A meditation centre at Pencoyd, near Ross-on-Wye, is offering visitors the chance to try an ancient meditation technique that brings peace and calm to its practitioners. The gesture is part of the Dhamma Dipa Vipassana Centre’s annual open day which, this year, will kick off at 2pm on Sunday July 1st and end at about 6pm.

The Centre is proud of its strong links with the local community and welcomes all who wish to learn about the work it performs. Visitors to the open day can look forward to a guided tour, introductory talks and films about Vipassana Meditation, meditation ‘taster’ sessions, woodland walks and complimentary cream teas. The event is free of charge and all are welcome.

Shelina Hetherington, a GP in Llanwarne said: “I learned something very special here: How to stay calm, content and happy through all of life’s ups and downs”. Dr Hetherington’s experience has been shared by thousands of others. Indeed, mindfulness has played an increasingly larger role in the treatment of anxiety and depression within the NHS since research has verified its efficacy.

The Centre is on the site of an old riding school and is interesting in its own right. Former stables have been converted into comfortable accommodation and new buildings have been added, most notably a large meditation hall at the heart of the rolling campus and a beautiful pagoda constructed in the Burmese style. Planted woodlands, where meditators can take gentle exercise whilst attending courses, are now reaching maturity.

To find the Dhamma Dipa Vipassana Meditation Centre, follow signs to Pencoyd from the A49, then take the second lane on the right.