Tibetan Prayer Wheel
TSOGYALING Meditation Center Tibet Girls School

 

Meditation Classes

At Tsogyaling Meditation Center, we teach and practice meditation as a community. Rooted in the teachings of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni, our classes teach "shamatha vipassana" or mindfulness awareness meditation. This practice — breath by breath — can transform our everyday lives by developing our capacity to live in and experience the sacred present moment. Tsogyaling offers a place to delve deeply into the nature of our suffering and touch our inherent basic goodness. Through meditation we create joy, balance and creativity in our lives.

The center offers drop-in meditation classes which provide instruction, time for practice and discussion at the end of class. Instruction is offered in small group settings. Most of our classes have a suggested donation of $10.00, but we welcome you to pay less or more as you are able. Please register with the teacher of the class you wish to attend. Classes are offered on a drop-in basis; begin any time.

Classes meet at Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster Street in Evanston, unless indicated otherwise. Come join us!

 

Saturday Meditation Sessions

Saturday afternoons: Beginning February 16, 2013
noon – 1:30 pm
Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster Street, Evanston, IL [ map ]

This class focuses on the practice of shamatha vipassana and is for meditators of all levels who would like to deepen their practice. Each session will begin and end with traditional Tibetan Buddhist meditation chanting, followed by mindfulness of the body (breathing exercises to heal and relax the body), walking meditation, and 30 minutes of shamatha vipassana. A brief discussion session will follow to talk about our practice. Suggested reading to support our practice is Pointing Out the Dharmakaya by Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoche.

  • For initial registration of new students, please contact Beverly Zeldin-Palmer at 847.905.0675 or click here to email.

 

Open Meditation Sessions

Ongoing Sunday mornings
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster Street, Evanston, IL [ map ]

Perfect for beginners and meditators of all levels and ideal for those wishing for longer silent sitting times. Each session opens with traditional Tibetan Buddhist chanting followed by meditation instruction, then sitting and walking meditation. Led by Tsogyaling meditation teachers Nancy Floy, Lissa Pete and Ellen Schweri. Class is offered on a drop-in basis; begin any time. Suggested donation is $5.

  • For initial registration of new students, please contact Nancy Floy at 847.491.1122 x11 or click here to email.

 

Study Classes

First, Third and Fourth Sundays of each month
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster Street, Evanston, IL [ map ]

Led by Tsogyaling teachers, these ongoing classes will offer study and discussion of meditation texts and introduce contemplation and compassion practices. Students of all faiths, philosophies and walks of life who are interested in exploring this path are welcome. Class is offered on a drop-in basis; begin any time.

Start Where You Are        Buddha Standard Time       How to Practice

 

Special Meditation Class for Kids & Teen:
A Program of the Evanston Public Library

Monday evenings; Drop-ins welcome!
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Class held at theEvanston Public Library, Main Branch, Loft, 1703 Orrington Avenue, Evanston, IL [ map ].
Summer version through July is held at the Summer Reading Stop in the Evanston Plaza Shopping Center, 1900 Dempster Street [ map ].

Free meditation class for students ages 11 to 18. Mindfulness meditation is the practice of learning to calm and settle our minds. Students will learn simple techniques that can help lower stress and bring more focus for the mind and body. If you want to perform better in your classes at school, with sports or in the arts, mindfulness practice can be very helpful. And even fun!

 

Meridian Light Yoga/Meditation Class for Veterans

Thursday mornings
10:30 am - 11:45 am
Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster Street, Evanston, IL [ map ]

Combining gentle yoga, breathing techniques and visualization, this class will help you uncover peace and calm physically, mentally and emotionally. No prior experience is necessary. This class is offered by Tsogyaling Evanston Meditation Center with sincere gratitude to our community and the veterans who have been serving on our behalf. Fee is by donation only.

  • To register or for more information, please call Colleen Hubbard at 847.491.1122 x20.

 

Meditation for Wellbeing

Thursday evenings
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster Street, Evanston, IL [ map ]

This class focuses on meditation practices for psychological health and well-being. We teach specific practices for calming the mind and body. The first half of class is devoted to restorative and yin yoga poses. These postures are neither strenuous nor risky, and there's no need for special yoga clothes, just something loose and comfortable. A little bit of yoga is always a good prelude to meditation practice; actually, it helps a great deal. Discussion will be offered following the meditation.

This is a safe and welcoming setting, very good for beginning or continuing a meditation practice. Class is offered on a drop-in basis; begin any time.

Instructor Mark Repplinger is a counselor at Heartwood, trained in Hakomi, who incorporates mindfulness meditation into his practice. He is also on the board of directors for Tsogyaling Meditation Center.

  • For initial registration, please contact Mark Repplinger at 773.386.0523 or click here to email.

 

Foundations of Mindfulness

Friday evenings
6:00 pm–7:00 pm
Heartwood Center, 1818 Dempster Street, Evanston, IL [ map ]

Consider ending your week and entering your weekend with a calm and tranquil mind and body. This class teaches the Four Foundations of Mindfulness as taught by the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. Four distinct practices are introduced to help us better understand how to pay attention to our body, minds, emotions and Dharma or teachings. The class ends with a lively discussion that offers space for students to explore how the mindfulness practices are affecting their lives. This class welcomes meditators of all levels.

  • For initial registration, please contact Nancy Floy at 847-491-1122 x11 or click here to email.

 

Programs

Meditation Instructors

Nancy Floy, MA, LAc, Dipl Ac
Nancy was raised by her Grandmother, a meditation teacher, who introduced her to the practices of meditation and chanting as a young child. As a trauma survivor who became a ward of the state, she testified at the trial of a group of child abusers at the age of 5. Nancy continues to use the practice of meditation to work with her mind and body and believes unconditionally in the ability of meditation as the path out of our suffering. Nancy studied with her Grandmother until her death in 1978 and since then has studied with many of the great Tibetan Buddhist Teachers in India, Nepal and the USA. She is a practicing acupuncturist and founder and president of the Heartwood Center for Body Mind Spirit, founder and board member of the Heartwood Foundation Women & Cancer Program and Founder & president of the board of the Tsogyaling Meditation Center of Evanston.

Colleen Hubbard, MSW, Rev, CCHT, Soul-Light Counselor
Colleen has a Masters in Social Work from Loyola University, Chicago, and a Masters in the Art of Teaching from National Louis University in Evanston, Illinois. Additionally, Colleen is an experienced and certified Reiki Master/Teacher, an Advanced Clinical Heart-Centered Hypnotherapist, and a Release Therapist. She also has extensive training in clinical Shamanic healing processes and is trained as an essential oils therapist. She has been teaching yoga and meditation for many years.

Charles Kuehner, DC
Charles has a degree in Comparative Religion and Anthropology and has been studying the Buddhadharma since the early 1960's. He has studied with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Khandro Rinpoche and various other great teachers.

Alison H. Oakes, LCSW
Alison has been working as a psychotherapist for more than 30 years. Specializing in trauma, addiction, and LGBT issues, working with individuals, couples and teens. Alison combines several modalities with a emphasis on a holistic, Eastern approach incorporating mind, body, and spirit into her practice. She is a practicing Buddhist and has been a yoga and meditation student for many years.

Laura Dorfman, CPDT-KA
Laura is the founder and owner of kona's touch, inc, a gentle dog training business fostering compassionate, respectful relationships with their canine best friends. In addition to training and behavior consults, programs include management and caring for sick and aging dogs. She is also a certified Reiki practitioner for companion animals. Laura had been a wandering Buddhist, falling in love with the Himalayas, early in life and has since become a practicing Buddhist. She is a writer and blogger including mindfulblogging.com.

Lissa Pete, LAc, Dipl Ac, MSOM
Lissa lives in Chicago and is a student of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. She is a member of Chicago Shambhala Meditation Center.

Mark Repplinger, AM
Mark is a Hakomi-trained counselor who incorporates mindfulness meditation into his practice.

Louise Rosenberg, LMT, NCTMB
Louise is a Licensed Massage Therapis and first learned to meditate three years ago here at Tsogyaling Meditation Center of Evanston. She enjoys reading a variety of both Buddhist and non-Buddhist work on mindfulness. Louise incorporates mindfulness into her work as a massage therapist.

Ellen Schweri
Ellen has been a student of meditation practice for more than 20 years and continues to study with Shambhala, Kagyu and Dzogchen teachers in the Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

Beverly Zeldin-Palmer
Beverly is sangha member of Tsogyaling Meditation Center who has been practicing Tibetan Mindfulness Meditation and attending classes on Tibetan Buddhism at Tsogyaling for the past two years. Her interest in Buddhism was sparked early on by her older brother. She has followed a path of study over the years which has led her to seek refuge in the Three Jewels of Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

Gratitude

The meditation teachers of Tsogyaling are most grateful to the precious teachers and mentors who have nourished our hearts and minds: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, Khandro Rinpoche and more.

 

 

Buddha Shakyamuni

Buddha Shakyamuni

For more information about Buddhism and mediation, see Resources.

Medicine Buddha

Medicine Buddha

White Tara

White Tara

Thangkas courtesy of Tsogyaling Meditation Center.

 

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