Are you interested in learning meditation to experience more awareness and compassion? Would you like to connect with others who are also interested in meditating and growing together through the wisdom of Buddhist practices and teachings?
Beginning in September, we are offering an opportunity to support you in exploring these questions through our Stepping into Meditation and Community course. During this course, we will provide a framework for foundational Buddhist practices and dharma while also inviting participants into the warmth of sangha (community).
Through inner exploration and engaging with community in reflection and discussion, you will learn accessible, time-tested Tibetan Buddhist practices and dharma teachings that will support you in awakening to deeper peace, happiness, and compassion in three spheres of engagement in your life: personal, community, and the world.
Although the content and meditation practices in this course are grounded in Buddhism, you do not need to be a Buddhist to enjoy or benefit from the content of this course. This course is a great starting point if you are:
✔️ New to meditation
✔️ Curious about or new to Buddhism
✔️ Wanting to create the habit of a daily meditation practice, supported by others doing the same
✔️ A more experienced Buddhist practitioner looking to meditate and contemplate the Dharma with others
✔️ Wanting to connect with the Namchak Sangha
*New Format*
Based on direct feedback from our sangha, this course is now designed as a two-part series to allow more time to learn and connect. Each part lasts for seven weeks, with the option to meet as a Learning Circle upon completion of part one and before part two begins. This registration is for Part 1 only. After completing Part 1, you can decide whether to continue to Part 2: Deepening into Meditation and Community.
Details – Online via Zoom
We will meet for seven consecutive 90-minute weekly sessions on Thursdays. Each session will be led by Namchak facilitator Emily Ballentine. We will have participants joining online from all over the country (and possibly world!) for a sweet sangha experience.
Zoom link will be sent out in the confirmation email.
Part 1 Course Outline
(7 weeks)
Week 1 (Sept 18): Course Overview, Intention Sharing & Community Foundations
Week 2 (Sept 25): Intro to Shamata Breath Practice & Four Noble Truths
Week 3 (Oct 2): Continue with Shamata Breath Practice & Four Noble Truths
Week 4 (Oct 9): Loving Kindness Practice Starting with Ourselves
Week 5 (Oct 16): Introduction to Tonglen- A Compassion Practice of Giving and Receiving
Week 6 (Oct 23): Engaged Bodhicitta: Exploring our Work in the World & Round Robin
Week 7 (Oct 30): Carrying the Gems Forward and Learning Circles
*The Optional Learning Circle will meet between series to continue connecting, practicing, and discussing the Dharma teachings from Part 1.
Login Info & Email Subscription Preferences
The Zoom link will be provided upon registration and a reminder email will be sent out each week with the login info. Confirmation emails from Eventbrite often end up in spam/promotions tab. Please check there if you do not see the confirmation email with the Zoom info.
In addition, if you are unsubscribed from Namchak Community emails you will be unable to receive important emails regarding this course. If you wish to personalize your Namchak Community email preferences, you can do so by locating a previous Namchak Community email and clicking the ‘Manage Preferences’ hyperlink at the bottom.
Tuition
Our intention is to make this workshop financially accessible to all, so we offer a tiered fee structure. Please choose whichever level works best for you.
If program costs present a financial barrier or you are interested in a stipend to offset the cost of childcare, please contact
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Invite a friend!
Sangha or community, is one of our favorite elements of the Buddhist path. That’s why we’re happy to share that when you register for the Stepping into Meditation and Community course, you can bring a friend, family member, or loved one to the course for free!
Upon registering for the course, you’ll receive a discount code via email for your guest to use for complimentary registration. They simply have to register for the course through our website and use the promotional code that you received in your email. We look forward to seeing you and your friend at our next course! Please email
cmFjaGVsIHwgbmFtY2hhayAhIG9yZw== if you have any questions.
What is a Learning Circle?
At Namchak, we understand the importance, value, and wonderful benefits of connecting with sangha, which is one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism. Learning Circles are small groups of meditators within our larger sangha who meet regularly to connect, practice, and discuss the Dharma together.
Our Stepping into Meditation and Community Course lays the perfect foundation for Learning Circles to form. Each participant goes through the same progression of teachings and practices together, supporting an equal knowledge foundation. Additionally, participants can develop relationships with each other throughout the course.
Through the foundations of knowledge and relationships, these groups are equipped to meet after the course is finished to continue experiencing the connection, inspiration, and accountability that arise when meditating and studying in a group setting. Learning Circles are also grounded in a “peer-led” model, so each member’s voice and participation contribute equally to the functioning and success of the Circle.
What Students Are Saying:
“Connecting with others who were, just like me, wanting to learn more about the Dharma, develop a daily practice, and be a part of something special has made this tumultuous and overly uncertain year a lot more enjoyable and gratifying. I loved the weekly conversations, the learning about Tibetan Buddhism and meditation methods, and the camaraderie that grew in spite of and because of our differences. I hold the greatest gratitude for Namchak for hosting these events and I’m looking forward to being a part of many more.” – Laura
“Stepping Into Meditation and Community is a wonderful opportunity to connect with wonderful people and cultivate a consistent meditation practice. I looked forward to every session and was pleasantly surprised with how much more I got out of the course than I expected. Also, Emily is a gifted facilitator and an absolute joy to share space with. Whether you are new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner, I can’t recommend this course enough!” – Bryan
“Stepping into Meditation is an amazing course which exceeded the expectations of a diverse group: we ranged from first-time meditators to people who had meditated for decades. The wise, compassionate guidance of our facilitator, Emily, meant that each session flowed smoothly from teaching to reflection to sharing. I looked forward to each week’s class. This is a beautifully designed course.” – Madeleine
“Emily Ballentine is phenomenal. She is equanimity personified. She is a wonderful example of an enthusiastic, realistic, and hopeful guide to all participants.” – Colleen
About Emily:
Emily has been a student of Namchak since 2018. She has enjoyed contributing to many Namchak endeavors over the years, including serving on the Community Advisory Board and assisting in the creation of the Compassion in Action Network and Fellows Program. Now, Emily serves as the Community Engagement and Programming Specialist, supporting students across all Namchak offerings. Prior to her current role with Namchak, Emily worked as a research coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania, conducting clinical research on anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Emily’s passion for mental health led her to Temple University, where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Today, she is an enthusiastic practitioner who enjoys cultivating sangha (community) and deepening into Vajrayana wisdom and practice.
Click here to register -
https://www.namchak.org/events/part-1-stepping-into-meditation-and-community/
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