UPDATE (1/6/2023)

We are happy to announce that we will be resuming in-person group practices beginning Thursday, 1/12/2023 from 7-8pm. It turns out that the new temple will not be ready for us until April at the earliest. In the meantime, we have decided to meet at a sangha member’s home in Guilford. We will meet once a week for now and not have a set schedule of particular practices initially (Shamatha, Tonglen, Heart Sutra). 

If you plan on attending or are interested in attending, contact Kathleen at info@katogvajraling.org or 203-641-3563 for information and directions.

For Practice: Bring a meditation cushion if you prefer cushions and slippers as it is a no-shoes house. Please arrive 10 minutes early to get settled, and carpool if you can due to limited parking.

Masks are optional. If you have cold symptoms or are feeling sick, please opt to stay home. If you are sniffling and know it is due to allergies, please share that with us so that we can focus on our practice comfortably.

WEEKLY MEDITATION SCHEDULE

Thursdays 7-8pm

Particular practices will not be scheduled ahead of time. Initially we will be focusing on Shamatha and Tonglen. Heart Sutra may be chosen depending upon participants’ levels of practice.

Practices

For descriptions and instructions for practices, visit our page: Why Meditate?

Shamatha is a silent meditation, open to anyone and everyone, including those who have never meditated and are curious, as well as experienced practitioners. This practice is also referred to as “Calm Abiding” and uses the breath or mantra as the focal point. As we sit, thoughts begin to subside and a sense of well being arises.

The guided Tonglen meditation is a practice for developing compassion. Using the breath, we visualize taking away suffering from others and giving them our happiness. This practice helps to loosen our attachment to our own disturbing emotions.

The Heart Sutra practice includes a recitation and meditation on the Heart Sutra and its meaning. This classic, short sutra contains key Buddhist concepts regarding the nature of phenomena, including the Four Noble Truths, the cycle of interdependence, and the concept of emptiness: “Form is empty, emptiness is form; emptiness is not other than form, and form is not other than emptiness.”