What we’re about
Welcome Meditators of All Traditions & Experience Levels!
The purpose of this group, as the Buddha said, is to seek out "wise and beneficial friends" who support us and our Meditation practice. We are a group of beginning and advanced meditators, extending an open invitation to anyone seeking to develop a meditation practice that is an integral part of a caring/care-full relationship to oneself and the world.
All teachers agree: The key to a successful meditation practice is regular practice. The development of Wisdom through regular meditation practice can lead to a decrease of "suffering" as well as an increase in Inner Peace and Compassion for oneself and others. This group is open to people who realize the benefits of meditating together and want to make a dedicated effort to sustain a once-weekly sitting meditation (with instruction, as needed). Most weeks, a reading with brief discussion and mingling follows.
This group is open to all schools of thought, meditation formats and experience levels. People of any religious tradition—Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist, agnostic or without label for their spirituality—are welcome. People of all ethnicities, gender, sexual orientation and country of origin are welcome! We strive to lead lives guided by ethical commitments as set forth by the eightfold path articulated in Buddhist tradition while recognizing our unity with those from all the great spiritual traditions of the World.
We are a peer-lead group with facilitation of the evenings rotating between six group members. We are fellow practitioners and accept no remuneration for our time. Our benefit is the opportunity to practice with others on the path!
Please join us! You are most welcome.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Finding Joy in the Refuge of Uncertainty - with Jon AaronAugustana Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL
Our friends at Insight Chicago Meditation Community is sponsoring a day-long retreat in Hyde Park. Please register at the Eventbrite site to attend.
Holding the uncertainties in our individual lives can be challenging enough, but when we add the uncertainties of society — war and violence, the climate crisis, political divisions, and many more — it can be overwhelming. Can we turn toward this fact of life with Joy as opposed to fear and doubt? Is it even possible to treat this uncertainty as another kind of refuge?
This day of practice will integrate meditation, chanting, movement and dialogue to explore the nature of uncertainty. In the context of the three Refuges of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha we discover how uncertainty itself can become a refuge.
This retreat will be primarily held in Noble Silence. Prior meditation experience will be helpful.
What to Bring
Wear loose and comfortable clothing. Bring a cushion and mat if you prefer to sit on the floor (please note that the floor does not have carpeting so a yoga mat or small blanket under your feet may be helpful). There will also be seating in the church pews. Please bring a simple lunch, "brown bag" style. There will be a microwave to heat your food.Registration
You must register HERE: Registration is by donation. There is a suggested donation of $20. Please feel free to contribute whatever amount feels comfortable for you, with a minimum of $1. Any amount you donate will help cover the cost of rent and administrative expenses. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.Dana
Jon Aaron offers this retreat freely, in the Buddhist tradition of dana(giving). There will be an opportunity to contribute dana to Jon Aaron at the end of the retreat. To find out more about dana, go here.About Jon Aaron
Jon has been a teacher at NY Insight since 2006. He is a Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher and Teacher Trainer and has taught over 100 cycles of the seminal curriculum. He leads retreats in the US and in Europe. He is a certified Somatic Experience Practitioner® and an Accredited teacher of Mindfulness for Heath from Breathworks in the UK. Jon is a co-founder of the MBSR Teachers Collaborative of Greater New York and a founding member of the Global Mindfulness Collaborative. Recently, with his partner Upayadhi, he established Space2Meditate.com, an online community for meditators that started during the pandemic and has been thriving ever since. jonaaron.netQuestions? Contact ICMC at events@insightchicago.org.
- CHICAGO MEDITATES - 4/29 - Holy Trinity/ZoomHoly Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL
Everyone is welcome to join our weekly meditation on Monday evening at 7:00pm. All levels of experience are welcome. If you are new to meditation, make that known to the facilitator so we can provide some guidance for you. We have up to 30 minute silent sitting sessions, so some level of acclimation to stillness is helpful. Though we are secular, you'll find Buddhism, Vipassana, and mindfulness are common themes here. THIS MEETING WILL BE LIVE AT HOLY TRINITY, 1218 ADDISON, CHICAGO, 2ND FLOOR, ST. MARK'S ROOM.
The evening will include silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, a reading and reflection with time to share with one another. Some times there is very accessible Qigong as a way to tune into the body.
Parking passes are available for the lot behind Missio Dei, 1242 Addison (the lot is accessed from the alley behind Missio Dei). 383 neighborhood parking passes are available for $1.A NOTE ABOUT COVID SAFETY: This invitation is extended to all who have been fully vaccinated. MASKING IS OPTIONAL. For more information on Covid safety practices for this group, please read here. If Covid levels change to the "high" level, masking is required. Check the website for the evening's masking policy.
FOR THOSE WHO WISH, A HANDFUL OF US ARE MEETING AT 6PM FOR DINNER BEFORE MEDITATION! BRING A SANDWICH, SALAD OR WHATEVER YOU WISH AND JOIN US!
There is a $1 voluntary donation for the evening to help defray the cost of our rent at Holy Trinity.
Those who would like to join us by Zoom can join using the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85009082765?pwd=OHh2YnRxTCtDNXZ1N3VEay9LSUFGQT09Meeting ID: 850 0908 2765
Passcode: 619192If you have trouble getting into Zoom, leave a message on meetup.
- CHICAGO MEDITATES - 5/6 - Holy Trinity/ZoomHoly Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL
Everyone is welcome to join our weekly meditation on Monday evening at 7:00pm. All levels of experience are welcome. If you are new to meditation, make that known to the facilitator so we can provide some guidance for you. We have up to 30 minute silent sitting sessions, so some level of acclimation to stillness is helpful. Though we are secular, you'll find Buddhism, Vipassana, and mindfulness are common themes here. THIS MEETING WILL BE LIVE AT HOLY TRINITY, 1218 ADDISON, CHICAGO, 2ND FLOOR, ST. MARK'S ROOM.
The evening will include silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, a reading and reflection with time to share with one another. Some times there is very accessible Qigong as a way to tune into the body.
Parking passes are available for the lot behind Missio Dei, 1242 Addison (the lot is accessed from the alley behind Missio Dei). 383 neighborhood parking passes are available for $1.A NOTE ABOUT COVID SAFETY: This invitation is extended to all who have been fully vaccinated. MASKING IS OPTIONAL. For more information on Covid safety practices for this group, please read here. If Covid levels change to the "high" level, masking is required. Check the website for the evening's masking policy.
FOR THOSE WHO WISH, A HANDFUL OF US ARE MEETING AT 6PM FOR DINNER BEFORE MEDITATION! BRING A SANDWICH, SALAD OR WHATEVER YOU WISH AND JOIN US!
There is a $1 voluntary donation for the evening to help defray the cost of our rent at Holy Trinity.
Those who would like to join us by Zoom can join using the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85009082765?pwd=OHh2YnRxTCtDNXZ1N3VEay9LSUFGQT09Meeting ID: 850 0908 2765
Passcode: 619192If you have trouble getting into Zoom, leave a message on meetup.
- CHICAGO MEDITATES - 5/13 - Holy Trinity/ZoomHoly Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL
Everyone is welcome to join our weekly meditation on Monday evening at 7:00pm. All levels of experience are welcome. If you are new to meditation, make that known to the facilitator so we can provide some guidance for you. We have up to 30 minute silent sitting sessions, so some level of acclimation to stillness is helpful. Though we are secular, you'll find Buddhism, Vipassana, and mindfulness are common themes here. THIS MEETING WILL BE LIVE AT HOLY TRINITY, 1218 ADDISON, CHICAGO, 2ND FLOOR, ST. MARK'S ROOM.
The evening will include silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, a reading and reflection with time to share with one another. Some times there is very accessible Qigong as a way to tune into the body.
Parking passes are available for the lot behind Missio Dei, 1242 Addison (the lot is accessed from the alley behind Missio Dei). 383 neighborhood parking passes are available for $1.A NOTE ABOUT COVID SAFETY: This invitation is extended to all who have been fully vaccinated. MASKING IS OPTIONAL. For more information on Covid safety practices for this group, please read here. If Covid levels change to the "high" level, masking is required. Check the website for the evening's masking policy.
FOR THOSE WHO WISH, A HANDFUL OF US ARE MEETING AT 6PM FOR DINNER BEFORE MEDITATION! BRING A SANDWICH, SALAD OR WHATEVER YOU WISH AND JOIN US!
There is a $1 voluntary donation for the evening to help defray the cost of our rent at Holy Trinity.
Those who would like to join us by Zoom can join using the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85009082765?pwd=OHh2YnRxTCtDNXZ1N3VEay9LSUFGQT09Meeting ID: 850 0908 2765
Passcode: 619192If you have trouble getting into Zoom, leave a message on meetup.