 Getting Started
“Our life is an endless journey... The practice of meditation
provides a vehicle to travel on that road.”
- Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
At the Shambhala Meditation Center of Portland, we practice and teach mindfulness-awareness meditation, as it has been passed from teacher to student for over 2500 years. We provide an environment where each person can engage the practice of meditation at their own pace. If you want to practice meditation in a group environment, you are welcome to attend any of our weekly community practice sessions with no commitment or requirement to follow a particular course of study. Please feel welcome to drop by. No previous experience required!
Learn to Meditate
We offer free meditation instruction every Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm and on the first and third Sunday of each month at 9:00 am. If you would like to receive meditation instruction on Tuesday evening, please arrive at the Center a few minutes before 7 pm and ask to receive meditation instruction. Or, on Sunday, arrive a few minutes before 9:30 AM and ask to receive meditation instruction.
Every other month, we offer a Saturday morning Learn to Meditate Workshop: Turning the Mind Into An Ally, from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. This workshop is ideal for anyone wanting an introduction to meditation, as well as those wanting to refresh their practice. Based on the national bestseller, Turning the Mind into an Ally by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, this workshop presents how "peaceful abiding" meditation enables us to cultivate our mind's inherent stability, strength and clarity. It includes practical instructions for developing a strong meditation practice: good sitting posture, how to relate with breath as the object of meditation, what to do when thoughts come up, and starting a regular meditation practice at home. Check our programs listing for the next workshop.
Open House
Our bi-monthly Open House, on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, offers a friendly introduction to meditation practice, Shambhala Buddhist teachings and our community. Our evening sitting is followed by a brief Dharma talk or video, after which there is group discussion. Everyone is welcome. Participation is free of charge.
Introductory Programs
Although one can find the essential techniques written down in many places, meditation remains essentially an oral tradition, and individual personal instruction is important. We offer a variety of programs throughout the year appropriate for the people new to meditation. In addition to our Learn To Meditate workshops, the following programs are have no prerequisites and are geared for newcomers: Shambhala Training Level I; Meditation In Everyday Life; and Contentment In Everyday Life. Check our programs listing to look for these and other classes currently being offered.
Resources
For articles about meditation, online teachings, and recommended readings, visit Shambhala's meditation resources page and the Shambhala Sun's How to Meditate page.
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