Friday Night Lecture: Is There Anybody Out There?

With Resident Teacher Gen Kelsang Tubchen

It’s Halloween weekend — ghost stories, spirits, things that go bump in the night. Most of us have a view on this, whether we believe in ghosts outright, think it’s all nonsense, or just aren’t sure. Some people look to the night sky instead and wonder about aliens. Others have had an experience they can’t quite explain and have never known what to make of it. This month’s Friday Night Lecture takes the spooky season question seriously: is there anybody out there?

We’ll start by exploring what we already think — the common views, the folklore, the experiences people report, and why this question seems to grip us every year around this time.

Then we will look at what Buddhism describes – six realms of existence — including realms of hungry ghosts and other beings far stranger. These aren’t just colourful myths; they describe real states of mind and experience that, according to Buddhist teachings, we cycle through again and again, shaped entirely by our own actions and state of mind.

We’ll explore what these other realms of being actually are, why Buddhism takes them seriously, and what it means for the people — and things — we can’t see. Expect it to raise more questions than it answers, in the best way.

The evening begins with a short guided meditation, followed by the lecture, open discussion and Q&A, and refreshments afterwards to keep the conversation going.

This session is light-hearted, thought-provoking, and interactive — perfect for Halloween weekend, whether you’re brand new to meditation or have been practising for years.

Everyone warmly welcome.

Details:

Fee: £15 | members £5 (refreshment fee)

Venue: KMC Edinburgh | 172 Leith Walk, EH6 5EA