What we’re about
We are a diverse community of dharma-curious explorers, seasoned practitioners, and those at every stage in between. With a shared interest in non-sectarian, non-traditional approaches to Buddhism, we value the integration of psychedelics as sacred tools for spiritual growth.
We host monthly meetings where we will meditate, discuss dharma, and relate how psychedelics can play a role in life as a Buddhist. The monthly meetings are NOT getting together and partaking in a psychedelic experience. We only meet to share from personal experience.
A typical meeting consists of:
- meditation
- dharma discussion
- experience sharing
- mingling and organizing events
For regular in-person members, we organize more events that won't show up on Meetup (integration circles, book club, small group practice sessions, etc.).
Upcoming events (1)
See all- The King of Aspiration Prayers Recitation and Sky Gazing PracticeRonan Park, Chicago, IL
The King of Aspiration Prayers comes from the final chapter of the Avatamsaka Sutra, a sprawling Mahayana text that, among many other things, expresses a cosmology that could certainly be described as psychedelic. The view expressed in this prayer is vast, interconnected, and luminous, and in chanting it we affirm our aspiration to follow the teachings of the Buddha.
Sky gazing is a practice that comes from the Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. In its simplest form, it involves sitting quietly, gazing into the open sky, and allowing the mind to settle effortlessly. The practice invites you to experience the mind not as a thing to control or purify, but as a field that is open, luminous, and naturally at rest.
We'll meet at Ronan Park near the sculpture "Ten Thousand Ripples - Three emerging Buddha sculptures" pictured here (near Ainslie and Sacramento). We'll begin with a brief conversation for people to share how they connect with the prayer or what they think about sky gazing practice. Then we'll all chant the King of Aspiration Prayers together to connect to its vast vision. Finally, we'll all find a place in the park to rest in that vastness by engaging in the practice of sky gazing. Bring whatever you need to be comfortable lying on the ground. There won't be any formal end to the practice -- you are free to stay for however long as you'd like.
If there are any people who prefer a more social outing rather than a meditative one, just north of the park here is the North Shore Trail. You can skip the sky gazing practice and head straight to the trail and use this as an opportunity to get in a summertime stroll with some fellow practitioners. We can also use the beginning discussion time if people want to coordinate sky gazing for a certain amount of time and then take a walk together.
PLEASE NOTE the only planned psychedelic element of this event is in the cosmic vision of the chanted prayer and in the visionary quality that can arise in sky gazing practice. In other words: no substances are provided. With that said, feel free to exercise your cognitive liberty in whatever you see fit for this practice.
Additionally, there is no real backup plan in the case of inclement weather. If the weather the day of is not suitable for outdoor practice, we'll cancel. If the weather the day of is okay but the ground is too wet for sitting or lying, maybe we can have a meditative walk together.
