Find Your Peace Through Meditation

At Ithaca Buddhist Meditation, we try to present Buddhism and Meditation in a straightforward and understandable way. Our audience consists of people from all different backgrounds, so we attempt to limit some of the non-essential jargon and rituals and focus on the essentials. At the same time, we have to be true to our Theravadin Tradition and the Teachings of the Buddha. We believe that we have struck the proper balance in this regard, keeping the essence of Theravada Buddhism but with more limited chanting, bowing, and ritual, and with greater autonomy and flexibility than one would find in a traditional Temple. 

Everyone is free to attend as many or as few classes as they wish, and no one is pressured to make a commitment, or donation. While we are here to provide guidance and requested advice, we leave the decision to seek it, and the pace and level of involvement, totally up to the student. 

Morning Classes are approximately one hour. Evening Classes are approximately one hour and fifteen minutes to one hour and a half.  Regardless of length, each class includes Meditation, brief Chanting, and a Dhamma Talk and/or Dhamma Discussion. At Ithaca Buddhist Meditation, we begin each activity with a short recitation of the qualities of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. These chants remind us of the importance of the Triple Gem and help to focus and quiet the mind for meditation. In addition, chanting can create a humble and reverential state of mind, that is, one ready to absorb the Teachings and open to whatever may come up in meditation.

After these brief chants, we engage in a twenty-five-minute period of silent, One-Pointed or Calming (Samatha) Meditation, where we focus the mind on a single point or object in the body and continue to bring the mind back to that object when it invariably strays. This process of training the mind to stay focused increases the ability to be mindful and concentrate, and quiets the thoughts, resulting over time in greater calm, peace and serenity. Instruction in posture and meditation methods are provided, if necessary.

Thereafter, a Reflection on Loving-Friendliness is read aloud by the participants, in which we all manifest the Aspiration to extend Metta to ourselves, our friends and family, the indifferent and unfriendly, and finally all beings.  When the Reflection/Aspiration is completed, a bell will signal the start of Metta Meditation. During this guided twenty-minute meditation period, we manifest goodwill to a greater and greater class of beings, combining both mental and emotional aspects of our mind. Not only is this meditation - called Metta Bhavana - a great way to begin or end our day, but it gives us a joy and contentment which flows from the development and cultivation of the heart.

At the completion of the meditation period, the Resident Monk or a Visiting Monk or Nun will provide a Dhamma Talk, and thereafter the group will be invited to ask questions or participate in a Dhamma Discussion. At the end of the discussion, we chant together the Metta Sutta, the Discourse on Loving-Friendliness. Booklets are provided.

Consisting of two periods of meditation - one "Samatha" and one "Metta" -   as well as Chanting, a Dhamma Talk, a Reflection/Aspiration, each class provides a well-balanced blend, designed to increase Dhamma knowledge and deepen one's practice and wholesome connection to oneself and all beings. Those who desire more intensive practice can speak to the Monk about early morning sittings.

May all beings be well, content, and peaceful.