About us
Once the Buddha began to share his teachings with the rest of the World, he never instructed anyone to accept those teachings blindly. Instead he encouraged students to test his findings for themselves in order to develop their own experience of the practice. Our community attempts to operate with that same spirit of openness and respect.
You are cordially invited to join us as we sit, stand and walk in meditation, practicing simply for the sake of practice. All levels of practitioners are welcome so, regardless of whether you're embarking on or continuing your journey inward, we would be most honored by your presence. This is a non-denominational group. However, even though many of us do not have a label for our spirituality, we do primarily practice methods which have been handed down by the Buddha. Nevertheless, no matter what path you follow, it is our intention to provide you with a safe and non-judgmental environment for internal exploration, one where all attendees feel comfortable and at ease.
It is the further intention of this group to help its members identify areas where suffering (feelings of stress and dissatisfaction) may exist and to help them learn how to change their relationship with those feelings in order to cultivate deep inner peace. We envision this group being an interactive community where authentic personal connections are made as we share and learn together from the combined insights of all who attend. The eventual development of our collective wisdom should also help us to better assist one another on our respective paths. Ideally we must remember that, despite our wishes to the contrary, growth happens at its own natural pace. Thus it will be quite important to be patient, be gentle with ourselves and be supportive of our fellow practitioners in order to nurture these intentions in a beneficial way.
Event details vary from sitting to sitting and will be posted on each individual event page. Generally, we will practice these forms of meditation: Samatha (Tranquility / Calming the mind and body through one pointedness), Anapanasati (Mindfulness of the breath), Vipassana (Clear seeing / Insight), Metta (Loving-Friendliness / Kindness) and Tonglen (Exchanging self with others / Compassion).
A voluntary donation to help offset expenses would be most appreciated but is by no means expected. As causes and conditions permit, we look forward to sharing energy and insights with all who choose to be present.
With Metta, Mark Z
Upcoming events
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2026 Chicago Meditates Thaypassana Retreat
Siena Retreat Center, 5637 Erie Street, Racine, WI, USCHICAGO MEDITATES IS DELIGHTED TO SHARE A RETREAT OPPORTUNITY WITH OUR SISTER GROUP, NORTH SHORE MEDITATION COMMUNITY!
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. (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.
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