What we’re about
If you work (or don't work) downtown, come and join us for a rejuvenating Lunch Break Meditation session where we'll practice mindfulness meditation through different meditative traditions such as Zen, Vipassana, and Dzogchen among others in Grant Park.
Sessions will be on Wednesdays at 12:15pm. We'll have a 15-20 minute session of practice followed by any discussion/socializing for as long as people care to stay for. Meet at the fountain close to the corner of Randolf and Michigan. Search "Millennium Monument".
No prior experience is required. If you're one of those people who think you just can't meditate, this is the group for you. This will be a great opportunity to make new friends in the area to share your spiritual interests with.
A little about me: I'm Matt I'm 29 I moved from New Jersey to Chicago 3 years ago. I would also like to be clear I am not a teacher. I'm on 8 years of practice, but I'm only here to help guide sessions and facilitate discussions. I'd love to share my experience, but I am more eager to learn about others.
If you're new to meditation, you've probably heard of all the benefits it has to offer. Better focus, reduced stressed, higher openness to experience, etc. But for me personally, learning to meditate and directly observe my mind through these practices has been the single most important skill I've ever learned. To be mindful is to learn how to free your attention, and to have the opportunity to pay attention to what's really important. It frees you up to not have your attention captured but every next thought, many of which cause us to suffer. This simple practice can go as deep as you choose. But similarly to physical exercise, everyone stands to gain something from even a little bit of this mental exercise.