About the Course
Are you interested in learning meditation to experience more calm and compassion? Would you like to connect with others who are also interested in meditating and growing together through the wisdom of Buddhist practices and teachings?
Beginning in January, we are offering an opportunity to support you in exploring these questions through our Stepping into Meditation and Community course. This is an online, interactive, eight-week course that will guide you to the most present, compassionate, and connected aspects of yourself. Through inner exploration and engaging with community in reflection and discussion, you will learn accessible, time-tested Tibetan Buddhist practices that will support you in awakening to deeper peace, joy, compassion and balance in three spheres of engagement in your life: personal, community, and the world.
Who’s This Course For?
You do not need to be a Buddhist to enjoy or benefit from the content of this course. In these eight weeks, we will provide a framework for foundational Namchak practices and dharma while also inviting participants into the warmth of sangha. This course is a great starting point for those who are just stepping into meditation and Namchak and want to create the habit of a daily practice, supported by others doing the same. This is also a great place to start for the more experienced practitioner who is looking for connection with the Namchak Sangha through opportunities to reflect upon, discuss, and contemplate the course content together.
Course Outline
- Week 1: Course Overview, Intention Sharing & Community Foundations
- Week 2: Introduction to Shamata & The Four Noble Truths
- Week 3: Continuing with Shamata & Deepening Intention
- Week 4: The Six Perfections & Working with Obstacles to Our Practice
- Week 5: Loving Kindness Practice Starting with Ourselves
- Week 6: Introduction to Tonglen- A Compassion Practice of Giving and Receiving
- Week 7: Engaged Bodhicitta: Exploring our Work in the World
- Week 8: Bringing it All Together & Carrying the Gems Forward (Course Conclusion)
- Week 9: Optional Learning Circle Transition
Details – Online via Zoom
We will meet for eight consecutive 90-minute weekly sessions on Thursday mornings. Each session will be led by Namchak facilitator Emily Ballentine.
Note: Times are listed in Mountain Time.
- Jan 23, 2025 10:00 AM
- Jan 30, 2025 10:00 AM
- Feb 6, 2025 10:00 AM
- Feb 13, 2025 10:00 AM
- Feb 20, 2025 10:00 AM
- Feb 27, 2025 10:00 AM
- Mar 6, 2025 10:00 AM
- Mar 13, 2025 10:00 AM
- Mar 20, 2025 10:00 AM (Optional Learning Circle Transition)
Login Info & Email Subscription Preferences
The Zoom link will be provided upon registration and a reminder email will be sent out each week with the login info. Confirmation emails from Eventbrite often end up in spam/promotions tab. Please check there if you do not see the confirmation email with the Zoom info.
In addition, if you are unsubscribed from Namchak Community emails you will be unable to receive important emails regarding this course. If you wish to personalize your Namchak Community email preferences, you can do so by locating a previous Namchak Community email and clicking the ‘Manage Preferences’ hyperlink at the bottom.
Tuition
Our intention is to make this workshop financially accessible to all, so we offer a tiered fee structure. Please choose whichever level works best for you.
If program costs present a financial barrier or you are interested in a stipend to offset the cost of childcare, please contact emily@namchak.org.
Invite a friend!
Sangha or community, is one of our favorite elements of the Buddhist path. That’s why we’re happy to share that when you register for the Stepping into Meditation and Community course, you can bring a friend, family member, or loved one to the course for free!
Upon registering for the course, you’ll receive a discount code via email for your guest to use for complimentary registration. They simply have to register for the course through our website and use the promotional code that you received in your email. We look forward to seeing you and your friend at our next course! Please email emily@namchak.org if you have any questions.
What Students Are Saying
“Connecting with others who were, just like me, wanting to learn more about the Dharma, develop a daily practice, and be a part of something special has made this tumultuous and overly uncertain year a lot more enjoyable and gratifying. I loved the weekly conversations, the learning about Tibetan Buddhism and meditation methods, and the camaraderie that grew in spite of and because of our differences. I hold the greatest gratitude for Namchak for hosting these events and I’m looking forward to being a part of many more.” – Laura
“Stepping Into Meditation and Community is a wonderful opportunity to connect with wonderful people and cultivate a consistent meditation practice. I looked forward to every session and was pleasantly surprised with how much more I got out of the course than I expected. Also, Emily is a gifted facilitator and an absolute joy to share space with. Whether you are new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner, I can’t recommend this course enough!” – Bryan
“Stepping into Meditation is an amazing course which exceeded the expectations of a diverse group: we ranged from first-time meditators to people who had meditated for decades. The wise, compassionate guidance of our facilitator, Emily, meant that each session flowed smoothly from teaching to reflection to sharing. I looked forward to each week’s class. This is a beautifully designed course.” – Madeleine
“Emily Ballentine is phenomenal. She is equanimity personified. She is a wonderful example of an enthusiastic, realistic, and hopeful guide to all participants.” – Colleen
About Emily:
Emily has been a student of Namchak since 2018. She has enjoyed contributing to many Namchak endeavors over the years, including serving on the Community Advisory Board and assisting in the creation of the Compassion in Action Network and Fellows Program. Now, Emily serves as the Community Engagement and Programming Specialist, supporting students across all Namchak offerings. Prior to her current role with Namchak, Emily worked as a research coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania, conducting clinical research on anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Emily’s passion for mental health led her to Temple University, where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Today, she is an enthusiastic practitioner who enjoys cultivating sangha (community) and deepening into Vajrayana wisdom and practice.
