Second Tuesday in August

The Buddhism: Meditation and Skillful Living group will meet on Tuesday, August 11th, from 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm at the Franciscan Spirituality Center.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to settle in, as the center locks the exterior doors promptly at 6:00 pm.

The session will begin with 30 minutes of silent meditation, followed by a short YouTube video by Thich Nhat Hanh (link attached) and an open discussion.   https://youtu.be/R5eBgab1vMQ?si=e65P-NQpIzLnsuX-

Second Tuesdays in July

Here is more information about the July 14 meeting of the Second Tuesdays meditation group which meets from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at the Franciscan Spirituality Center. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early please.

The discussion this month will focus on an article from Lion's Roar, May 2026 titled: The Antidote to Greed, Hatred and Ignorance. We will focus on the third section - ignorance. Here is the link to the article: https://www.lionsroar.com/the-antidote-to-greed-hatred-ignorance/. Please read it ahead of the meeting, if you have a chance.

Second Tuesdays at FSC

Here is more information about the new Meditation Group at Franciscan Spirituality Center on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.

Each meeting we will meditate for 30 minutes and then have a discussion on a topic. You are each encouraged to suggest a topic or reading for future meetings.

We will be meeting this Tuesday, May 12th, please come 10-15 minutes early to settle in. 

The discussion this month will focus on an article from Lion's Roar, May 2026 titled: The Antidote to Greed, Hatred and Ignorance. We will focus on the first section on greed. Here is the link to the article: https://www.lionsroar.com/the-antidote-to-greed-hatred-ignorance/. Please read it ahead of the meeting, if you have a chance.

We look forward to seeing you and let us know if you have any questions.

Sharon Lukert

sharonlukert.com

Kevala Retreat in Chicago

Residential Retreat July 9-12

The Great Matter of Life and Death with Santikaro

Hosted by Insight Chicago Meditation Community at Portiuncula Center for Prayer, Frankfort, Illinois

Death is scary and we want to live. We seek happiness and avoid pain. These are basic polarities of our minds & bodies. Yet, we have far less control over them than we are comfortable with. Death and the myriad hints of it regularly poke through our comfort bubbles. Death rattles us. Still, we are alive, even if it feels, at times, like an uphill struggle. We are here, alive, in search of the best we can do. Buddha-Dhamma, the path of awakening, offers perspectives and practices for facing these simple truths. It fortifies us for when we are tempted to hide, escape, or despair.

Learn more and register here.

New meditation group starting

A new monthly meditation group is starting soon. It will be hosted by Franciscan Spirituality Center and led by Frank Mauss and Robert Lynn.

Here are the details from Robert:

The first session will be held at the Franciscan Spirituality Center on Tuesday April 21 from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.

We will begin with a period of silent meditation.

Following meditation, I invite you to share your reflections on the following:

Buddhism is not monolithic. There are several schools and traditions of Buddhism.

What are some of the foundational tenets that are pan-Buddhist, that are most commonly shared across the wide spectrum of schools and traditions?

Beginning May 12, 2026, the Center will host our group on the second Tuesday of each month from 6 to 7:15 p.m. 

A suggested $5 free-will donation to benefit the Franciscan Center is encouraged.

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Please email champa_c-at-hotmail.com to be put on contact list.

Restarting this resource

Over the next couple of months we will be updating this resource to help those interested in practicing Buddhist mindfulness and meditation connect with our community.

If you know of a group that is not listed here or have links to add, please email ministerofbeans at gmail.

October 23 in La Crosse

October 23 +++  Bridges UMC at King & 8th (see important details below)

Inner Kindness & Healing 

(the Diversity of Meditation Styles & Approaches 12)

  

This Wednesday will conclude our yearlong series on "Many Approaches to Meditation." Let's review and wrap-up what we've covered and what's been learned. Here are some questions to ponder:

* Which specific meditation practices stand out in your experience?

* How did you benefit and learn from them?

* What is your bread & butter, foundation meditation?

* What have you learned about sati (mindfulness) this year?


* What have you learned about samadhi (collectedness,unification, concentration) this year?


* What have you discovered regarding insight?


* Are there specific areas of meditation practice that you want to focus on in the months ahead?

Please come ready for an open, friendly, creative discussion on the questions and and others that you wish to bring.

For location and related information, please go here. Bridges UMC is scheduled to move a few blocks in November and we will move with them. Please stay tuned.

Dāna (donations, gifts, free-will offerings) to sustain Liberation Park and support our work are most welcome. Santikaro and Liberation Park depend on donations as sole means of support. Liberation Park in turn makes donations to Wesley UMC for kindly hosting us.

A sampler of Santikaro's talks from La Crosse and elsewhere are posted at http://liberationpark.org/audio/index.htm