About us
Hi - welcome to our Little Bangkok Sangha.
When I came to Bangkok in 2001 there was no dharma in English to be found. The temples are all happy to compete for the tourist dollar, but there was no explanations, no sangha, no friends on the path.
So I started the ball rolling. That was 2007. Now we organize lots of events, and bring people together from all kinds of meditation backgrounds.
There are regular dhamma talks, workshops, discussion events, lunches and sometimes retreats. It depends on visiting teachers schedules.
Since we have no permanent venue of our own (yet) we have few costs. Pretty much everything we do is without cost - except for retreats of course - but even those are as low cost as we can make it.
I hope you can join in. If you are new it takes a while for your face and name to be remembered, but you should find an interesting mix of people. (plus a few real oddballs!)
The full website is at www.littlebang.org - the calendars there feature all events, arranged by us and other groups. Here on Meetup we only feature our own events - that's already a ton of emails that Meetup sends out!!
Hope to meet you.
Pandit Bhikkhu
Upcoming events
3
Dharma Circle at Baan Aree
มูลนิธิบ้านอารีย์ (Baan Aree Foundation), 1 Soi Ari 1, Khet Phaya Thai, Kr, THThe Little Bangkok Sangha is happy to announce the next meeting of the Dharma Circle, a series of in-person meetings at Baan Aree, the beautiful location so generously made available to us by the Baan Aree foundation. The meeting will be held on Monday 26 January 2026 from 06:30 - 8.00 PM Bangkok time.
We will be reading together from 'Pāramī: Ways to Cross Life's Floods' by Ajahn Sucitto from pages 11 to 29 (Chapter on Crossing the Floods). The Parami - or 'Perfections' - are transcendent virtues which Buddhist Dharma invites us to cultivate in order to reach enlightenment. In this incredibly accessible book, Ajahn Sucitto sets out daily life practices that give the mind a firm ground in Dharma. Comprising simple qualities like patience, generosity and truthfulness, they can be skillfully applied to the 'flash-points' in the day in order to steer the mind out of unhelpful and distressing currents and on towards peace, clarity and nirvana. The book is available for free download here: https://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/Parami.pdf .
Understanding how important good friends are in supporting the noble path, Buddha's disciple Ananda declared "This is half of the holy life: admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie." To which the Buddha replied: "Don't say that Ananda. Don't say that. Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life."
The Dharma Circle is an open space to come together for an evening of reading, discussion, and meditation. The purpose of the Dharma Circle is to study and reflect on Buddha Dharma together. The idea is to maintain a community of friends to support our practice and application. Everyone is welcome, from beginners to scholars. Please note that the Dharma Circle is not a taught course but simply a reading group. It is not necessary to have attended previous sessions and you may drop in on individual sessions.
Ajahn Sucitto, born 4 November 1949, is a British-born Theravada Buddhist monk. He was, between 1992 and 2014, the abbot of Cittaviveka, Chithurst Buddhist Monastery in the UK. Sucitto was born in London and ordained in Thailand in March 1976. He returned to Britain in 1978 and took up training under Ajahn Sumedho at the Hampstead Buddhist Vihara. Ajahn Sucitto regularly visits and teaches in Thailand and you can learn more about him here: https://ajahnsucitto.org/
Baan Aree is a Thai Buddhist Center, please wear something that is comfortable to sit in, and avoid tight-fitting clothes, shorts, sleeveless tops, and short skirts. As Thailand is mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother, the Thai government asked people to cooperate in wearing black or non-vibrant tones for a period of 90 days, if possible.
There may not be sufficient drinking water on site, therefore you may bring your own water in a closed container. No other food/drinks are allowed in the main room.
There is no charge for this event, however, the Little Bangkok Sangha follows the Buddhist custom of Dana (generosity). The venue is offered as an act of generosity, and if participants wish, they may reciprocate by making donations towards the venue's costs. A box for Dana will be provided.
The Dharma Circle will be facilitated by Aarti Kapoor, who is a Buddhist practitioner and long-term member of the Little Bangkok Sangha. She runs a human rights consultancy, where she integrates practice with vocation.
Programme
6:00 pm Baan Aree opens
6:30 pm Opening meditation
6:45 pm Reading and Discussion
7:35 pm Closing meditation
7:55 pm Session ends
8:00 pm Baan Aree closes
Baan Aree is located conveniently close to the Ari BTS station. Please click on the Google map to find your way: https://goo.gl/maps/1FuCuvCtNdPMAL4F98 attendees
CENTER OF THE WORLD - how you create the world, and step out of it
มูลนิธิบ้านอารีย์ (Baan Aree Foundation), 1 Soi Ari 1, Khet Phaya Thai, Kr, TH'YOU REALLY ARE THE CENTER OF THE WORLD' : dharma talk and meditation with Phra Pandit
There is a now famous talk by David Foster Wallace
[see on YouTube here]
Where he points out that you are the center of your universe, and as such you create your own reality. I'm not saying I agree with him entirely. But there is something vital that is overlooked in our direct experience that is revealed to the meditator, and hidden from the thinker. Wallace focusses on how we create our own world, where dharma shows how to step out of it. What do you think?
***
Speaker:
Venerable Pandit has been an ordained Buddhist monk in Thailand since 1996. He has a degree in Psychology and a MA in Buddhist Studies. His focus is on early Buddhist teachings, enlightenment traditions, story and fairy tales, and psychology - all from the perspective of a real meditation practice. Expect clear and precise delivery, and a little humour!
***
Inviting:
Everyone is welcome, from beginners to experienced meditators. We meet to support and encourage each other in our practice. If you are a beginner, some instructions will be given; experienced meditators can develop their own practice.
***
Venue:
Baan Aree is a Thai Buddhist Center, please wear something that is comfortable and modest. It is very close to Ari BTS Station.
Map link : https://maps.app.goo.gl/gmVjmWt6mazuNXMt6
Enter through the passage between EXIM building and the gas station. (Baan Aree is also the home of Kid Mai Death Awareness Cafe - so you can also follow directions for that on G Maps)
As is usual with Buddhist teachings, there is no charge for this event. However, the Little Bangkok Sangha follows the Buddhist custom of Dana (generosity). The teachings and the venue are offered as an act of generosity, and those receiving them can, if they wish, reciprocate by making donations. These go towards the teacher’s and venue's costs. Boxes for Dana will be provided.
***
Programme:
• 6:00 Baan Aree opens
• 6:30 pm group meditation
• 7:00 pm Dhamma talk
• 8:00 pm (ish) finish5 attendees
FAILING AT NORMAL! ..that sneaking suspicion that there is something big missing
มูลนิธิบ้านอารีย์ (Baan Aree Foundation), 1 Soi Ari 1, Khet Phaya Thai, Kr, TH'FAILING AT NORMAL' : dharma talk and meditation with Phra Pandit
There is a good reason that so many movies and stories hover around the idea of something important and real that is crudial to life, is being overlooked. Think of the Matrix, or The Trueman Show : this is a common theme for humanity. Once that suspicion has arisen, you will forever keep returning to it, until you figure out what it is (and not by 'figuring out' anything!). This was mentioned by the Buddha himself, who gave a cute story to show how once bitten, one cannot forget.
***
Speaker:
Venerable Pandit has been an ordained Buddhist monk in Thailand since 1996. He has a degree in Psychology and a MA in Buddhist Studies. His focus is on early Buddhist teachings, enlightenment traditions, story and fairy tales, and psychology - all from the perspective of a real meditation practice. Expect clear and precise delivery, and a little humour!
***
Inviting:
Everyone is welcome, from beginners to experienced meditators. We meet to support and encourage each other in our practice. If you are a beginner, some instructions will be given; experienced meditators can develop their own practice.
***
Venue:
Baan Aree is a Thai Buddhist Center, please wear something that is comfortable and modest. It is very close to Ari BTS Station.
Map link : https://maps.app.goo.gl/gmVjmWt6mazuNXMt6
Enter through the passage between EXIM building and the gas station. (Baan Aree is also the home of Kid Mai Death Awareness Cafe - so you can also follow directions for that on G Maps)
As is usual with Buddhist teachings, there is no charge for this event. However, the Little Bangkok Sangha follows the Buddhist custom of Dana (generosity). The teachings and the venue are offered as an act of generosity, and those receiving them can, if they wish, reciprocate by making donations. These go towards the teacher’s and venue's costs. Boxes for Dana will be provided.
***
Programme:
• 6:00 Baan Aree opens
• 6:30 pm group meditation
• 7:00 pm Dhamma talk
• 8:00 pm (ish) finish9 attendees
Past events
1020
