“Uncovering the unconditional love and wisdom of our Buddha nature" with Lama John Makransky

This one day retreat (via Zoom) will explore ways of accessing and settling into our innate awakened awareness through practices adapted from Tibetan Buddhism. By participating in an empowering field of loving, spiritual connection, we can become increasingly receptive to the unconditioned openness, lucidity and compassionate responsiveness of our buddha nature. Yet parts of us, often unconsciously, can prevent us from becoming more fully receptive to such qualities of awakening. This is true even for long-time practitioners. To address that, we will focus on ways that the unconditional, healing powers of our buddha nature can help realign all parts of us with that nature. Then our innate awareness can increasingly manifest of itself, unleashing powers of love, discernment and responsiveness. This retreat is both for practitioners who identify as Buddhists and for people of other faiths and backgrounds who seek an accessible way to cultivate unconditional powers of love, compassion, and discernment. Guided meditations, explanation of principles, and discussion will clarify our collective practice.

Introduction to Mindfulness - 4 Session Course with Noel Coakley at Common Street Spiritual Center

This course is for those who would like to begin a mindfulness meditation practice or for those who could use a refresher on the principles of the practice. Together, we will build a safe and supportive community learning space. We’ll start with how to set an intention and aspiration for practice and then we’ll demonstrate the main aspects of the posture to help everyone find the posture that fits their body. We’ll walk through the basic steps of mindfulness meditation and practice together regularly. Our discussion will include the potential applications and outcomes of practice from a biological, psychological, and social view. Upon completing this course, participants will gain a understanding of how to practice mindfulness meditation and get a strong kick start to a regular habit.

Exploring Foundations of Meditation - 10 Session Course with Noel Coakley

What’s after mindfulness? Did you know that there are many, many types of meditation? The word for meditation in Tibetan is ‘gom’ - which translates as familiarization. This refers to practices that help us re-familiarize ourselves with natural capacities of our hearts and minds - love, compassion, clarity, stability, strength, openness, spaciousness…While mindfulness remains a key foundation and practice throughout the entire path, there are so many others available for us to learn. This course is intended for folks with a foundation of mindfulness practice who would like to further explore the world of meditation. During this course, we will introduce a wide range of meditations, rooted on foundational and preliminary* traditional practices. We will have open discussions and practice together during guided sessions.

Winter Practice Retreat Day with Noel Coakley

This one day retreat will be an opportunity for a deeper dive into longer practice sessions. We will review practice instructions for and participate in guided meditations on motivation, mindfulness, advanced concentration, and bodhicitta/loving-kindness. There will be opportunities for discussion, sharing, and connecting with one another as a practice community.

All practice levels are welcome.

For those who are unable to participate live, the retreat will be recorded and accessible for a week following the program.

Introduction to Mindfulness - 4 Session Course with Noel Coakley

This course is for those who would like to begin a mindfulness meditation practice or for those who could use a refresher on the principles of the practice. Together, we will build a safe and supportive community learning space. We’ll start with how to set an intention and aspiration for practice and then we’ll demonstrate the main aspects of the posture to help everyone find the posture that fits their body. We’ll walk through the basic steps of mindfulness meditation and practice together regularly. Our discussion will include the potential applications and outcomes of practice from a biological, psychological, and social view. Upon completing this course, participants will gain a understanding of how to practice mindfulness meditation and get a strong kick start to a regular habit.

"Unconditional Love as Entry Into, and Expression of, the Nature of Mind" with Lama John Makransky

This one day retreat (via Zoom) will explore ways of accessing and settling into our innate awakened awareness through practices adapted from Tibetan Buddhism. By participating in an empowering field of loving, spiritual connection, we can become increasingly receptive to the unconditioned openness, lucidity and compassionate responsiveness of our buddha nature. Yet parts of us, often unconsciously, can prevent us from becoming more fully receptive to such qualities of awakening. This is true even for long-time practitioners. To address that, we will focus on ways that the unconditional, healing powers of our buddha nature can help realign all parts of us with that nature. Then our innate awareness can increasingly manifest of itself, unleashing powers of love, discernment and responsiveness. This retreat is both for practitioners who identify as Buddhists and for people of other faiths and backgrounds who seek an accessible way to cultivate unconditional powers of love, compassion, and discernment. Guided meditations, explanation of principles, and discussion will clarify our collective practice.

"Unconditional Love as Entry Into, and Expression of, the Nature of Mind" with Lama John Makransky

This one day retreat (via Zoom) will explore ways of accessing and settling into our innate awakened awareness through practices adapted from Tibetan Buddhism. By participating in an empowering field of loving, spiritual connection, we can become increasingly receptive to the unconditioned openness, lucidity and compassionate responsiveness of our buddha nature. Yet parts of us, often unconsciously, can prevent us from becoming more fully receptive to such qualities of awakening. This is true even for long-time practitioners. To address that, we will focus on ways that the unconditional, healing powers of our buddha nature can help realign all parts of us with that nature. Then our innate awareness can increasingly manifest of itself, unleashing powers of love, discernment and responsiveness. This retreat is both for practitioners who identify as Buddhists and for people of other faiths and backgrounds who seek an accessible way to cultivate unconditional powers of love, compassion, and discernment. Guided meditations, explanation of principles, and discussion will clarify our collective practice.

Exploring Foundations of Meditation - 10 Session Course with Noel Coakley

What’s after mindfulness? Did you know that there are many, many types of meditation? The word for meditation in Tibetan is ‘gom’ - which translates as familiarization. This refers to practices that help us re-familiarize ourselves with natural capacities of our hearts and minds - love, compassion, clarity, stability, strength, openness, spaciousness…While mindfulness remains a key foundation and practice throughout the entire path, there are so many others available for us to learn. This course is intended for folks with a foundation of mindfulness practice who would like to further explore the world of meditation. During this course, we will introduce a wide range of meditations, rooted on foundational and preliminary* traditional practices. We will have open discussions and practice together during guided sessions.

Introduction to Mindfulness - 4 Session Course with Noel Coakley

This course is for those who would like to begin a mindfulness meditation practice or for those who could use a refresher on the principles of the practice. Together, we will build a safe and supportive community learning space. We’ll start with how to set an intention and aspiration for practice and then we’ll demonstrate the main aspects of the posture to help everyone find the posture that fits their body. We’ll walk through the basic steps of mindfulness meditation and practice together regularly. Our discussion will include the potential applications and outcomes of practice from a biological, psychological, and social view. Upon completing this course, participants will gain a understanding of how to practice mindfulness meditation and get a strong kick start to a regular habit.

I’d like to invite you all to a weekly community meditation practice on Tuesday mornings 7:15a-8:15a.

The intention is to create a safe and supportive community space for learning and cultivating a regular meditation practice.

The group will be mainly a practice group, though it will include occasional short talks and practice instructions - according to and in response to the needs of the group.

This is intended for beginning meditators and those with an existing practice who are open to bringing a beginners mind - as we do to practice every time!)

The group will start with and build off of a foundation of mindfulness (concentration and awareness). We will continue to include practices of compassion familiarization, visualization, motivation, and contemplation.

Please bring a cushion or chair.

I’d like to invite you all to a weekly community meditation practice on Tuesday mornings 7:15a-8:15a.

The intention is to create a safe and supportive community space for learning and cultivating a regular meditation practice.

The group will be mainly a practice group, though it will include occasional short talks and practice instructions - according to and in response to the needs of the group.

This is intended for beginning meditators and those with an existing practice who are open to bringing a beginners mind - as we do to practice every time!)

The group will start with and build off of a foundation of mindfulness (concentration and awareness). We will continue to include practices of compassion familiarization, visualization, motivation, and contemplation.

Please bring a cushion or chair.

I’d like to invite you all to a weekly community meditation practice on Tuesday mornings 7:15a-8:15a.

The intention is to create a safe and supportive community space for learning and cultivating a regular meditation practice.

The group will be mainly a practice group, though it will include occasional short talks and practice instructions - according to and in response to the needs of the group.

This is intended for beginning meditators and those with an existing practice who are open to bringing a beginners mind - as we do to practice every time!)

The group will start with and build off of a foundation of mindfulness (concentration and awareness). We will continue to include practices of compassion familiarization, visualization, motivation, and contemplation.

Please bring a cushion or chair.

I’d like to invite you all to a weekly community meditation practice on Tuesday mornings 7:15a-8:15a.

The intention is to create a safe and supportive community space for learning and cultivating a regular meditation practice.

The group will be mainly a practice group, though it will include occasional short talks and practice instructions - according to and in response to the needs of the group.

This is intended for beginning meditators and those with an existing practice who are open to bringing a beginners mind - as we do to practice every time!)

The group will start with and build off of a foundation of mindfulness (concentration and awareness). We will continue to include practices of compassion familiarization, visualization, motivation, and contemplation.

Please bring a cushion or chair.

I’d like to invite you all to a weekly community meditation practice on Tuesday mornings 7:15a-8:15a.

The intention is to create a safe and supportive community space for learning and cultivating a regular meditation practice.

The group will be mainly a practice group, though it will include occasional short talks and practice instructions - according to and in response to the needs of the group.

This is intended for beginning meditators and those with an existing practice who are open to bringing a beginners mind - as we do to practice every time!)

The group will start with and build off of a foundation of mindfulness (concentration and awareness). We will continue to include practices of compassion familiarization, visualization, motivation, and contemplation.

Please bring a cushion or chair.

I’d like to invite you all to a weekly community meditation practice on Tuesday mornings 7:15a-8:15a.

The intention is to create a safe and supportive community space for learning and cultivating a regular meditation practice.

The group will be mainly a practice group, though it will include occasional short talks and practice instructions - according to and in response to the needs of the group.

This is intended for beginning meditators and those with an existing practice who are open to bringing a beginners mind - as we do to practice every time!)

The group will start with and build off of a foundation of mindfulness (concentration and awareness). We will continue to include practices of compassion familiarization, visualization, motivation, and contemplation.

Please bring a cushion or chair.

This half day retreat will explore ways of accessing and settling into our innate awakened awareness through practices adapted from Tibetan Buddhism. By participating in an empowering field of loving, spiritual connection, we can become increasingly receptive to the unconditioned openness, lucidity and compassionate responsiveness of our buddha nature. Yet parts of us, often unconsciously, can prevent us from becoming more fully receptive to such qualities of awakening. This is true even for long-time practitioners. To address that, we will focus on ways that the unconditional, healing powers of our buddha nature can help realign all parts of us with that nature. Then our innate awareness can increasingly manifest of itself, unleashing powers of love, discernment and responsiveness. This retreat is both for practitioners who identify as Buddhists and for people of other faiths and backgrounds who seek an accessible way to cultivate unconditional powers of love, compassion, and discernment. Guided meditations, explanation of principles, and discussion will clarify our collective practice.

This drop-in group meets weekly to foster a safe, supportive space for developing a sitting meditation practice, and learning from fellow practitioners through sharing and discussion. Open to both those just starting their practice as well as those with more experience, the group meets in the spirit of the beginner, freshly, each week.

One volunteer keeps the time/schedule and another volunteer takes the host role, sharing a reading/experience/poem/song/topic to kick off an open discussion.

General Session Outline:

2 min - welcome, agreement and structure review
8 min - opening sit
5 min - host share / discussion prompt
25 min - open discussion
20 min - closing sit

“The Art of Making Friends with Ourselves” wth Fer Luján

Join meditation teacher & storyteller Fer Luján Mote in a heartwarming event where we’ll explore the ancient art of making friends with ourselves, and how it can serve as a gateway towards a more abundant way of being. Fer will also lead a brief meditation workshop that will help us practice this aforementioned art during our everyday lives. This event is open to all—no prior experience with meditation or spirituality is necessary to attend!

Yin is a style of yoga which focuses on connective tissues: joints, ligaments, bones, fascia. Known for long-held, more passive poses, Yin yoga helps restore the body through joint mobility while nourishing the body at the cellular level. Yin yoga increases energy flow within the body, and can be a soothing, meditative practice.

A mastermind group provides peer-to-peer mentoring and resource sharing to a small group of likeminded people. Individuals bring professional goals to the group and receive support and accountability from other members.

Interested in starting a meditation practice? In this introductory course we'll :
- set foundational intention(s) for practice,
- find a posture to match our individual body,
-introduce basic meditations - mindfulness, compassion, contemplation, and visualization
-discuss the bio/psycho/social/spiritual benefits to practice.
-learn how to begin a daily habit that will stick

A mastermind group provides peer-to-peer mentoring and resource sharing to a small group of likeminded people. Individuals bring professional goals to the group and receive support and accountability from other members.

This drop-in group meets weekly to foster a safe, supportive space for developing a sitting meditation practice, and learning from fellow practitioners through sharing and discussion. Open to both those just starting their practice as well as those with more experience, the group meets in the spirit of the beginner, freshly, each week.

One volunteer keeps the time/schedule and another volunteer takes the host role, sharing a reading/experience/poem/song/topic to kick off an open discussion.

General Session Outline:

2 min - welcome, agreement and structure review
8 min - opening sit
5 min - host share / discussion prompt
25 min - open discussion
20 min - closing sit

A mastermind group provides peer-to-peer mentoring and resource sharing to a small group of likeminded people. Individuals bring professional goals to the group and receive support and accountability from other members.

This drop-in group meets weekly to foster a safe, supportive space for developing a sitting meditation practice, and learning from fellow practitioners through sharing and discussion. Open to both those just starting their practice as well as those with more experience, the group meets in the spirit of the beginner, freshly, each week.

One volunteer keeps the time/schedule and another volunteer takes the host role, sharing a reading/experience/poem/song/topic to kick off an open discussion.

General Session Outline:

2 min - welcome, agreement and structure review
8 min - opening sit
5 min - host share / discussion prompt
25 min - open discussion
20 min - closing sit