About us
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
5
2026 Chicago Meditates Thaypassana Retreat
Siena Retreat Center, 5637 Erie St, Racine, WI, USPLEASE COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION WITH THIS ONLINE FORM. BE PREPARED TO SUBMIT YOUR REGISTRATION FEE VIA ZELLE TO KEVIN KUHN, OUR REGISTRAR AT visualeyeon@gmail.com TO ENSURE YOUR SPOT AT THE RETREAT. (NOTE: THE EMAIL ADDRESS WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH STEPHEN STARR.)
KNOWING LIFE AS IT IS
Join us for a four day residential Thaypassana retreat with Janice Cittasubha Sheppard and David Haskin at the beautiful Siena Retreat Center in Racine, WI, September 24-27, 2026. A RETREAT FLYER IS AVAILABLE HERE.We all develop notions, views, and opinions about the world and our
experience of it. Those habitual ways of thinking, acting—and automatically reacting—develop based on our upbringing and the other conditioning we encounter. Buddhist practice teaches us to investigate those habitual
understandings and actions, which is how we learn to know how things actually are in the present moment. And seeing things clearly in this way reveals life as it truly is, with all its challenges, beauty, interconnections, changeability, and wonder.Please join us for a four-day retreat as we explore and practice understanding how we fabricate experience moment by moment—and the habits and actions that result—so that we can relate to life as it truly is with steadiness, composure, and joy. During this retreat, we will practice walking, standing, and sitting meditation and mindful movement; have Dharma talks; and have question/answer sessions and small group sessions with the teachers. The retreat will be held in Noble Silence except during small group sessions.
Thaypassana is a form of retreat, begun 15 years ago, that blends the engaged practices of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and the development of insight (vipassana) as practiced in the Thai Forest Tradition of Theravada Buddhism. It is designed to be comfortable for anyone who wants to deepen their practice of meditation and the Buddha’s teachings.
Fees include all meals Friday breakfast through Sunday lunch, lodging, private baths, towels and the meeting rooms. (Thursday dinner is on your own.) Coffee/tea are available throughout the weekend. All meals will be vegetarian.
The retreat will begin on Thursday, September 24 at 7PM and conclude at 3PM on Sunday, September 27.
Location: Siena Retreat Center, 5637 Erie Street, Racine, Wisconsin 53402.
Parking is free and plentiful.Retreat fees: $490.00 per person, $250.00 commuter (meals/retreat only). Single occupancy and double occupancy rooms available. You can request double occupancy rooms with a queen size bed or two twin beds. (Each double occupancy retreatant is $490.00.)
PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION WITH THIS ONLINE FORM. BE PREPARED TO SUBMIT YOUR REGISTRATION FEE VIA ZELLE TO KEVIN KUHN, OUR REGISTRAR AT visualeyeon@gmail.com TO ENSURE YOUR SPOT AT THE RETREAT.
For more information, feel free to contact Steve Starr at 847-644-2389 or stephenbstarr@gmail.com.
3 attendees
CHICAGO MEDITATES - 9/28 - Holy Trinity/Zoom
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1218 W Addison St, Chicago, IL, USEveryone 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 or recorded talk and time to reflect 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 a quarter block north of Addison on Magnolia, turning West). Additionally, 383 neighborhood parking passes are available for $1.
A NOTE ABOUT COVID SAFETY: Please be vaccinated as fully as the Illinois Department of Public Health allows. MASKING IS OPTIONAL. For more information on Covid safety practices for this group, please read here.
FOR THOSE WHO WISH, A HANDFUL OF US MEET AT 6PM FOR DINNER BEFORE MEDITATION! BRING A SANDWICH, SALAD OR WHATEVER YOU WISH AND JOIN US!
There is a request for a VOLUNTARY donation for the evening to help defray the cost of our rent at Holy Trinity and other operating costs. Suggested donation is $5. You can Zelle your donation to visualeyeon@gmail.com which goes directly into our group's bank account.
Those who would like to join us by Zoom can join using the link:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89486909390?pwd=zitbdRiFgIB8sOmefmr1xbwDYzuP2G.1Meeting ID: 894 8690 9390
Passcode: 519383Please be on time and have your camera on. Late joiners will not be able to access the Zoom.
7 attendeesCHICAGO MEDITATES - 10/5 - Holy Trinity/Zoom
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1218 W Addison St, Chicago, IL, USEveryone 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 or recorded talk and time to reflect 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 a quarter block north of Addison on Magnolia, turning West). Additionally, 383 neighborhood parking passes are available for $1.
A NOTE ABOUT COVID SAFETY: Please be vaccinated as fully as the Illinois Department of Public Health allows. MASKING IS OPTIONAL. For more information on Covid safety practices for this group, please read here.
FOR THOSE WHO WISH, A HANDFUL OF US MEET AT 6PM FOR DINNER BEFORE MEDITATION! BRING A SANDWICH, SALAD OR WHATEVER YOU WISH AND JOIN US!
There is a request for a VOLUNTARY donation for the evening to help defray the cost of our rent at Holy Trinity and other operating costs. Suggested donation is $5. You can Zelle your donation to visualeyeon@gmail.com which goes directly into our group's bank account.
Those who would like to join us by Zoom can join using the link:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89486909390?pwd=zitbdRiFgIB8sOmefmr1xbwDYzuP2G.1Meeting ID: 894 8690 9390
Passcode: 519383Please be on time and have your camera on. Late joiners will not be able to access the Zoom.
8 attendeesCHICAGO MEDITATES - 10/12 - Holy Trinity/Zoom
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1218 W Addison St, Chicago, IL, USEveryone 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 or recorded talk and time to reflect 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 a quarter block north of Addison on Magnolia, turning West). Additionally, 383 neighborhood parking passes are available for $1.
A NOTE ABOUT COVID SAFETY: Please be vaccinated as fully as the Illinois Department of Public Health allows. MASKING IS OPTIONAL. For more information on Covid safety practices for this group, please read here.
FOR THOSE WHO WISH, A HANDFUL OF US MEET AT 6PM FOR DINNER BEFORE MEDITATION! BRING A SANDWICH, SALAD OR WHATEVER YOU WISH AND JOIN US!
There is a request for a VOLUNTARY donation for the evening to help defray the cost of our rent at Holy Trinity and other operating costs. Suggested donation is $5. You can Zelle your donation to visualeyeon@gmail.com which goes directly into our group's bank account.
Those who would like to join us by Zoom can join using the link:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89486909390?pwd=zitbdRiFgIB8sOmefmr1xbwDYzuP2G.1Meeting ID: 894 8690 9390
Passcode: 519383Please be on time and have your camera on. Late joiners will not be able to access the Zoom.
5 attendees
Past events
1224
