Benefits of samatha meditation
Samatha means calm. We practice breathing mindfulness to develop enhanced concentration, calm & clarity through the Buddhist practice of samatha meditation. Through becoming more calm, centered, relaxed, and focused, we find greater clarity in our day-to-day life. Whether you think of yourself as a naturally calm person or a more restless or anxious person, samatha meditation can help you find more stillness, focus, clarity, and calm, both during and outside of meditation practice.
One of the first benefits students notice is feeling less reactive to things in life that used to bother them more. As their practice progresses over the months, they begin to notice greater ease both in their meditation practice and in their daily life. Over the years this has a cumulative effect, allowing students greater access to calm amidst daily struggles.
All regular classes are free of charge, always. Donations are warmly accepted and go back into supporting the practice.
Samatha meditation practice is open to all. Additional efforts are made to ensure that the space is LQBTQIA+ affirming, neurodiversity-affirming, and trauma-informed.
Classes for Beginners & Newcomers
All classes are held @ Culture of Safety Dojo & Wellness Center (6961 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60626). There will be a brief introduction to the practice. After the introduction, we will all sit together for about 30 minutes. Cushions and chairs are provided. After that we will have tea and discussion about the practice. Expect the intro, sit, and chat to last up to 90 minutes in total. If you cannot stay the whole time, please be courteous and let me know ahead of time and then leave so as to not disturb others. After completing a Beginner’s course, you are welcome to attend weekly to continue learning and practicing. There is no charge for the practice. Online registration is required for a Beginners Course.
Your first 6 weeks (the “Course”): Your first 6 weeks of classes will be a graduated course of instruction & practice in breathing mindfulness to develop enhanced concentration, calm & clarity through the foundations of (Buddhist) samatha meditation. Try to clear your schedule for the full 90 minutes and arrive a few minutes early to give yourself time to settle before we begin. Rushing to and from meditation class is counter to the process of cultivating mindfulness and concentration. Cushions and chairs will be provided. Your teacher will support you in finding comfortable ways to sit. Enjoy the process, and give it time to develop. It takes most people a full month or so to get a taste for the practice and begin to see how it can benefit them. Your teacher will be available for one-on-one chats about the practice (also free) to support you in your weekly practice, and to support you in finding ways to develop an at-home practice.
Your first two-three months: After the first 6 weeks (the “Course”), classes continue weekly through the remainder of each 3 month session. In each class, you will continue to explore more of the foundations of the samatha practice. Many are surprised that it can take up to 2-3 months of weekly attendance to learn the full foundations of the practice. The scaffolding of the practice is intentional and is designed to help each person develop mindfulness and concentration at the same time. Like any practice worth trying, it takes time and effort. Your teacher will be available for one-on-one chats about the practice (also free) to support you in your weekly practice, and to support you in finding ways to develop an at-home practice.
After a few months: Once you have progressed in the practice (usually after 2-3 months of weekly practices, longer if attendance is less regular), you will be invited to join additional groups (by Zoom) for further support, which include meditators from all across North America. You will also receive announcements about local events (special practices, day-long retreats, practice weekends, and practice weeks) as well as practice weeks held across North America in this tradition.
There is not currently a local Zoom option for Beginners classes. If you need a Zoom class for accessibility reasons (disability or chronic condition that limits your capacity to come to an in-person class, geographical distance of 10+ miles, etc.), you can fill out the form below and I’ll connect you with a teacher who can offer the practice online. Fill out the registration form to join the next Beginners class or to be connect with online learning options.
Giving / Dāna
The practice is always freely given. There is no charge for the practice, nor will there ever be. We encourage generosity (dāna). If you are so inspired, you may either give online, or donate by cash or check in-person to the following organizations:
More about Samatha Meditation
We practice meditation in the samatha tradition as taught through the Samatha Foundation of North America and the Samatha Trust of the UK, which are both non-profit organizations, run by experienced meditation teachers on the basis on dāna (generosity). You can learn more about the practice through either of these websites.
Samatha meditation has its roots in Buddhist practice. You can learn more the lineage and history of this samatha practice here. Many discussions in groups will center around teachings from Buddhism which directly support our meditation practice. There may occasionally be some chanting in Pāli as well. Identifying as Buddhist is neither a requirement, nor expected. The practice is open to all, whatever your religious beliefs.
In this tradition, we practice in groups, led by–but never centered on–a teacher. Samatha teachers help support each person in their meditation practice through both group and one-on-one conversations, and in turn are supported by the community of samatha teachers, in North America, and worldwide. Through practicing in groups, all who practice samatha meditation are supported both by peers and more experienced meditators. As a community of meditation practitioners, our focus in conversations is how to deepen our meditation practice and connect what we learn from our practice to life experiences.