Stepping into Meditation and Community
Are you interested in learning meditation to experience more awareness 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 September, we are offering an opportunity to support you in exploring these questions through our Stepping into Meditation and Community course. During this course, we will provide a framework for foundational Buddhist practices and dharma while also inviting participants into the warmth of sangha (community).
Through inner exploration and engaging with community in reflection and discussion, you will learn accessible, time-tested Tibetan Buddhist practices and dharma teachings that will support you in awakening to deeper peace, happiness, and compassion in three spheres of engagement in your life: personal, community, and the world.
Who is This Course For?
You don’t need to be a Buddhist to enjoy or benefit from this course. This course will introduce foundational Namchak practices, dharma teachings, and the supportive community of sangha. This course is perfect for beginners looking to build a daily meditation habit with group support, as well as experienced practitioners seeking deeper connection with the Namchak Sangha through reflection, discussion, and shared learning.
Although the content and meditation practices in this course are grounded in Buddhism, you do not need to be a Buddhist to enjoy or benefit from the content of this course. This course is a great starting point if you are:
New to meditation
What Will Students Learn?
The practice of setting intention and dedicating merit
Shamata: a foundational meditation practice used to develop our power of attention and to bring our minds to a peaceful state
Dharma teachings including The Four Noble Truths and The Six Perfections
Loving Kindness: a practice that focuses on developing feelings of goodwill, kindness, and warmth towards ourselves and others
Tonglen: a compassion practice of sending and receiving
Working with our practice through the lens of personal, community, and world
What to Expect
Course Outline
Part 1 (7 weeks)
● Week 1: Course Overview, Intention Sharing & Community Foundations
● Week 2: Intro to Shamata Breath Practice & Four Noble Truths
● Week 3: Continue with Shamata Breath Practice & Four Noble Truths
● Week 4: Loving Kindness Practice Starting with Ourselves
● Week 5: Introduction to Tonglen- A Compassion Practice of Giving and Receiving
● Week 6: Engaged Bodhicitta: Exploring our Work in the World & Round Robin
● Week 7: Carrying the Gems Forward and Learning Circles
Course Details
There are two options for this course:
Monday Evenings (hybrid) 6:00 – 7:30 pm MT
Facilitated by Rachel Ashley
September 22 – November 3, 2025
For this course only, there is an option for participants to meet in-person at the Namchak Office in Missoula, MT.
Sept 22, 2025 6:00 PM MDT
Sept 29, 2025 6:00 PM MDT
Oct 6, 2025 6:00 PM MDT
Oct 13, 2025 6:00 PM MDT
Oct 20, 2025 6:00 PM MDT
Oct 27, 2025 6:00 PM MDT
Nov 3, 2025 6:00 PM MST
Thursday Mornings (online only) 10:00 am -11:30 am MT
Facilitated by Emily
September 18 – October 30, 2025
Sept 18, 2025 10:00 AM MDT
Sept 25, 2025 10:00 AM MDT
Oct 2, 2025 10:00 AM MDT
Oct 9, 2025 10:00 AM MDT
Oct 16, 2025 10:00 AM MDT
Oct 23, 2025 10:00 AM MDT
Oct 30, 2025 10:00 AM MDT
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 rachel@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 rachel@namchak.org if you have any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the sessions be recorded?
The sessions will be recorded and sent only to students enrolled in the course. Since a large portion of class time is dedicated to personal check-ins and small and large group discussions, students are encouraged to attend ‘live’ to gain the most benefit from this community-building format.
Do I need to be an experienced meditator to take this course?
This course is designed to introduce students to foundational meditation practices in the Namchak tradition. Therefore, one does not need to have any experience meditating to take this course.
Will we be practicing meditation in the sessions?
Yes. At each session we will practice together anywhere from 5-15 minutes and reflect on our practice through journaling and small/large group discussion.
What are the benefits of meditating with others?
There are three components within the heart of Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Together, they are known as the three jewels. While all three of the jewels are essential on the Buddhist path, at Namchak we bring a special focus to the jewel of the Sangha, or community. Practicing with others gives an opportunity to take our practice off of the cushion and learn how to incorporate it into our interactions with others.
What is the difference between the Stepping into Meditation program and Introduction to Meditation?
Introduction to Meditation is a 3-week program that focuses on the practice of Calm Abiding. Each course session is led by Justin Kirkwood and will offer a blend of teaching instruction and ample time for meditation practice. Stepping into Meditation and Community is a 7-week program intended to introduce a variety of practices, including Calm Abiding, Tonglen or Compassion meditation, and Loving Kindness practice. The course is led by a live facilitator, each session is a blend of teaching, with ample time for community discussion. Students spend time practicing meditation during each course session.
Meet Your Instructors!
About Rachel Ashley:
Rachel has been working with Namchak since 2017, serving on the Community Advisory Board and as the Community Steward before moving into her current position as Program and Curriculum Specialist. Before her role with Namchak, she worked as an educator in a variety of settings for over 15 years with elementary through college-aged students teaching English, Language Arts, dance, movement, mindfulness, and meditation. Her enthusiasm for teaching inspired her Education degree from Ithaca College, her Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University, as well as her training in various mindfulness, meditation, and movement programs over the years.
Her exposure to spiritual practice and Buddhism started at a young age from the inspiration of her mother and time spent in nature. It wasn’t until after college that Rachel attended her first Buddhist retreat, which completely changed the direction of her spiritual path. Since then, she has been studying the Dharma and considers herself a devoted Vajrayana Buddhist practitioner.
About Emily:
Emily has been part of the Namchak family since 2018, dedicating her heart and skills to building community and supporting students’ meditation journeys. As our Community Engagement and Programming Specialist, Emily brings her passion for connection and her rich background in mental health to every Namchak offering.
With a degree in Psychology and experience researching anxiety, depression, and PTSD at the University of Pennsylvania, Emily pairs her scientific expertise with her deep love for Vajrayana wisdom and practice. She’s excited to guide and grow alongside you during the course as we cultivate sangha and explore meditation together.
What People are Saying
If you decide to continue to Part 2, here’s a preview!
Deepening into Meditation and Community (7 weeks)
Week 1: Course Overview, Revisiting & Deepening Intentions, and Impact Tracking
Week 2: Shamata Practice w/Visual Object & Working w/Obstacles to Our Practice
Week 3: Clearing of the Stale Winds & Exploring the Three Poisons
Week 4: Introduction to Sympathetic Joy Practice
Week 5: Introduction to Mantra & The Six Paramitas
Week 6: Engaged Bodhicitta & The Six Paramitas Continued
Week 7: Carrying the Gems Forward and Learning Circles
*The Optional Learning Circle will meet after the course is complete to continue connecting, practicing, and discussing the Dharma teachings from Parts 1 and 2 (and more!) together.