buddhatalk is a group of likeminded practitioners of the Buddha’s teachings – a ‘sangha’ – whose aim is to offer clear, accessible face-to-face and online courses, groups and retreats, direct from the Buddha’s talks, for beginners and experienced meditators.
These offerings cover all three aspects of the teachings, known as the Dhamma, contained in the Noble 8-fold Path: the path of wholesome living, the path of calm, including the meditative absorptions or jhanas, and the path of insight.
The offerings are made possible by sangha members who plan and organise, run, lead, and attend activities. We share the Buddha’s teachings with love.
Currently there are two active teachers, Pip Ransome and Jacqui Winstanley.
Pip has practised and taught the Dhamma for more than thirty years. She teaches from the heart, seeking to make the Buddha’s words accessible to all. Her teacher was world-renowned and highly-esteemed Theravadan Buddhist nun the late Venerable Ayya Khema.
Jacqui holds the space for others, and shares from experience with generosity and warmth that has evolved with over 30 years of practising and teaching meditation, mindfulness and yoga.
Our motivation is to share with others the joy and freedom from suffering we’ve found through practising the Buddha’s Noble 8-fold Path.
Below you will find all our current face to face and online offerings, as well as free downloadable resources that enable you to make a solid start on the Path.
Current face to face offerings
- A weekly meditation and mindfulness group
- Monthly outdoor meditation sessions
- ‘Journey to Tranquility’ courses giving an overview of the Buddha’s teachings
- Retreats, from 1 to 10 days long
- A weekly contemplation group.
Current offerings online / by email / by telephone
- The ‘Journey to Tranquility’ course includes Zoom access by request
- Individual meditation, mindfulness and contemplation coaching
- A comprehensive store of online resources, bel.
Face to Face groups, courses and retreats
Weekly meditation and mindfulness group
Offered by Jacqui Winstanley
Face to face
We are an ongoing group of practitioners generating the energy of mindfulness, concentration and insight together. We welcome new and experienced meditators.
Dhamma is shared in a relevant and modern context, drawn from both the Theravada and Mahayana traditions.
Balnarring Hall (enter via side door near kindergarten)
With thanks to Balnarring Community Hub for hosting our sessions.
Monthly outdoor meditation sessions
Led by buddhatalk Sangha members
Face to face – All welcome
Casual Meditation Group Sessions. Come and experience the benefits of sitting and walking meditation in the beautiful gardens of Coolart. Bring your own outdoor chair and cushion
Coolart Homestead and Gardens, Lord Somers Camp Road, Somers
‘Journey to Tranquility’ courses
Offered by Pip Ransome, in community venues, and through University of the Third Age (55+) Mornington.
Face to face, Zoom if required.
This course gives you an overview of the Buddha’s entire teachings, which lead to the end of suffering, Nibbana, enlightenment. After the course you will be able to position within that overview whatever you hear or read of the teachings, giving it a context, and making it easier to understand and more valuable. During the course you will practise:
- Relaxation, to ease the body
- Loving-kindness, to open the heart
- Meditation, to rest and calm the mind
- Mindfulness, to clear the mind, and
- Contemplation, to explore where we belong in our fascinating universe.
Practising these will bring you to an ease-full place where life flows more smoothly.
Comments on the course:
Thank you Pip for all your wonderful resources and teachings. I feel I’m on the way home ever since I attended your first class. TM
You inspire me to practice. JO’S
I feel I have finally started on the right path. WB
NEXT 8-WEEK COURSES
Monday July 21 – September 15 2025,
7.45-9.15pm, at Commune, Shop 10, Balnarring Village (next to Nourish)
First session free, $10 per session thereafter.
With thanks to Commune for hosting our session.
Monday August 4 – September 15 2025,
2-4pm, at U3A Mornington campus.
For more information, call Pip on 0422 366 907
To register, and for information please call U3A Mornington on 5975 9773.Â
Saturday September 7 2025,
9.30am-4pm, at U3A Mornington campus.
For more information, call Pip on 0422 366 907
Please email her below to register your interest.Â
Retreats
Meditation retreats, with Dhamma talks and sustained practice, are a wonderful way to extend and deepen your meditation and contemplation practice
We also highly recommend the English-speaking retreats at Stream Entering Monastery Daylesford, at which teaching is in the Plum Village Thich Nhat Hanh tradition. The next 4-day retreat is in October 2025. On their website https://nhapluu.org/ you will also find many other activities currently being enjoyed by buddhatalk members.
Weekly contemplation group
Offered by Pip Ransome.
Face to face – For committed practitioners
After completing the Journey to Tranquillity course, continue and deepen your practice with like-minded friends. Together we meditate, practise mindfulness, contemplate and share our latest discoveries on the way to seeing things clearly. It’s an exhilarating journey!
This is an ongoing group, held weekly except for school holidays. By application.
Comments on the group:
It was another marvellous term with many opportunities to gain new insights. Thank you for your generosity and wisdom. I’m looking forward to next term OC
You’ve given me a lot to consider, digest and benefit from BK
Online / By Email / By Telephone
‘Journey to Tranquility’ course
The Journey to Tranquility course described above may include online access via Zoom.
Individual meditation, mindfulness and contemplation coaching
Offered by Pip Ransome and Jacqui Winstanley..
You can talk with Pip or Jacqui on the phone or meet up for a face to face talk about your practice of wholesome living, meditation, mindfulness and/or contemplation.
By appointment
Online resources
A comprehensive store of online resources is available below.
Resources
You can download these free books and audio files:
The free resources below, which can be downloaded, give you all you need to make a solid start on the Path. They include the book ‘On the Way Home: an overview of the Buddha’s teachings’ and the handbook ’30 Mindfulness and Meditation Tools’, both of which can be downloaded; an 8-part introductory audio series ‘Journey to Tranquillity – an overview of the Buddha’s Teachings’, with accompanying PowerPoint slides; audio recordings of Ongoing Insight Group sessions; two complete audio series from retreats given in Australia by Venerable Ayya Khema in 1992 and 1993; guided relaxations and loving-kindness meditations – and more.
