weekly meditation classes for all levels
Weekly Classes
Odiyana Center offers meditation classes that are open to everyone; you don’t have to be Buddhist or have any special experience or background. The classes resonate with a lot of people because they provide very practical methods for finding peace, happiness and meaning in the midst of busy modern daily life. The classes also give effective ways of helping others and dealing with many of the problems in the world today.
ongoing sundays | 11:00am–12:15pm
The Art of Acceptance
Sundays | 11:00am – 12:15pm
With Resident Teacher, Matthew Stein
Held in-person @ Odiyana KBC: 450 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury
Description:
Acceptance, or patient acceptance, is a special state of mind through which we can relate to our unhappiness, anger and conflict, in an open, creative way. When acceptance arises in our heart it frees us up from our mental tension and stress, and allows our natural happiness and courage to surface. Class will include a teaching and guided meditations, to help us experience the healing qualities of this special mind, and learn how to apply it practically in our daily life.
Everybody welcome!
The Teacher
Matthew has practiced and taught Kadampa Buddhism and meditation for many years under the guidance of many senior teachers of the New Kadampa Tradition.
Matthew previously lived at the Kadampa World Peace Temple in New York where he engaged in in-depth study and retreat, and recently he completed the Intensive Teacher Training Program at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in Northern England. Matthew teaches from the heart in a clear, warm and relaxed way, that is always practical and relevant to our daily lives.
Registration is preferred but walk-ins are welcome.
Each class in this series is self-contained, so you are welcome to join at any point. After each class, you are invited to join us for complimentary refreshments and the opportunity to ask questions. We also have many books and other meditation materials available at our bookshop to help you deepen your understanding and meditation experience through further reading. You do not need to be a Buddhist to attend, and no previous experience of meditation is required. Everybody is welcome!
Special Prayers called Prayers for World Peace will be included during the last class of each month.
Cost:
$12 per class | Free for Supporting Members
No one is turned away for lack of funds. Please contact the Administrative Director at admin@odiyana.org if you need to make arrangements.
ongoing wednesdays | 7-8:15pm
Training the Mind in Tranquil Abiding Meditation
Wednesdays | 7:00 – 8:15pm
With Resident Teacher, Matthew Stein
Held @ Odiyana KBC: 450 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury
About the Class
In this series of four classes, we will explore how to enhance our ability to achieve deep mental stillness in meditation. Through nurturing this skill, we can let go of distractions and discover an inner calm and stillness like that of the depths of an ocean.
“Before we develop concentration we feel some kind of mental and physical discomfort more or less all the time. Our state of mind quickly changes. For a short while we are happy, but then we are sad. Our physical condition also changes quickly. In the morning we may feel well, but by the evening we may be feeling sick. When we attain tranquil abiding we do not experience any mental or physical discomfort. Our mind becomes peaceful and we are always able to generate virtuous thoughts and feelings and create the causes for happiness.”
~ Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Joyful Path of Good Fortune
March 5: Why we need to train in meditative stillness
March 12: How to train in meditative stillness
March 19: How to overcome distractions in meditation
March 26: How to progress in training in meditation
Each class in the series is self-contained, so you are welcome to join at any point. We also have books and materials available to help you deepen your understanding and meditation experience through further reading. You do not need to be a Buddhist to attend, and no previous experience of meditation is required.
Everyone welcome!
The Teacher
Matthew Stein has practiced and taught Kadampa Buddhism and meditation for many years under the guidance of many senior teachers of the New Kadampa Tradition.
Matthew previously lived at the Kadampa World Peace Temple in New York where he engaged in in-depth study and retreat, and recently he completed the Intensive Teacher Training Program at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in Northern England. Matthew teaches from the heart in a clear, warm and relaxed way, that is always practical and relevant to our daily lives.
Cost:
$12 per class | Free for Supporting Members
No one is turned away for lack of funds. Please contact the Administrative Director at admin@odiyana.org if you need to make arrangements.
March 5 (Why we need to train in Meditative stillness)
March 12 (How to train in meditative stillness)
March 19 (How to overcome distractions in meditation)
March 26 (How to progress in training in meditation)
$1
No one is turned away for lack of funds. Please contact the Administrative Director at admin@odiyana.org if you need to make arrangements.
ongoing Thursdays | 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Meditation Toolkit
Ongoing Thursdays | 7:00 – 8:00pm
With Resident Teacher, Matthew Stein
Held in-person @ Odiyana KBC: 450 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury
Description:
Meditation gives rise to peace of mind, and when your mind is peaceful, you are happy. You will find relief from stress, anxiety and difficult relationships. This program has been carefully designed to support those who wish to develop and sustain an enduring meditation practice. In particular, we will study the “Lamrim,” a time-tested system of 21 meditations that help you, step-by-step, become a wiser, more compassionate person. Discover the joy of meditation, and become a life-long meditator.
Further detailed commentary on the class’ teachings can be found in the book Modern Buddhism.
Each week will include guided meditation, short teaching, discussion and Q&A time. Each class is self-contained, so feel free to drop into any class you wish.
Everyone is welcome.
Feb 27: How awareness of death enriches our life
March 6: Avoiding future suffering
March 13: Who can really protect us?
March 20: Do you believe in karma?
March 27: The truth about suffering
Everyone needs to make their life happy and meaningful, to solve temporarily their human problems and ultimately to find pure and everlasting happiness. We can accomplish this through Buddha’s Lamrim teachings from which we learn how to control our anger, attachment, jealousy, and especially ignorance.
Cost:
$12 per class | Free for Supporting Members
No one is turned away for lack of funds. Please contact the Administrative Director at admin@odiyana.org if you need to make arrangements.
ongoing Wednesday | 12:15pm – 1:00pm
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
Special Events
Looking for special events? Click here to visit the special events page.
listen now
Looking for more dharma? Enjoy brief teachings with Kadampa teachers from around the world.
no one turned away
No one will be turned away from a class for lack of funds. Please contact Rob at admin@odiyana.org to make arrangements.
