Together in Practice
OurCommunity
We provide space for new and experienced meditation practitioners to meditate together and deepen their innate wisdom. Through our community offerings, students can learn more about Vajrayana practices and connect both in-person and online with students and teachers.
Why Community Matters
The Strength of Sangha
As one of Buddhism’s Three Jewels, the Sangha is the living heart of the path. At Namchak, our sangha reflects this spirit of connection. Rooted in mutual support, practice, and shared goals, we walk the path of awakening together.
Community spirit
A sangha rooted in compassion, wisdom, and shared awakening.
Goals
- Learn from the Dharma and each other
- Practice meditation in community
- Support one another on the Path
A PATH TO BELONGING
Getting Involved in Our Community
When we explore meditation in community, it becomes a richer experience. We keep returning to the group to feel deep connection and meaning. There are numerous avenues for community involvement.
Morning Meditations
Whether you desire accountability for your meditation practice, hope to create a daily meditation routine, or want to feel the support of meditating with others, Namchak is offering a great opportunity to steady and deepen your practice in all of these ways.
Each weekday morning, starting at 7 am PT/ 8 am MT/ 9 am CT/ 10 am ET, Namchak community members come together to meditate. Hosted by volunteer members of our sangha, these morning meditations are a chance to start each day with a dose of dharma.
How to Attend the Morning Meditation?
Sign in to your Zoom account and use the link below to access the meditation room. We ask all participants to practice Noble Silence, and we invite you to send the meeting link to friends, family, and loved ones.
These drop-in meditations will last for 20 minutes and will begin promptly on the hour.
- Monday through Thursday, the format will be ‘open meditation,’ so you are welcome to sit in Shamata, Vipassana, Tonglen, Round-Robin, SEOT, or any other practice with which you are working.
- On Fridays, we will be reciting the “Stream of Blessings of the Spontaneous Wish-Fulfillment” and accumulating the Guru Rinpoche mantra together as a group to do our part in contributing to the Saving Each Other Together (SEOT) initiative.
One Community:
Monthly Dharma Talk and Sangha Gathering
We come together as a community to deepen our understanding of the Dharma and connect with our fellow sangha members. Each gathering is facilitated by a different Namchak teacher, thought leader, or staff member and will revolve around a particular Buddhist topic.
These sangha gatherings last two hours. The first half consists of a dharma talk, and the second half offers an opportunity for participants to reflect on the teachings through small group discussions in short break-out sessions. These group discussions will be followed by a Q&A session with the teacher.
Participation in small group discussions is encouraged but not required. You can always sit these out! We encourage Learning Circles and meditation buddies to attend together. Inviting friends, partners, family members, neighbors, and co-workers is always welcome.
What to Expect
- Clarity around Tibetan Buddhist concepts and teachings
- A question-and-answer session
- Resources to help support your meditation practice and dharma understanding
- Motivation for your practice and community support
Logistics
- Our One Community Dharma talks typically occur on the second Tuesday of every month at 5:30 pm MDT/MST
- Attend in-person in Missoula, MT, or online via Zoom
- Students will receive a recording of the teaching and practice resources after the event
Learning Circles
Learning Circles are small, intimate groups that meet regularly to practice meditation, share, and study together. To engage and deepen their meditation practice, Learning Circles use Namchak materials such as eCourses, books, including Why Bother? and Wisdom & Compassion (Starting With Yourself), guided meditations, and blogs from the website.
At Namchak, we seek to provide Learning Circles with support and tools to create truly fruitful learning environments, apply spiritual insight in a group-oriented, practical way, and ultimately make the world a better place. Learning Circles are free; there are no costs for joining, attending, or participating.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
Our Community Commitments
To co-create a brave, inclusive, anti-oppressive, and learning-centered space in our community, we each agree to:
Meditate Together