Beginner’s are certainly welcome. We request that you arrive 20-30 minutes early your first night so we can meet one another before the group meets.
How much does it cost?
There is no required cost for any of our programs, however contributions are graciously accepted to help offset minor expenses.
When are classes or meetings held?
The group meets virtually, via Zoom, every Thursday evening from 7-8pm CST.
What kind of meditation is emphasized at the center?
We offer guidance and instruction on mindful breath meditation as taught in the Thai Forest Tradition of Buddhism. In particular, we emphasize Ajahn Lee and Ajahn Geoff’s methods of breath meditation that includes the skills of mindfulness, alertness, and ardency. We do however have many supporters who have their own technique, and find that they have no problem participating in the dialogue.
What can I get get out of meditation?
We view the goal of meditation to be simply a skill that allows us to quite our minds and better understand the inner workings of our mind and body. The context of the journey is the personal investigation of intentions, actions, and results… as it relates to causing stress to ourselves and/or others. There are only (2) prerequisites for succeeding at meditation. First, we need to be truthful about our intentions, and secondly we need to be observant. When these two factors are combined with good meditation instruction and support, we can expect to progressively develop our meditation skills, and likewise improve the quality of our decision making in every day life.
Is this a Buddhist or a Secular Group?
Admirable Friends is a group who’s individuals display virtuous qualities based upon varying religious and secular perspectives, yet our common desire is to live authentic lives that lead to well-being.
Are Buddhist teachings such as The Ten Perfections, The Four Noble Truths, The Eight Fold Path, Kamma, Impermanence, Not-Self and Dependent Origination emphasized?
Our main purpose is promote and support an authentic conversation among Admirable Friends on a weekly basis. In that regard our teachings are designed to support this goal. We have taken the liberty to introduce The Ten Perfections under the heading “The Ten Mind Qualities”, and accompany them with an everyday, relatable language. They form an excellent framework for understanding how to incorporate a meditation practice into daily life and represent a list of qualities of heart and mind needed for full Awakening. With the help of Ajahn Geoff, our application of these qualities takes into consideration many of the other traditional Buddhist teachings without mentioning them by name.
For those that want to dive into more traditional Buddhist teachings, we offer a FREE library of downloadable information at Ajahn Geoff’s website. From time to time we have special events and retreats that cover the other Buddhist teachings, however we have chosen to focus our weekly topics generally on the Ten Mind Qualities. This is consistent with our primary goal in supporting an authentic conversation, which can be applied to our everyday western lifestyle. We actually began our program introducing traditional Buddhist teachings, however like many other Dharma centers, we experienced far too much turnover.
Our experience, thus far, has shown that a trusting conversation supported by simple meditation techniques and a more secular curriculum keeps Admirable Friends engaged and heading toward a full commitment to the time-tested eight fold path without aborting their religious tradition.