Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with buddhism and meditation

Buddhist meditation retreat in the eastern US/Canada?

melaleuca — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:12:31 -0800

I'm looking for a good meditation retreat center somewhere not too far from the midwest. I'm interested in vipassana meditation, although I wouldn't mind branching out. Mainly I want to find a place with good teachers. I'm in my 30's, and I've been practicing Buddhist meditation on and off for the last several years. I did my first meditation retreat in 2007 and loved it--I had a bliss-out that lasted several hours--and I've been hooked on meditation retreats ever since then.

My first few retreats were at Spirit Rock in California, and I would love to go back there again but it's a little too far for me since I live in the midwest. I'm looking for a place that I can get to with a single day's travel. I've tried Insight Meditation Society, which was also good, and I'd like to know what else is out there.

The things that I'm looking for most are: (1) lots of periods of communal silence, (2) nice natural scenery (hopefully with mild weather), and (3) good teachers who radiant joy and intelligence. (And, let's say, also a medium-to-high level of comfort. I'm not ready for the more austere Buddhist retreats...)

Item (3) is probably the most important. (BTW, I'm kind of analytically-minded, and I tend to like teachers who are the same.)

I've done vipassana retreats so far, and would like to do something similar but wouldn't mind branching out a little. Any recommendations would be much appreciated. Recommendations for specific retreats would also be good. (I'm aiming to go some time in the next 6 months.)

P.S.: No, this is not an ad for either Spirit Rock or IMS, and I don't have a financial interest in either. :)

What's your favorite way to cultivate compassion?

ceiba — Wed, 30 May 2012 15:50:55 -0800

I need more compassion. I'm semi-Buddhist. What's your favorite guided meditation or other focused technique? I like the metta meditation on this CD by Bodhipaksa. However, I'm still coming up short compassion-wise and would like to branch out into other meditations or techniques.

I've seen this thread, which talks about the topic more generally. Leo Babauta also has ideas here.

What works for you? Thanks!

Finding the right Buddhist meditation center in Toronto

Miss T.Horn — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:31:16 -0800

Help me find the right Buddhist meditation center in Toronto. More info inside. I've been dealing with depression and anxiety my whole life, unmedicated, but have recently found that a combination of meditation and CBT makes a 90% difference in my mood and ability to cope. These guided meditations by Malcolm Huxter, in particular, have been helpful: http://www.buddhanet.net/audio-meditation.htm

Also, I find that learning about the tenets of Buddhism have made life so much more enjoyable, helped me immeasurably.

Now I'd like to be able to do some in-person weekly meditations in Toronto. In undergrad, many of my friends were into Shambhala. I did a few weekends with them in the introductory levels (and, must say, found their meditation to be extremely difficult, almost physically painful, where these guided meditations are easier to do). In the years since university, many of my Buddhist friends have also left Shambhala, claiming that it's a cult. I looked into alternatives here, and am not sure I trust my limited knowledge of meditation centers and Buddhism to discern what I really need. I'm not totally convinced Shambhala is a cult and would even give it another shake, and am not familiar with other centers. There seems to be a lot of backlash against Diamond Way. My leanings are towards zen Buddhism, free of any sort of guru or leader people seem to defer to. Is there such a place in Toronto?

Or is there a non-Buddhist meditation center/group that might be more appropriate?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

How to sit without sitting

StrikeTheViol — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 08:49:12 -0800

In Buddhist traditions that emphasize sitting meditation (thinking about Zen here, but curious about others too) how are people who are physically unable to maintain proper sitting posture expected/advised to meditate? I was curious in particular about those who had been disabled in some way (paralysis etc) and in historical answers to the question.

Buddhism resources in West LA?

jnnla — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:51:45 -0800

Can you suggest Buddhist resources - churches, sanghas, gompas, meditation groups, communities - in the Los Angeles Area? I have practiced mindfulness meditation for quite some time and have been tangentially interested in both Buddhism / Taoism for about the same amount of time. I do not, at the moment, consider myself a Buddhist in any way...but I would be interested to learn more about it in a group environment, or at the very least see if it might be something I want to practice with more than a peripheral interest. To this end I am looking for resources in the Los Angeles area that might accommodate someone like myself who is a curious and open-minded new comer. Ideally this would be a welcoming Buddhist church of some sort that is used to inquiries from curious individuals. I live on the West side of LA - Santa Monica would be an ideal location.

Some of the resources I have found via Google and Google Maps (especially in Santa Monica) tend to describe themselves in terms that sound gimmicky to me. I'm not looking for quick-fix, life-improvement, seminar-style "Buddhism" - but instead actual down to earth real resources...which is why I thought I'd query the hive mind. Thanks!

Hello, Dharma

muscat — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:29:50 -0800

Any MeFites attend the SF Insight meditations at the Unitarian church on Franklin? Or any Dharma Punx here? Anyone have experience with a more strictly zen sangha in the city? If you go to SFI, do you go on Sunday or Wednesday? Wanna catch up during the break?

If you sit with the dharma punx... what's that like? I can walk to SFI but would have a harder time getting out to your group so have never checked it out...

If you live in SF and sit somewhere else... where?

Schools of Meditation

Picklegnome — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:51:44 -0800

What are the differences between Zen and Vipassana meditation? I'm interested mostly in the practices, foci, goals, etc., rather than the history or cultural background.

Do you have any recommendations on youth meditation groups in the Bay Area?

ebness86 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:44:36 -0800

Do you have any recommendations on youth meditation groups in the Bay Area? I'm moving up to the Bay Area from Los Angeles, and I'm looking to replicate the experience I had meditating at Against the Stream.

I'm not opposed to traditional meditation centers, but there was something about that particular group that really spoke to my specific life stage... I'm 22 and still seeking externally when I should be looking within.

(They also seemed structured for us 9-to-5-ers by offering night and weekend sessions, which was nice.)

Please list anywhere I should check into - thanks for your time!

Zen and the art of Zen

Roman Graves — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:40:15 -0800

Help me continue my Zen education. I recently finished Hardcore Zen and it really struck a nerve in ways that other books on the topic have not. I'm looking for suggestions on continued reading. I noticed the "If you liked Hardcore Zen..." section in the back of the book, but I wasn't sure if any of those were worth anything or just a publisher's list.

Least incensiest incense ever?

sneakin — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 13:09:41 -0800

What's that incense I've smelled at Zen centers and where can I find it? When I've been in Korean Zen centers or meditation areas used by Zen practitioners, there's been incense on the altar that has a very subtle aroma. It's not terribly fragrant or remotely perfume-y. It's extremely mild. They're usually shorter sticks than your regular incense and I think they might be a Japanese brand.

I've googled around and found different kinds associated with meditation but I want to be sure I'm getting something not so aromatic that's it's distracting before I bite the bullet and buy. Brands, names, and links are awesome and appreciated. Thank you!