Dharmavajra Kadampa Buddhist Centre

A few months ago the Dharmavajra Kadampa Buddhist centre accepted my request to join their Foundation program on Sundays. The quality of the teaching was excellent, I was always made feel very welcome and I have found the members to be very supportive and friendly. Although this particular program was not the tradition I was looking for, our teacher has completely supported my decision to leave and has made it clear that I would always be welcome to attend other day and week ends courses should I wish to come back. My 19 year old son has also attended a meditation course at the centre , since then he practices meditation regularly , it is both our wishes to come back to the centre to join others in meditation.

We all experience positive and negative experiences in our life wherever we are or what we do and this of course depends on our frame of mind at the time how our experiences and karma will manifest. Being at the Centre has helped me keep on top of the negative unhelpful minds and look at myself to adopt a more positive state of mind and help focus my energies so has been beneficial. It is definitely worth considering a visit if you are interested in meditation and developing a more positive and peaceful outlook on life. The residents are friendly and helpful and sometimes cook you a meall :) The daily pujas/prayers are enjoyable feel free to come along. All the details are on the website if interested.

Perhaps it is the sea breeze, but there seems to be something in Swansea causing a tidal wave of imbecility.

I stayed at the Dharmavajra Kadampa Buddhist Centre for a year, which is a very different experience than a fleeting visit.

Firstly, they let me stay in a room with severe damp for a month, before another room became available.

Led by their so called “spiritual guide”, who to ‘doubt’ is considered a delusion, it is also believed that those who doubt create bad karma to be without religion in the future, and furthermore, to abandon their teacher means they will create the bad karma which will cause them to be reborn in hell for a near-infinite period of time.

I experienced one of the followers daring to doubt who was harassed until he believed again. Additionally, I experienced being told I was going to hell by the followers on numerous occasions, which is absolutely lovely.

As I thought differently and critically, I was told I had negative energy and bad karma, which again, is absolutely lovely.

Indeed, I also experienced sexism and racism from the other residents (the majority of whom are members) and felt I was being continuously scapegoated.

For example, as part of their tradition they make food offerings which anyone can take. I would take the offerings and give them to charity, which the guide and his followers deemed caused bad karma.

Subsequently they started privately giving the offerings to everyone except me, which I experienced as very hostile. Indeed, one wonders why they couldn’t let go of such an attachment. Much to learn they still have.

Ironically, one of their rules is not to take intoxicants, yet the cleaner (also a member) and other residents often seemed drunk, which management turned a blind eye to.

They preach about love and compassion, but this was not my experience at all.

In fact my experience here was exactly the opposite: Consisting of sexism, racism and being continually scapegoated for my way of life and not sharing their views.

It is important to remember, this is not true Buddhism, but an offshoot under the fashionable guise of mindfulness. True, simple meditation never requires worship.

Having now read about other peoples’ experience of this New Kadampa Tradition online, I suggest you do also before you visit or give them money and decide for yourself.

Overall, I found this to be a disgusting moral enterprise, where if you think differently you are not made to feel welcome.

Interesting to note that when I left this review at the beginning of August there were only six reviews. Now suddenly, at the start of September there are 13. I wonder what prompted such a splurge of reviews. I have heard of people being asked to review products in order to increase the average rating.

Have been at the centre for almost two years. Found it to stay as a resident when I needed the most in my life, peaceful time somewhere to live at a reasonable price.

Feel grateful for people who have been living here, showing empathy and understanding and also managing the place trying to keep it clean, tidy and accommodative.

Although here as some rules to adhere to like with many traditions of buddhism of which I am not for me seems fair enough to follow them as much as I can while staying here for my own personal good and non-violence motives.

I found that silent meditation classes here been really helpful to me, as well some reflective discussions about causality of difficulties we all encounter at some point in our lives.

All in all I think everything in life happens for a reasons which sometimes are difficult to comprehend. I ended up living here probably to learn something about myself and I am happy to stay here as long as I can and need.

Always a warm welcome residents and volunteers are willing to take time out of their day to meet new visitors and to encourage regulars.!

Always great to visit the centre. It's a very welcoming place, you can relax in the sitting room or take time to reflect in the meditation room. Food is excellent too.

In answer to the review by Pork William - I've been attending Dharmavajra Centre and other centres of this tradition for 21 yrs and have derived immense benefit from their teachings & meditations. They literally switched on a shining light in my life and, although I've had some difficult life challenges since then, they have helped me hugely in coping in a positive way with these. I've met many wonderful friends, attended amazing, life-changing teachings, festivals & meditation retreats, had a lot of fun along the way and experienced greater happiness & meaning in my life than I ever have by any other method. I have never experienced Dharmavajra Centre or any other Centre in the NKT as 'money grabbing' - quite the opposite, the prices compare very well and the benefits are priceless in my experience. And I don't personally feel that learning to become a wiser, stronger, happier, more peaceful & compassionate person is 'creepy'. Or learning to overcome anger, selfishness, negativity & pain. Of course you're entitled to your opinion Pork and if Dharmavajra Centre wasnt for u then I hope u find what you're looking for elsewhere. But during my 21 years visiting Dharmavajra Centre & others in this tradition I've witnessed many many people & their families benefit hugely from practising the meditations & the positive way of life taught there, and from the kind, peaceful & uplifting atmosphere to be found there. So I would most definitely recommend visiting Dharmavajra Centre.

Great place to come and relax. Fantastic people who are all approachable and are always willing to help. Try it for yourself.

I've been going to Dharmavajra centre for 7 months now and it's been brilliant!!! The people there are so supportive and encouraging. I found members from all walks of life and all ages too. There is a real sense of community and a feeling of mutual respect that's hard to find . I waited many years to discover this treasure-trove of wisdom and peace and I would recommend a visit to anyone without hesitation.