retreats, workshops and events for all levels
Special Events
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.
March – June
Pizza and Publicity
All are welcome to this meaningful and fun community event as we work together to get the word out to our community about our big public talk in June at Goodwin University with special guest teacher, Kadam Morten.
Read more about the event here.
The intention behind this event is to bring dharma and meditation practice to as many people in the local area as we can. To make this possible, we will be going out into the community throughout the spring to put out flyers and publicity cards, warmly welcoming everyone to the event.
We will meet at the Center and enjoy some pizza from a new local eatery each time we meet. Then we will go out together into the local area for some flyering.
Dates & Pizza joints:
March 28 | 12-4pm | Sliceworks
April 4 | 1-4pm | Amici’s
April 11 | 12-4pm | Square Peg
April 18 | 12-4pm | Luna
May 9 | 12-4pm | Giovanni’s
May 23 | 12-4pm | PizzaPie
May 30 | 1-4pm | First and Last
June 6 | 12-4pm | Glastonbury Pizza House
Notes:
Participants may join for any part of the time on a given day.
No experience flyering is necessary.
Not comfortable talking to business owners? Consider volunteering to be a driver for the day!
Can’t make it but want to support the effort? Consider donating $50 to sponsor pizza for one of the outings.
Contact Marilyn at marilyn.marks@meditationinconnecticut.org or 860.836.7279 to sign up or with questions.
Saturday, May 2nd | 10:30am – 3:30pm
Exploring the Heart Sutra: Buddha’s Teachings on Emptiness
Saturday, May 2nd | 10:30am – 3:30pm
With Resident Teacher Matthew Stein
About the Course:
The Heart Sutra is the condensed presentation of The Perfection of Wisdom Sutras taught by Buddha Shakyamuni that reveals the meaning of emptiness or ultimate truth. Gaining even a basic insight into the Heart Sutra will profoundly change our understanding of everything around us and within us. As a result, we will begin to understand how to protect ourself from mental and physical suffering and to experience a deeply happy and peaceful mind.
Emerge from this course feeling lighter, wiser, and empowered to overcome daily problems and difficulties.
Suitable for everyone, no meditation experience required.
Schedule:
Session 1: 10:30am – 11:30am
Session 2: 12:00pm-1:00pm
Lunch Break
Session 3: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
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 in 2023 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
$25
$12 for basic members
Free for full members and benefactors
Learn more becoming a supporting member
No one is turned away for lack of funds. Please contact the Administrative Director at admin@meditationinconnecticut.org if you need to make arrangements.
An In-Person and Online Event
Held in-person at Odiyana Buddhist Center, 450 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury, CT 06033.
Live-streaming is available for Center Members. Please contact the Education Program Coordinator at epc@meditationinconnecticut.org for a zoom link after you have registered for the class if you wish to attend online.
Saturday, May 16 | 11:00am – 1:00pm
Walk for World Peace
Social and Fundraiser
Saturday, May 16 | 11am-1pm
Starting at Odiyana Kadampa Buddhist Center
Everyone is welcome to join this fun and social event! The walk will raise funds to support Odiyana KBC (a non-profit organization) and provide the opportunity to socialize and enjoy the company of others.
The event will begin at the center with a brief meditation and talk with Resident Teacher, Matthew Stein. Following the talk, participants will enjoy a beautiful walk in nature as they make their way to Glastonbury Riverfront Park and then back to the center. The total length of the walk will be approximately 2 miles. Following the walk, there will be a community potluck at the center.
Walkers who wish to support Odiyana KBC, can make an open donation on the day of the hike or in advance at this link. There is also the opportunity to request donations of friends and family for your participation in the walk. Contact admin@meditationinconnecticut.org for more details.
Sunday, May 17th – Tuesday, May 19th
Guru Yoga and Mandala Offering Retreat
Transform the Universe into a Pure Land
Sunday, May 17th – Tuesday, May 19th
About the Retreat
A mandala offering is a traditional imagined offering whereby you envision the entire universe transformed into a pure land and then mentally offer this to the Buddhas. A beautiful and creative practice, it is an extraordinary method for generating positive energy and good fortune. Each session will include some guidance, chanted prayers and plenty of time to explore this practice of making mandala offerings.
Everyone welcome!
Schedule:
Sunday, May 17th
11:00am – 12:15pm GYMO intro in conjunction with Sunday Morning Meditation
5:00 – 6:30pm Session 1
7:00 – 8:30pm Session 2
Monday, May 18th
11am – 12:30pm – Session 3
5:00 – 6:30pm – Session 4
7 – 8:30pm – Session 5
Tuesday, May 19th
11am – 12:30pm – Session 6
5:00 – 6:30pm – Session 7
7 – 8:30pm – Session 8 / Retreat Conclusion
Cost
No one is turned away for lack of funds. Please contact the Administrative Director at admin@meditationinconneticut.org if you need to make arrangements.
Location
Held in-person at Odiyana Buddhist Center, 450 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury, CT 06033.
Cost
Free for full members and benefactors. Learn more becoming a supporting member
No one is turned away for lack of funds. Please contact the Administrative Director at admin@meditationinconneticut.org if you need to make arrangements.
Saturday, May 30th | 11:00am – 12:30pm
Learn to Meditate
Saturday, May 30th | 11am – 12:30pm
With Resident Teacher, Matthew Stein
Interested in learning to meditate but not sure where to start? Maybe you have already done some meditation but feel you would benefit from guidance by experienced practitioners, using authentic Buddhist techniques? Or perhaps you are looking for a different way to approach life’s difficulties?
This short course will give practical instruction and guidance on how to build the foundation of a strong meditation practice and develop inner peace and contentment coming from ancient Buddhist wisdom and still remaining relevant in today’s modern world.
The course will include teachings and guided meditations.
”If we train in meditation, our mind will gradually become more and more peaceful, and we will experience a purer and purer form of happiness. Eventually we will be able to stay happy all the time, even in the most difficult circumstances.” Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, How to Transform Your Life
Everyone is welcome!
Cost
$25
$12 for basic members
Free for full members and benefactors
Learn more becoming a supporting member
No one is turned away for lack of funds. Please contact the Administrative Director at admin@meditationinconnecticut.org if you need to make arrangements.
An In-Person and Online Event
Held in-person at Odiyana Buddhist Center, 450 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury, CT 06033.
Live-streaming is available for Center Members. Please contact the Education Program Coordinator at epc@meditationinconnecticut.org for a zoom link after you have registered for the class if you wish to attend online.
Cost
$25
$12 for basic members
Free for full members and benefactors
Learn more becoming a supporting member
No one is turned away for lack of funds. Please contact the Administrative Director at admin@meditationinconnecticut.org if you need to make arrangements.
An In-Person and Online Event
Held in-person at Odiyana Buddhist Center, 450 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury, CT 06033.
Live-streaming is available for Center Members. Please contact the Education Program Coordinator at epc@meditationinconnecticut.org for a zoom link after you have registered for the class if you wish to attend online.
Saturday, June 13 | 7:00 – 8:30pm
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held on the 10th and 25th of each month
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No registration is necessary to join these prayer sessions.
Weekly Classes
Looking for weekly classes? Click here to visit the classes 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.
