%20-%20meditator%20isolated%20x800.png)
Discover lots of ways you can dive right in
Whether you’re brand-new to meditation or an experienced practitioner, we have a class or program particularly suited to you and your schedule. All of our drop-in classes, special events, and retreats include guided meditation, clear instruction, and practical ways to immediately incorporate the teachings into your everyday life.
Drop-in classes are a great place to start. They all feature straightforward guided meditations led by an experienced teacher, and are supportive, encouraging, and inspiring. Longer classes include practical teaching and time for questions.
No matter how much of a beginner you might be, most of our retreats are suitable for everyone. Throughout the year, we offer everything from brief morning sessions to multi-day, travel-away experiences.
Want to take your practice further? We hold three special spiritual programs for the systematic, in-depth study and practice of Buddhism, all of which are especially suited to the modern world.
You can find us at these Midwest locations, each of which is a quiet urban sanctuary:
-
Wicker Park, Chicago
-
Oak Park, Chicagoland
-
Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
Learn how to apply ancient wisdom to everyday life
Meditation reduces stress and anxiety, calms our minds and bodies, and increases our self-awareness. Even meditating for a few short minutes can bring about a peaceful state that can last throughout the day. Who wouldn’t want that?
​
We offer a variety of drop-in classes and special events guided by experienced teachers who will help you get the most out of your visit.
Find out more about Buddhism
Buddha, a teacher, philosopher and spiritual leader, lived and taught 2,500 years ago in a region of our world that is now part of modern-day Nepal and India. The name Buddha means "one who is awakened" or "the enlightened one."
​
As Kadampa Buddhists, we believe we all have the seeds of enlightenment within us, and the purpose of these teachings and practices is to help us develop the same enlightened qualities of love, compassion, patience, and wisdom for ourselves, and in this way bring real peace and harmony to the world.
​
At our center, we follow the New Kadampa Tradition which offers Buddha’s teachings in a way that is particularly suited to life today. Our tradition, which has more than 1,200 centers around the world, preserves the meaning and intention of Buddha’s original teachings while presenting them in a clear and systematic method that anyone — regardless of nationality, age, or gender — can easily understand and put into practice.