Free Meditation Classes

The Culture of Safety & Dojo Wellness Center is hosting a free beginners' meditation class on the first Sunday of each month.

Beginners meet on the first Sunday of each month at 5 p.m.both in-person and online. There will be a brief introduction to the practice. After the introduction, the class will all sit together for about 30 minutes and then a brief chat about the practice will be conducted. Expect the intro, sit and chat to last up to 90 minutes in total.

If you cannot stay the whole time, please be courteous and let the instructor know ahead of time and then while leaving try not to disturb others. After your first Beginner?s session, you are welcome to attend weekly to continue learning and practicing.

Arrive a few minutes early to give yourself time to settle before the class begins. Cushions are available for everyone. If you have a cushion or bench of your own that you prefer, feel free to bring it. If not, no worries ? the instructor will support you in finding comfortable ways to sit.

If you are joining by Zoom, feel free to log in anytime after 4:45 p.m. Email Kyren at k.epperson@cultureofsafetychi.com for more information and a Zoom link. 

What is Samatha meditation? Samatha meditation has its roots in Buddhist practice. Many discussions will center around teachings from Buddhism which directly support the meditation practice. There may occasionally be some chanting in Pali as well. Identifying as Buddhist is neither a requirement nor expected. All are welcome, whatever your religious beliefs.

Samatha means calm. Through this practice, the instructor aims to move the mind into calm and stillness while remaining alert and awake. By placing mindfulness on the breath, you will cultivate the rising of joy and concentration. By practicing over time, the chattering, unruly mind settles down and you will begin to understand more about the mental habits that keep us from happiness, freedom, and understanding. We can become kinder to ourselves and others; we can develop minds at once open to change and rooted in ethics; we can become more curious about the world around us.

All regular classes are free of charge, always.  Donations are warmly accepted and go back into supporting the practice.

Giving: The practice is always freely given. There is no charge for the practice, nor will there ever be. Culture of Safety encourages generosity (dana). If you are so inspired, there will be a bowl present to donate to the Chicago Samatha fund, and the Samatha Foundation of North America, which supports local practice weeks and weekends, especially for those who couldn?t otherwise afford it and pay for the purchase of cushions and other supplies.