Why do we need to meditate? Because we all want to be happy, and free from worrisome problems, fearful situations and all types of physical and mental distress. Meditation is necessarily a mental action. It’s focusing our attention on a positive or virtuous object like patient acceptance, love and compassion. For example, we can choose to see others as the object of our love and compassion.
When we meditate, we are creating the cause for inner peace in the future. It’s like planting a seed in our garden when all the necessary causes and conditions like good soil, water, sunlight and so forth align, the fruit of our labor appear as flowers and vegetables. With meditation, the fruit of our effort appears as a peaceful and calm mind.
Join Gen Chokyi to explore how we can create a beautiful garden of peace within our own mind. Using ancient techniques for modern times. This is a beginner-friendly retreat — everyone is welcome.
“If our mind is peaceful we will be free from worries and mental discomfort, and so we will experience true happiness; but if our mind is not peaceful, we will find it very difficult to be happy, even if we are living in the very best conditions. If we train in meditation, our mind will gradually become more and more peaceful, and we will experience a purer and purer form of happiness. Eventually we will be able to stay happy all the time, even in the most difficult circumstances.”
- Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
What to expect? Gentle guided meditations, short teachings as well as Q&A in the last session. Everyone can benefit from this retreat — you don't have to be Buddhist to participate.
$25/ $20 for students & seniors
$40/30days [first time members]
SCHEDULE
10:00 - 11:15am — Session 1
11:45am - 12:30pm — Session 2
BOOKS & CDs
This retreat will be using the book How to Transform Your Life and Meditations for Relaxation by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. It's not required to have this book, but some people like to have them on hand during the event or read more afterward. You can purchase books in our Bookstore & Shop.
What to Expect
2 sessions with 30min break
> calming guided meditations
> short talks to inspire
> guided meditations to transform
> in person only
Register or Drop In
> No experience necessary and everyone is welcome
> Cushy chairs and cushions
What is Meditation?
SAT Mar 1 | 10am - 12:30pm
Beginner Friendly retreat with Kelsang Chokyi, Resident Teacher
TEACHER
As a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Gen Kelsang Chokyi has been practicing Kadampa Buddhism for 20 years and is an ordained American Buddhist nun. She is the Resident Teacher at KMC Bloomington and KMC Indianapolis. With joy, wisdom, and experience, she shows how everyone can easily integrate Buddha’s teachings into daily life.
Previously, she served as Resident Teacher for Serlingpa Meditation Center in New Bedford, MA, Kadampa Meditation Center San Diego, and Atisha Kadampa Buddhist Center in Providence, RI.