Kadampa Meditation Centre Ottawa

Free for anyone in-person at our centre and by Zoom links for our monthly members.

Heart Jewel Prayers and Lamrim meditations are heart practices of the New Kadampa Tradition, (NKT). They are a daily practice at Kadampa Meditation Centre (KMC), Ottawa and all NKT centres throughout the world.

Through practicing Heart Jewel, we learn how to generate the right state of mind with which to meditate successfully. It empowers, purifies and, most importantly, blesses our mind, so that we can meditate at much deeper levels and gain actual experience in meditation.

Lamrim meditations are essential Buddhist meditations that guide us step-by-step along the stages of the path towards enlightenment.

From Monday to Friday each week, we offer Heart Jewel Prayers from 8 to 9:15 am with a Lamrim meditation, which will be guided by Gen Kelsang Thekchen, Kelsang Lamden or Kelsang Khandro.

Everyone can attend for free in-person at our centre, and all Centre Members can attend online using the emailed Zoom link.

DOOR LOCKED: Please note, for those who wish to attend in person at our centre at 879 Somerset St West, it is recommended to let us know that you plan to attend so that we can be sure that the door is unlocked. The door is often locked at that time of day for security reasons. If you arrive prior to 0800 and the door is locked, please knock at the side door, (main entrance), to let us know that you've arrived.

For more information, please contact education@meditateinottawa.org

Escape the stress and busyness of city life to discover the peace of meditation. Drop-in and be guided through simple meditations that relax the body and the mind, leading to a deep experience of inner peace and contentment. Through practising these meditations, we will gradually develop peaceful minds and spiritual qualities – finding happiness from within. No previous experience of meditation is required. Everyone is welcome!

The Teacher for this class is JoAnne McCutcheon, who has been practising Buddhist meditation for many years. JoAnne enjoys teaching others practical methods to increase their inner peace.

This class is free-of-charge - you can register at the door. Please enter through the side entrance to the left of the building, which is our main entrance.

We all have such busy lives and often feel pulled in different directions. This doesn’t mean our mind needs to be so busy. It’s possible to accomplish many things each day while keeping a peaceful positive mind. This series will explore practical ways to keep a peaceful mind in daily life as well as how to use difficulties as opportunities for spiritual growth.

Each class includes two guided meditations and a practical talk. These are drop-in classes, so you can attend any or all of them.

After each class, there is time for Q&A. Everyone is welcome!

Schedule

Feb 25 - Maintaining peace in and out of meditation

Mar 4 - Setting our intentions

Mar 11 - The art of contentment

Mar 18 - Dealing with daily drama

Mar 25 - Facing problems calmly

April 1 - Opening the Heart without losing control

These classes are taught by our Resident Teacher Gen Kelsang Thekchen, who is a Kadampa Buddhist monk & senior Teacher in the New Kadampa Tradition. He has been a Teacher under the guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for more than 30 years. Gen Thekchen has taught widely in Canada and in the UK, and is now the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Centre Ottawa. He is well known for his ability to present Buddha's teachings in a practical, profound and often humorous way, making them very accessible and easy to practise in everyday life.

Do you want to feel more kindness toward yourself and everyone around you, and discover a simple way to make life more meaningful and happy for all? In this easy, welcoming series Cultivating a Big Heart: The Buddhist Way to Help Everyone, we gently explore the beautiful heart of Buddhist practice as taught by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. You'll learn practical meditations to let go of daily worries and self-focus, open your heart with genuine love and compassion for every living being, and develop the joyful wish to help others find real, lasting peace—known as the precious "big heart" or bodhichitta. Drawing from clear, modern explanations in Geshe Kelsang's books like The New Meditation Handbook and Modern Buddhism, these classes are perfect for complete beginners or anyone wanting a fresh, uplifting start. No experience needed—just bring an open mind! Join us week by week to grow a kinder, bigger heart that brings true happiness to yourself and spreads goodness to everyone you meet.

These classes each include two guided meditations and a practical talk.

After each class, there is time for Q&A, and refreshments will be served.

Drop-in for any or all of these great classes - each class is self-contained.

Everyone is welcome!

Class Schedule

Beginning March 4, & continuing weekly on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:15pm.
Drop-in for any or all of these great classes - each class is self-contained.

Cost: $15 per class | Free for members
Register in advance online or at the door

The Teacher for the Wednesday evening classes is Steve Grover, who has been practising and teaching Buddhist meditation for many years. His classes are delivered with clarity and warmth in a down-to-earth, practical and highly accessible way, inspiring people to discover their own inner source of happiness.