What we’re about
We meet via ZOOM for weekly services and monthly retreats. All are welcome regardless of faith or lack thereof. We study Mindfulness, Metta (loving kindness) the Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eightfold Path, The Middle Way, Precepts, and Metta (loving kindness). Our studies are of the heart, not so much the mind, and can lead to a more peaceful, happy, and compassionate life. And there is always much laughter and loving kindness (Metta).
MEDITATION
We practice sitting, walking, and moving meditations. Experience not necessary. All meditations are explained by a teacher or ministerial student. Meditation is central to developing a practice. Sitting in the lotus position, or even cross legged, is not required. Just sit comfortably.
DHARMA TALKS
Five teachers rotate to give Dharma talks, or the teachings of the Buddha. They are not lectures. They come from the heart.
PARTICIPATION
Services and Retreats are not spectator sports or classroom lectures. During the check-in, Dharma sharing, and Q&A sessions, all are encouraged to share. The Sangha (the group) quickly becomes a trusted circle of friends.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
We include instructor led Qi Gong, nine-joint meditation, and walking meditation to keep the blood flowing and the brain fresh.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- What Is the Purpose of Life When We Gain Things Only to Lose Them?Link visible for attendees
Hi, our Dharma friends!
Welcome to the gateway to Buddhism 101 for all! Our Purpose Lab meeting is a friendly get-together of like-minded people to learn about “What is our life’s purpose and meaning?” in Buddhism.
Our weekly “intro to Buddhism” meetup group is open to all! No experience in Buddhism is necessary. Each week we prepare a Dharma presentation for you all on that week’s Buddhism topic, followed by Q&A. We kick off each meeting with some introductions and short ice-breaking so that you get to know the other members of our sangha community! We have a good mix of regulars and newbies each meeting.
The first 20 minutes I'd like to get to know who is joining our zoom session so please have your camera on. After that, we will record our presentation and Q&A and upload to YouTube for access by our premium members. Thank you for your understanding.
Our classes are free for the first 3 sessions. After 3 sessions, if you see the value in joining, please consider offering a contribution.
Our classes & sangha are sustained completely by the dana gratitude contributions of people like you!
Dana gratitude donations for our classes are gratefully accepted on Venmo @Bita-Enayati If you don't have Venmo, please email me at bitadharma22@gmail.com
so you can offer your contribution through PayPal or Zelle
Suggested donation for the event is $5 - $20.
Check out our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@right-view-lab!
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To better explain the philosophy behind Purpose Lab (our weekly Friday events, focusing on our life’s purpose and meaning):
In Buddhism, our life’s purpose is a long-term mission.- We all have our purpose in life, which energizes us to move on.
- Our ultimate goal is different from our short-term goals or mid-term goals in life, such as marriage, landing a job, forming a family, or retirement.
- If we think about our mortality and impermanence of life, minor issues become less important, and we feel an urgency to accomplish our real purpose.
- It is helpful to have friends and family members who can support us as we travel through this Saha world of suffering toward our destination.
- Practicing compassion and kindness to such good people is important.
- We all have shared imperfections, and sometimes we hurt each other because we are human and are fallible. Self-reflection can help us move through such troubled times. Remember, we’re all in this together, we are all struggling, and we are all suffering.
- Buddha said the purpose of this journey is to find genuine happiness that overcomes life’s sufferings.
- The eight universal sufferings taught by the Buddha are: birth ( life), aging, sickness, death, separation from the beloved, encountering the despised, and being of the flesh (our body). This last suffering contains all the other sufferings.
- When we practice Six Paramitas (our daily practices), our good efforts will be rewarded. Good people will be drawn to us and be a source of support. It might take some time but no effort is wasted. Some seeds take time to bear fruit.
- When we know our purpose – self transcendence – we can overcome our limitations, the obstacles in our way, and the pain we suffer on our journey.
- Self transcendence is to forget the desire for instant gratification and remember those people who will benefit from our effort, and to be grateful for the people who have been supporting us.
- If you don’t have such people please make an effort to find at least one such person. And of course, by coming to this meet-up you will be a part of our sangha community!
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If you're interested in learning Buddhism but have a schedule conflict, please write to me for a one on one session.- Also please note that we're going to livestream this zoom session on YouTube for later access by our premium members. There will be an announcement from the Zoom app when it starts.
- We would appreciate it if you use the same name as your Meetup account so that the host of the meeting will easily recognize the participants.
- Please make sure you RSVP 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting.
- Our classes are free for the first 3 sessions. After 3 sessions, if you see the value in joining, please consider offering a contribution.
Our classes & sangha are sustained completely by the dana gratitude contributions of people like you!
Dana gratitude donations for our classes are gratefully accepted on Venmo @Bita-Enayati If you don't have Venmo, please email me at bitadharma22@gmail.com
so you can offer your contribution through PayPal or Zelle
Suggested donation for the event is $5 - $20.
The Zoom meeting passcode is 426646. We have about 10-20 people join us each week, including the regulars, so hope you don't get discouraged by seeing the few RSVPs here on this page. See you soon too!!!
We are looking forward to meeting fellow truth-seekers such as yourself, interested in the path to discovering their life’s purpose and meaning!
Bita Asakura
Rick Mendoza - Guided Meditation, Dharma Talk & Reflection - Saturday SanghaMultnomah Friends Meeting, Portland, OR
Pacific Northwest Meditation Community is a new inclusive sangha in Portland and online, created to support to the practice of mindfulness meditation, and also the exploration of the variety of Buddhist traditions and their collective framework for meditation, mindfulness, and spiritual growth. Our teachers come from the traditions of Theravada, Zen, Chan, Plum Village, and Tibetan.
Our typical Saturday gathering begins with a short welcome, guidelines to foster a safe space, a 30-minute guided meditation, Dharma talk on wisdom teachings for our time, and group reflection and discussion.
DATE & TIME: April 5, 2025 Saturday at 4:30PM PT - 6:30PM PT
LOCATION*: 4312 SE Stark St, Portland OR 97215 or Online
Meet at Multnomah Friends Meeting House. Follow our signs at the door to find our room. The building is fully accessible with street parking out front.Please remember to refrain from wearing scents to consider those with chemical sensitivities. There is a separate garden and other rooms for those with neurodiversity who may need a quiet space. Social Hour after the Sangha meets happens every first Saturday of the month. You can bring a dish, a snack or drinks to contribute if you are able to. Or just show up with your full self! We’d love to meet you!
Register here to join us online
100% Donation base Cash donations are accepted at the door.
Join us for mindfulness meditation and wisdom teachings dedicated to well-being and freedom for all!
