EVENT

Information

Time and Date
Tuesday, 20 January – Tuesday, 3 February 2026
6:00 – around 7:00 am

Place
Hybrid
(In person at the London Buddhist Centre & on Zoom)

Who can attend
Open to anyone
You are welcome to join for the whole period, or for the days you are able.

Mid-winter Sutra Recitation

A period of steady practice through the winter season

Mid-winter is traditionally a time of quiet perseverance — a season when we continue our practice steadily, even in the cold and darkness.

The Mid-winter Sutra Recitation is a 15-day period of shared practice, during which we gather each morning at the London Buddhist Centre and on Zoom to recite the Threefold Lotus Sutra together. At the end of each day’s recitation, we also chant the O-daimoku, bringing our voices and intentions together as one.

This period of sustained recitation offers a rare opportunity to pause, renew our vows, and gently realign our daily life with the Buddha’s teachings. Rather than striving for intensity, the practice invites us to cultivate steadiness — returning each day, even briefly, to the same place of intention and faith.

Many people experience this time as both challenging and deeply supportive. Some take part every day, while others join on selected mornings. You are very welcome to participate in whatever way feels realistic and meaningful for you, whether in person or online.

This event is open to anyone, including non-members. You are welcome to attend quietly, with your microphone and camera turned off, or to take part more actively if you wish.

Schedule

20 January

  • The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings – 1 (The Virtuous Practices)
  • The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings – 2 (Expounding the Dharma)
  • The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings – 3 (Ten Merits)

21 January

  • The Lotus Sutra – 1 (Introductory)

22 January

  • The Lotus Sutra – 2 (Skilful Means)

23 January

  • The Lotus Sutra – 3 (A Parable)

24 January

  • The Lotus Sutra – 4 (Faith and Understanding)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 5 (The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 6 (Giving Assurance of Buddhahood)

25 January

  • The Lotus Sutra – 7 (The Parable of the Conjured City)

26 January

  • The Lotus Sutra – 8 (The Assurance of Buddhahood Given to the Five Hundred Disciples)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 9 (The Assurance Given to Those Trained and Still in Training)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 10 (Teachers of the Dharma)

27 January

  • The Lotus Sutra – 11 (The Appearance of the Jeweled Stupa)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 12 (Devadatta)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 13 (Encouragement to Hold Firm)

28 January

  • The Lotus Sutra – 14 (Peaceful and Agreeable Practices)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 15 (Springing Up Out of the Earth)

29 January

  • The Lotus Sutra – 16 (The Life Span of the Eternal Tathagata)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 17 (Specification of Merits)

30 January

  • The Lotus Sutra – 18 (The Merits of Rejoicing)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 19 (The Merits of the Teachers of the Dharma)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 20 (The Bodhisattva Never Unworthy of Respect)

31 January

  • The Lotus Sutra – 21 (The Transcendent Powers of the Tathagata)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 22 (The Entrustment)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 23 (The Former Deeds of the Bodhisattva Medicine King)

1 February

  • The Lotus Sutra – 24 (The Bodhisattva Wondrous Sound)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 25 (The Bodhisattva Regarder of the Sounds of the World as Universal Gateway)

2 February

  • The Lotus Sutra – 26 (Dharanis)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 27 (The Former Deeds of King Wondrous Adornment)
  • The Lotus Sutra – 28 (Encouragement from the Bodhisattva Universal Sage)

3 February

  • The Sutra of the Method for Contemplating the Bodhisattva Universal Sage
How to attend

The Mid-winter Sutra Recitation is held both in person at the London Buddhist Centre and online via Zoom.

If you would like to attend, whether in person or online, please contact us using the enquiry form below and mention the event name.　We kindly ask that you get in touch in advance, so we can respond to you in good time and share any practical details.

Practical notes

For those who wish to recite along, it is helpful to have a copy of the Threefold Lotus Sutra (Rissho Kosei-kai International, 2019) available.

If you do not yet have a copy, please feel free to let us know when you get in touch.

Fee

There is no charge to attend.
If you feel moved to do so, donations are gratefully received and help support the life of our Buddhist centre.

You are welcome to join even if this is your first experience of extended sutra recitation.

 

 

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