorian warehouse, the Manchester Buddhist Centre opened in 1996 as a place of simplicity and beauty in city centre. It offers a calm and relaxing atmosphere amidst the busyness of city life. There are two meditation halls - one available during Centre opening hours for personal meditation.

Meditation

Meditation is a way of becoming more alive and aware of our moment-to-moment experience. All its effects, from simple relaxation to spiritual insight, follow from this. In the short term, meditation can provide an antidote to stress and a means of becoming calmer and more self-possessed; in the long term it is a tool with which we can transform ourselves.

Buddhism

All of us share a desire to avoid suffering and achieve happiness.Yet, according to the Buddha’s teachings, our thoughts, actions and lack of understanding of the way life works prevent us from experiencing deeper happiness.

Facilities and Activities at the Manchester Buddhist Centre

Reference Library
 
Called The Sangharakshita Library, this growing reference library contains a large range of Buddhist texts and commentaries. In addition, it includes a growing range of Western philosophical and spiritual literature.

Bookshop
 
The MBC Bookshop is almost certainly the best stocked Buddhist bookshop in the north-west, selling Buddhist texts and commentaries, magazines, other spiritual literature, ranging from introductory material to the more esoteric.

It is open Monday-Saturday: 10am-5pm and until 9.30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Other activities

We hold residential and non-residential weekend retreats and regularly celebrate Buddhist festivals and full-moon days. Please call the Centre for details.

Parking

24-hour parking is available nearby at the NCP High Street (Arndale) car park (entrances on High Street &  Shudehill). Please note that the car-park in Church Street close to the Centre closes at 7:45pm