North Shore Meditation Community

 
 
 

All teachers agree: The key to a successful meditation practice is regular practice. Therefore this meetup is looking for practitioners who are willing to make a dedicated effort to sit together weekly in order to fully realize the benefits of group practice.

All levels and schools of thought are welcome. Meet like-minded individuals while expanding your own personal practice in a non-competitive and supportive environment. Feel free to join us for a sitting and experience increased self awareness and inner peace by way of your journey inward.

LOCATION The Episcopal Church of St. James the Less is located at 550 Sunset Ridge Road in Northfield, IL (detailed directions above).

SAFETY: All attendees will be required to have been fully vaccinated. Masks will now be optional. We will space ourselves comfortably apart. Additionally the Church has recently installed a new filtration system that greatly reduces the spread of airborne illnesses. Furthermore we will attempt to hold as many periods as possible outdoors as weather permits.

It is our goal to make all attendees feel safe and comfortable but we do realize that everyone has there own unique comfort level so if this doesn't feel right for you now please honor your feelings and we'll look forward to seeing you whenever you're ready.

FYI: Chairs will be available for those who prefer to use them. For those who choose to sit on the floor please bring your own; meditation cushion, bench, pillow, yoga mat or zafu cushion if you prefer.

GENERAL FORMAT:
6:50 - 7:05 Welcome
7:05 - 7:20 Seated centering practice
7:20 - 7:35 Mindful movement (Qigong, walking meditation, etc.)
7:35 - 8:00 Samatha/Vipassana meditation
8:00 - 8:10 Contemplative offering
8:10 - 8:30 Optional group sharing/discussion

TODAY'S EVENT HOST: Mark Z. (Asoka)
While attempting to assist his son in overcoming a panic disorder, he reconnected with the practice in 2008. A year later he joined the Chicago Weekly Sitting Meditation Group to gain support with that process. The benefits and support he received from the group were life changing. He was eventually invited to become a Co-organizer. He has maintained a daily meditation and mindfulness practice ever since. That experience furthered his growth and ultimately inspired him to launch and organize this group in January of 2011. He has been formally trained by Buddhist Monks, Nuns and Lay Teachers in the practices of Samatha / Vipassana, Metta and walking meditation. He is also a Co-organizer of Inner Balance Meditation as well as a Meditation and Mindfulness instructor for the Arlington Heights Park District. The practice has touched his heart deeply.

COST: A voluntary donation to help offset expenses would be most appreciated but is by no means expected. May your practice of Dana bring you much Mudita (Altruistic Joy)!

If you have any questions about this particular sitting or our meditation community in general, please feel free to contact us. We are looking forward to sitting in practice and sharing energy in the present moment with all who choose to attend.

With Metta, Mark and Tony

 
 
 

There is much in our past that we can recall fondly. However, without Mindfulness, parts of our past, such as how we were treated as children and the history of our families and communities, silently shape how we feel and automatically act. Put differently, we often are unknowingly chained to our past conditioning in ways that cause us to suffer in the present. This dynamic often plays out in our relationships with others and can become detrimental in our development of authentic connections with others, especially with other men.

Please join us as we unveil the next generation of Mindful Man, "Mindful MenLiving" A hybrid of sorts between Mindful Man of the past and MenLiving, a unique men’s organization whose vision is a world of healthy, intentional, connected men. During this weekend retreat, we will explore how Mindfulness helps us shine the light of awareness both on the forces that have shaped us as men and how those forces live on within us to this day. Only when we do that can we begin to let go of the hurtful parts of the past that can bind us to those beliefs.

As always, we will explore our topic by practicing mindful meditation and movement in a caring, safe, and supportive environment conducted largely in noble silence. In addition, Tony Schmidt will bring his experience as a facilitator and organizer in the MenLiving organization to incorporate processes that support connection, healing, and growth as men in our modern society. We will conclude each evening with a men's circle to share experiences and throughout the weekend we will include other facilitated processes that encourage authentic connection in alignment with MenLiving's 5 suggestions for living fully.

This retreat is appropriate both for men who are new to Mindfulness and meditation and for experienced practitioners.

Prices: $240 per person on registrations received by March 17, 2023. ($250.00 thereafter until March 27). Fees cover 2 nights lodging, towels, bedding, the meeting room, and six vegetarian meals starting with dinner on Friday. All rooms have private baths. NOTE: If rooms at the retreat center are sold out, you can stay at a nearby Hotel and your retreat fees will be adjusted accordingly. For those who may live close by a commuter option is also available for $110.00 prior to March 17, 2023. ($120.00 thereafter until March 27).

Fees do NOT include compensation for the teachers. Following an ancient tradition, David and Hal offer these teachings freely and will gratefully accept dana, or a free-will offering, at the end of the retreat if you are able and if you find the teachings helpful.

Times and dates: Registration begins promptly at 4:30 p.m. on Friday March 31, 2023 followed by dinner at 5:30 and our initial program beginning at 6:45. Please arrive no later than 4:30 so you can get your room assignment and enjoy dinner before we settle in and begin. A schedule of events will be clearly posted outlining the remainder of our time together until we conclude and depart at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 2.

Comfort: Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. If you use a meditation cushion or bench, please bring it. Chairs will be available for meditation. In addition, there will be free time to walk the beautiful grounds of the retreat center, so bring appropriate shoes or boots. Please note that much of this retreat will be conducted in Noble Silence.

The facilitator: David Haskin has practiced meditation since 1971 and is an ordained member of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh's core practice community, the Order of Interbeing. He teaches Mindfulness widely, including to men's groups, prison inmates, and those in recovery. He is one of co-founders of Mindful Man.

Please use the following link to register and make payment:

https://menliving.org/product/the-heart-of-brotherhood-a-mindful-menliving-retreat/

 
 
 

We hope you can join us, either in-person or by way of Zoom, as we kick off our thirteenth year of practice together! This meeting will be a Hybrid offering.

All teachers agree: The key to a successful meditation practice is regular practice. Therefore this meetup is looking for practitioners who are willing to make a dedicated effort to sit together weekly in order to fully realize the benefits of group practice.

All levels and schools of thought are welcome. Meet like-minded individuals while expanding your own personal practice in a non-competitive and supportive environment. Feel free to join us for a sitting and experience increased self awareness and inner peace by way of your journey inward.

You can join via phone or audio/video online.

To Join Zoom Meeting via computer, tablet or smartphone app (preferred):
https://zoom.us/j/6678474673?pwd=K0twNnl0aThJL0toV2pFNnpjS241Zz09

Meeting ID:[masked]
Zoom now requires a password for added security.
Password for WEB or SMARTPHONE APP: peace

To join BY PHONE (audio only) :
One tap mobile -
[masked],,[masked]#,,#,070264# US (Chicago)
[masked],,[masked]#,,#,070264# US (New York)
**PHONE ONLY numeric password if prompted:[masked]

To join manually by PHONE (audio only) :
Dial one of the numbers below, then enter the meeting ID and password when prompted.

Dial by your location:
[masked] US (Chicago)
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Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/ad8Pi8gEDX

Meeting ID:[masked]
**PHONE ONLY numeric password:[masked]

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** If joining online, the numeric password will not work. Please enter the password "peace" lower case without quotes: peace

IN PERSON LOCATION: The Episcopal Church of St. James the Less is located at 550 Sunset Ridge Road in Northfield, IL (detailed directions above).

SAFETY: All attendees will be required to have been fully vaccinated. Masks will now be optional. We will space ourselves comfortably apart. Additionally the Church has recently installed a new filtration system that greatly reduces the spread of airborne illnesses. Furthermore we will attempt to hold as many periods as possible outdoors as weather permits.

It is our goal to make all attendees feel safe and comfortable but we do realize that everyone has there own unique comfort level so if this doesn't feel right for you now please honor your feelings and we'll look forward to seeing you whenever you're ready.

FYI: Chairs will be available for those who prefer to use them. For those who choose to sit on the floor please bring your own; meditation cushion, bench, pillow, yoga mat or zafu cushion if you prefer.

GENERAL FORMAT:
6:50 - 7:05 Welcome and technology familiarization
7:05 - 7:20 Seated centering practice
7:20 - 7:35 Mindful movement (Qigong, walking meditation, etc.)
7:35 - 7:45 Contemplative offering
7:45 - 8:10 Samatha/Vipassana meditation
8:10 - 8:30 Optional group sharing/discussion

TODAY'S EVENT HOST: Tony has had a daily mindfulness meditation practice for over 5 years and has experienced overwhelming benefits from the practice. He also practices qigong (flowing movement with focus on moving "qi" energy in the body) as a physical complement to his sitting practice. Tony has found a true passion in championing and coordinating meditation in his community and workplace and is honored to be part of the North Shore Meditation Community.

COST: Throughout this challenging period we have elected to forego accepting donations on behalf of the Sangha and we will continue that practice for the time being. The expenses that we have incurred and the time and energy that we have invested into presenting these events have gone and will continue to go towards enhancing our own respective practice's of Dana (Generosity). However if you still feel compelled to make a contribution we would be honored if you chose to donate those funds to one of the organizations we currently support instead: Feed My Starving Children, A Just Harvest or La Casa Norte.

If you elect to sit with us in person a voluntary donation to help offset expenses would be most appreciated but is by no means expected. May your practice of Dana bring you much Mudita (Altruistic joy)!

If you have any questions about this particular sitting or our meditation community in general, please feel free to contact us. We are looking forward to sitting in practice and sharing energy in the present moment with all who choose to attend.

With Metta, Mark and Tony