Practice Groups Forming for Summer, 2022
in Iowa City and Waterloo
Sign up now!
The purpose of the practice groups is to become acquainted with Buddhist meditation practice and ideas by sharing our learning, practice experience and questions with a peer group.
We are forming practice groups during May. Our first sessions will be in June. These groups will each have a facilitator – but they will be led by the group and the interests of the group.
We have had a good amount of initial interest in our Summer Practice Groups. Based on those first responses we have figured out times for each group that seem to work for the most people. There is still time to join a group! Please RSVP to join – simply email me to let me know which group or groups you are joining at: admin@milarepaiowa.org
Please note:
- We will need at least 4 people signed up to run a group.
- Groups will start meeting in June.
- All groups will be meeting at our new location – 113 S. Johnson Street, Iowa City. (If there is a Covid wave we may need to go onto Zoom for a while.)
- We ask everyone coming to the Center to be vaccinated.
QUESTIONS?: sangha@milarepaiowa.org
IOWA CITY GROUPS
I: EXPLORATION
Calming the Mind Practice Group - Mondays 7pm
Learning to relax the mind and body thru meditation and contemplation.
Types of Meditation: Calming the Mind Meditation
Suggested Format: 60 minutes meetings
10 min of meditation followed by 45 min of discussion – ending with 5 min of meditation.
Size: 4-7 people
Begins: June, 2022
Prerequisites or prior experience: none
Day, Time, Frequency & Duration: Mondays, 7pm
Please try to make a 6-week commitment to attend. After that, the group will decide on whether to continue.
Facilitator: the facilitator for this group will be a senior practitioner
Suggested Reading – the group will decide what to read and discuss:
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times ~by Pema Chodron
Meditation: How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind ~by Pema Chodron
How to Meditate: A Practical Guide ~by Kathleen McDonald
Suggested watching -on your own time:
A Guided Meditation on the Body, Space, and Awareness with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (14 min)
Understanding the Monkey Mind with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (4 min)
Discovering Buddhism Module 1 – Mind and its Potential (26 min)
Discovering Buddhism Module 2 – How to Meditate (26 min)
Example questions that might come up for contemplation and discussion:
What is Meditation?
What is Altruistic Motivation?
Who was the Buddha?
What are the Four Noble Truths?
What is the meaning of refuge?
The 4 thoughts that Turn the Mind to Dharma: Impermanence, Suffering, Karma, Precious Human Birth
Compassion Training Practice Group - Wednesdays 7pm
~Learning to relax the mind and open the heart through meditation and contemplation.
Types of Meditation: Calming the Mind Meditation, Tonglen Meditation
Suggested Format: 1 hour & 15 minute meetings
15 min of meditation followed by 45 min of book discussion – ending with 15 min of meditation
Size: 4-7 people
Begins: June, 2022
Prerequisites or prior experience: none
Day, Time, Frequency & Duration: Wednesdays, 7pm
Please try to make a 6-week commitment to attend. After that, the group will decide on whether to continue.
Facilitator: the facilitator for this group will be a senior practitioner
Suggested Reading – the group will decide what to read and discuss:
A Path with Heart ~by Joseph Goldstein
The Heart of Compassion: 37 Practices ~by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Suggested watching -on your own time:
Tonglen Meditation ~by Pema Chödrön:
Discovering Buddhism Module 3 – Presenting the Path (26min)
The Four Noble Rumors; Dr. Hun Lye (29min)
Example questions that might come up for contemplation and discussion:
What is Meditation?
What is Altruistic Motivation?
Who was the Buddha?
What are the Four Noble Truths?
What is the meaning of refuge?
The 4 thoughts that Turn the Mind to Dharma: Impermanence, Suffering, Karma, Precious Human Birth
II: ENGAGEMENT
Om Ah Hung Practice Group - Tuesdays 7pm
by Engaging body, speech and mind in purification and compassion
Suggested meditation: Calming the Mind Meditation & Om Ah Hung Meditation
Size: 4-7 people
Begins: June, 2022
Prerequisites or prior experience: none necessary
Suggested format: 1 hour 30 minutes total. 45 min of meditation followed by 45 min of discussion
Day, Time, Frequency & Duration: Tuesdays, 7pm
Please try to make a 6-week commitment to attend. After that, the group will decide on whether to continue.
Suggested Reading – the group will decide what to read and discuss:
Introduction to Tantra: The Transformation of Desire ~by Lama Yeshe
World of Tibetan Buddhism, Vol. 1: Indestructible Truth ~Reginald Ray
Suggested watching – on your own time:
Radical Compassion for A Challenging World, Session 1 ~by Dr. Hun Lye (2 hours)
Radical Compassion for A Challenging World, Session 2 ~by Dr. Hun Lye (2 hours)
Part 1: Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism ~by Khenpo Sherab Sangpo (1 hours)
Example questions that might come up for contemplation and discussion: What are the 6 Perfections?
What is merit and why do we dedication merit?
What are the two truths?
What are the Tibetan Buddhist lineages?
What are the 4 Thoughts that Turn the Mind to Dharma?
What is deity yoga?
Tara the Liberator Practice Group - Thursdays 7pm
Engaging body, speech and mind in compassion for all beings.
Suggested Meditation: Calming the Mind Meditation, White Tara Meditation
Begins: June, 2022
Size: 4-7 people
Prerequisites or prior experience: Some prior experience with Buddhism at Garchen Mila Center or elsewhere helpful but certainly not necessary.
Suggested format: 1 hour 30 minutes 45 min of meditation followed by 45 min of discussion
Day, Time, Frequency & Duration: Wednesdays, 7pm
Please try to make a 6-week commitment to attend. After that, the group will decide on whether to continue.
Suggested Reading – the group will decide what to read and discuss:
Introduction to Tantra: The Transformation of Desire ~by Lama Yeshe
World of Tibetan Buddhism, Vol. 1: Indestructible Truth ~Reginald Ray
World of Tibetan Buddhism, Vol. 2: Secret of the Vajra World ~Reginald Ray
The Way of the Bodhisattva ~by Shantideva, Padmakara Translation Group
Suggested watching – on your own time:
White Tara Empowerment ~H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
Discovering Buddhism Module 4 – The Spiritual Teacher
Part 1: Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism ~by Khenpo Sherab Sangpo (1 hours)
Example questions that might come up for contemplation and discussion: What are the 6 Perfections?
What is merit and why do we dedication merit?
What are the two truths?
What are the Tibetan Buddhist lineages?
What are the 4 Thoughts that Turn the Mind to Dharma?
What is deity yoga?
II: COMMITTMENT
Fearless Journey Practice Group
Engaging body, speech and mind in compassion for all beings.
Groups forming: May, 2022 / 1st meeting: June, 2022
Suggested Meditation – the group will decide which of these to focus on:
Guru Rinpoche Practice
Vajrakilaya Practice
Suggested format: 2 hours
Size: 4-7 people
Prerequisites or prior experience: In order to get something out of this group you must have this prior experience:
- Have taken refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and
- 2 years of participation in Stage 2 Practice Group or
- Previous participation in another Dharma Center for at least 2 years
Frequency: to be determined by the group
Fee: Suggested donation for entire session: $15-$40 sliding scale. Members attend free of charge. No one turned away for lack of funds
Reading suggestions:
As it Is ~by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
Fearless Simplicity ~Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Magic Dance: The Display of the Self-Nature of the Five Wisdom Dakinis ~by Thinley Norbu
Example questions for contemplation and discussion:
What are the 3 Yanas?
What are the 3 Kayas?
What is Rainbow body?
What is rebirth?
WATERLOO GROUP
I: EXPLORATION
Calm Mind, Open Heart Practice Group
Learning to relax the mind and open the heart meditation and contemplation.
Possible types of Meditation: Calming the Mind Meditation, Tonglen Meditation, Om Ah Hung meditation
Suggested Format: 60 minutes meetings
Size: 4-7 people
Begins: June, 2022
Prerequisites or prior experience: none
Day, Time, Frequency & Duration: To be decided by the group
Facilitator: the facilitator for this group will be a senior practitioner. Khenpo Thupsang will visit occasionally.
Suggested Reading – the group will decide what to read and discuss:
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times ~by Pema Chodron
Meditation: How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind ~by Pema Chodron
How to Meditate: A Practical Guide ~by Kathleen McDonald
Suggested watching -on your own time:
A Guided Meditation on the Body, Space, and Awareness with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (14 min)
Understanding the Monkey Mind with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (4 min)
Discovering Buddhism Module 1 – Mind and its Potential (26 min)
Discovering Buddhism Module 2 – How to Meditate (26 min)
Example questions that might come up for contemplation and discussion:
What is Meditation?
What is Altruistic Motivation?
Who was the Buddha?
What are the Four Noble Truths?
What is the meaning of refuge?
The 4 thoughts that Turn the Mind to Dharma: Impermanence, Suffering, Karma, Precious Human Birth