Shambhala Chicago Meditation Center

09/03/2026

“Anything related to compassion is like planting a living tree. It grows and grows endlessly and never dies." -Shantideva

08/27/2026

Did you know? Shambhala Chicago has a newsletter!

Use the QR code in the image to jump to our newsletter archives for our latest newsletter (top of the list) and the opportunity to subscribe.

OR check out this week's news using this link:
https://mailchi.mp/chicagoshambhala/waterrabbit-5870108

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

"The present moment is our doorway to liberation."

~ Pema Chödrön

08/26/2026

Go to the Difficult Places

The feeling of “something’s inherently wrong with me” is one of the most important clouds for us to get intimate with. Here is one approach. Close your eyes and look within to see if you can contact that deficient feeling. Sometimes it helps to recall an instance where that feeling came up strongly for you. Something happened or was said that triggered your habit of feeling bad about yourself. Bringing up that memory can help you connect to the feeling.

Now ask yourself a couple questions. The first is, “Does this feeling depend on an internal dialogue, a story line?” In other words, if you go beneath the words of the story, is the feeling still there? And the second question is, “What would it mean for me personally to accept this feeling with kindness? What would it mean for me just to let it be?”

Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World by Pema Chodron, pages 120─121

08/26/2026

530pm PST, September 10, on Zoom! We're excited to be hosting 2 eminent Buddhist authors, Marc Olmsted and Roger Jackson, for an online conversation about the legacy of the Beat Generation for the Western Buddhist community.

We'll meet online to discuss Marc's new book new book, BEAT DHARMA, about the Beats studying Buddhism, Marc's experience at Naropa, his time working with Ginsberg, and his years spent diving deep into Tibetan Buddhism.

Roger is an eminent Buddhist scholar who has published several excellent books with Shambhala Publications, and is currently researching an academic work about the relationship between the Beat Generation and Buddhism.

Roger will discuss Marc's book with him, they'll share some of their favorite Beat poems, and they'll answer questions from attendees! This quick one-hour talk will be free for all to attend. Register at the link in our online calendar 🌞

08/25/2026

Tuesday lineup is looking good! See you today?

🪷 12:15pm Lunchtime Meditation
🙏🏼 6:30pm Guided Meditation ONLINE with Rogers Park Shambhala
💠 7:00pm Evening meditation ONLINE or IN PERSON

More information at the link in our bio and at chicago.shambhala.org

08/25/2026

Chicago Shambhala presents in-person meditation every Tuesday evening from 7 to 8:30pm.

🪷 1 hour of sitting and walking meditation
🗣 ½ hour of discussion
🕙 Doors open at 6:30pm

ALL are welcome!

In addition to our Tuesday evening in-person meditation, we also offer guided meditation online on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. More information is available at chicago.shambhala.org

08/24/2026

Step away. Slow down.
Join us for an online mid-day meditation today at 12:15pm
Come back clearer and more focused 🌿

Link in bio 🪷🙏