Introduction to Meditation: Mindfulness and Compassion - ou will learn the foundational principles of mindfulness meditation, compassion meditation, and how to apply them to your daily life. Through guided meditation practices and interactive discussions, you will gain a deeper understanding of how to be present and cultivate awareness and compassion in each moment.
Free access anytime
Whether you're new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner, we hope that these free guided meditations will provide you with the support you need to deepen your practice.
This is a comprehensive course and practice group for returning students.
Designed for returning participants or for those who have been introduced to mindfulness, bodhicitta, and insight/emptiness, this advanced meditation course will deepen your practice through techniques rooted in Buddhist psychology and trauma-informed Western psychology. Building on your foundational skills, we will cultivate deeper levels of awareness, compassion, and insight.
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
A comprehensive course that combines all of our mini-courses, a half day practice, and a full retreat day into one semester-long journey. This course is designed for those who are new to meditation and for experienced practitioners.
with Noel Coakley
Full day: 12/21
10:30am-5pm EST
This practice intensive offers an opportunity to deepen your meditation practice and connect with a supportive community.
We will review practice instructions for and participate in guided meditations on motivation, mindfulness, advanced concentration, and bodhicitta/lovingkindness. There will be opportunities for discussion, sharing, and connecting with one another as a practice community. Over the course of the two days, each meditation will be briefly introduced and then all interwoven together.
2 Day Weekend Retreat with John Makransky
January 11 & 12, 2025
In this retreat, we will learn three modes of practice derived from Tibetan Buddhism that empower each other as they harmonize us with those innate capacities. The receptive mode generates a field of care that helps us find immediate access to unconditional qualities of love and wisdom from the depth of our awareness (our buddha nature).
In this course, you will learn the foundational principles of mindfulness meditation, compassion meditation, and how to apply them to your daily life. Through guided meditation practices and interactive discussions, you will gain a deeper understanding of how to be present…
with Noel Coakley
4 Sessions: 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3
7p-8:15p ET
This 12 session course will offer a comprehensive introduction to the stages of the path of Buddhist meditation. It is designed for both beginners and seasoned practitioners. We will co-create a safe community, combining group discussion and direct experience to learn foundational practices including calming the mind, awakening natural qualities of love and compassion, and developing insight into the nature of reality.
The course will culminate in an (optional) offering to take refuge and bodhisattva vows - a formal commitment to cultivate awakening and compassionate action.
12 Mondays 7p-830p Eastern Time:
2/24 - 5/12
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
Costa Rica Meditation Retreat
with Noel Coakley
12/4-9/2024
with Noel Coakley
1 Session: Saturday, October 5
10:30 am-130pm EST
A practice session of meditation focused on practices that familiarize ourselves with concentration, awareness, and cultivating love and compassion for ourselves and others. You will gain further understanding and experiential knowledge of mindfulness and bodhicitta (love & compassion as natural qualities of the heart/mind). This session is ideal for beginners and experienced practitioners alike.
In this course, you will learn the foundational principles of mindfulness meditation, compassion meditation, and how to apply them to your daily life. Through guided meditation practices and interactive discussions, you will gain a deeper understanding of how to be present…
with Noel Coakley
4 Sessions: 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30
7p-8:15p ET
“Uncovering the unconditional love and wisdom of our Buddha nature" with Lama John Makransky
This one day retreat (via Zoom) will explore ways of accessing and settling into our innate awakened awareness through practices adapted from Tibetan Buddhism. By participating in an empowering field of loving, spiritual connection, we can become increasingly receptive to the unconditioned openness, lucidity and compassionate responsiveness of our buddha nature. Yet parts of us, often unconsciously, can prevent us from becoming more fully receptive to such qualities of awakening. This is true even for long-time practitioners. To address that, we will focus on ways that the unconditional, healing powers of our buddha nature can help realign all parts of us with that nature. Then our innate awareness can increasingly manifest of itself, unleashing powers of love, discernment and responsiveness. This retreat is both for practitioners who identify as Buddhists and for people of other faiths and backgrounds who seek an accessible way to cultivate unconditional powers of love, compassion, and discernment. Guided meditations, explanation of principles, and discussion will clarify our collective practice.
with Noel Coakley
June 1 & 2
9a-5p ET (breaks for lunch)
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
This two-day retreat offers an opportunity to deepen your meditation practice and connect with a supportive community.
We will review practice instructions for and participate in guided meditations on motivation, mindfulness, advanced concentration, and bodhicitta/loving-kindness. There will be opportunities for discussion, sharing, and connecting with one another as a practice community. Over the course of the two days, each meditation will be briefly introduced and then all interwoven together. The weekend will focus on direct practice and processing experience together.
with Noel Coakley
1 Session: Sunday, 2/10
1pm-3:30pm EST
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
An afternoon of meditation focused on practices that familiarize ourselves with cultivating and sharing love and compassion for ourselves and others. You will gain further understanding and experiential knowledge of bodhicitta (love & compassion as natural qualities of the heart/mind).
with Noel Coakley
4 Sessions: 1/8, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5 (skip MLK)
7p-8:30p ET
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
In this course, you will learn the foundational principles of mindfulness meditation and how to apply them to your daily life. Through guided meditation practices and interactive discussions, you will gain a deeper understanding of how to be present and cultivate awareness in each moment. This course is ideal for those who are new to meditation or seeking to deepen their understanding of this powerful practice.
Full Course - Includes all 41 hours
with Noel Coakley
1/7-6/2
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
This Spring Community offers a practical, holistic, and down-to-earth approach to mindfulness and to a variety of key meditation practices within the context of a safe and supportive community. Designed for new meditators and experienced practitioners, each session will include a mix of instruction, direct practice experience, and group discussion. Throughout, Western psychology will mix in with traditional Buddhist philosophy.
with Noel Coakley
January 7th
9a-11a ET
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
Start the new year with a morning of practices to establish intentions, cultivate mindfulness, and develop compassion. The emphasis will be on the direct practice and supporting one another as a sangha (practice community). We’ll begin with a brief overview of the principles and practices and before diving into a series of practices and group discussions.
with Noel Coakley
December 17th
12p-8pm EST
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
This one-day retreat offers an opportunity to deepen your meditation practice and connect with a supportive community. We will review practice instructions for and participate in guided meditations on motivation, mindfulness, advanced concentration, and bodhicitta/loving kindness. There will be opportunities for discussion, sharing, and connecting with one another as a practice community.
with Noel Coakley
3 Sessions Course:
11/27, 12/4, 12/11
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
Through guided meditations and discussions, we will delve into the nature of reality and gain understanding into the nature of the self and the world around us. We will also explore the concepts of emptiness and impermanence, and how they relate to the experience of suffering and freedom from suffering, the experience of self and others.
with Noel Coakley
2 Session course:
11/13, 11/20
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
Mindfulness practice begins to introduce us to concentrating the mind. There are further practices to help sharpen that concentration. In this program, you will learn advanced techniques to deepen your concentration and focus through Shamatha meditation.
with Lama John Makransky
Two-day retreat:
11/4, 11/5
via Zoom
In this daylong retreat, we will adapt this pattern of practice from Tibetan Buddhism, with some assistance from modern psychology, to make it accessible both for Buddhist practitioners and for people of all backgrounds and faiths who have previous contemplative experience and seek an accessible way to cultivate unconditional love and wisdom.
with Noel Coakley
3 Session Course:
10/23, 10/30, 11/6
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
In this course, you will learn how to cultivate bodhicitta through loving kindness and compassion meditation practices. You will explore the relationship between bodhicitta and the path to awakening, as well as how to bring these practices into your daily life.
with Noel Coakley
2 Session Course:
10/9 , 10/16
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
In this course, we'll take a deeper dive into contemplation as a means of enriching your meditation practice. Through guided meditations and reflective exercises, you will explore the power of contemplation.
with Geshe Gelek
10 Session course:
9/28-12/7 6p-8p ET
Via Zoom (recordings available)
This course is line by line translation, commentary, and practice instruction from the Bön Dzogchen text “Heartdrops of Künto Zhangpo.” This course section will introduce and discuss the special preliminaries for this main practice.
with Noel Coakley
2 Session Course:
9/25, 10/2
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
This course will guide you through reflective exercises and meditation practices to help you connect with your core values and find greater meaning in your daily actions.
with Noel Coakley
9/23
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
Join us for a half-day of practice and deepen your understanding and experience of mindfulness meditation.
with Geshe Tenzin Gelek
via Zoom
Prep Sess#1: 8/31/23 6p-8p EST
Prep Sess#2: 9/7/23 6p-8p EST
Retreat: 9/11/23-9/15/23 8a-5p EST
A week long retreat introducing and practicing from the Yungdrung Bôn Mother Tantra.
with Noel Coakley
4 Session course:
8/28, 9/4, 9/11, 9/18
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
In this course, you will learn the foundational principles of mindfulness meditation and how to apply them to your daily life. Through guided meditation practices and interactive discussions, you will gain a deeper understanding of how to be present and cultivate awareness in each moment.
with Noel Coakley
18 Session Course:
8/28-12/16
Live at JP Centre Yoga
or Via Zoom (recordings available)
A comprehensive course that combines all of our mini-courses, a half day practice, and a full retreat day into one semester-long journey. This course is designed for those who are new to meditation and for experienced practitioners.
Düdra -
Introducing the Philosophic Logic
of Yungdrung Bön
with Geshe Tenzin Gelek Rinpoche
via ZOOM
4 Sessions: 8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 8/24
6p-8p ET
Study of the Pure Land Prayer: The Prayer of the Completion Body “Rope of Compassion”
with Geshe Tenzin Gelek
via Zoom
5 Sessions: 4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/25, 6/8
Introduction to Mindfulness - 4 Session Course with Noel Coakley at Common Street Spiritual Center
This course is for those who would like to begin a mindfulness meditation practice or for those who could use a refresher on the principles of the practice. Together, we will build a safe and supportive community learning space. We’ll start with how to set an intention and aspiration for practice and then we’ll demonstrate the main aspects of the posture to help everyone find the posture that fits their body. We’ll walk through the basic steps of mindfulness meditation and practice together regularly. Our discussion will include the potential applications and outcomes of practice from a biological, psychological, and social view. Upon completing this course, participants will gain a understanding of how to practice mindfulness meditation and get a strong kick start to a regular habit.
Mindfulness & Meditation Course for Parents
How can I possibly find time to meditate, when I have a child to take care of?
Mindfulness during parenthood is one of the simplest and most profound practices we can use to enhance our parenting skills. Mindfulness is the awareness that arises from paying attention to the present moment, free of judgment or bias.
Developing this capacity can strengthen relationships, help nurture a child’s development, and increase our own ability to cope with challenges and changes that are inherent in parenting itself.
Learn how to make friends with yourself, see your children as they are, and stay centered even in the midst of the chaos of family life. Learn how to practice in the midst of your daily life and how to take mindfulness “off the cushion” and into everyday interactions.
Exploring Foundations of Meditation - 10 Session Course with Noel Coakley
What’s after mindfulness? Did you know that there are many, many types of meditation? The word for meditation in Tibetan is ‘gom’ - which translates as familiarization. This refers to practices that help us re-familiarize ourselves with natural capacities of our hearts and minds - love, compassion, clarity, stability, strength, openness, spaciousness…While mindfulness remains a key foundation and practice throughout the entire path, there are so many others available for us to learn. This course is intended for folks with a foundation of mindfulness practice who would like to further explore the world of meditation. During this course, we will introduce a wide range of meditations, rooted on foundational and preliminary* traditional practices. We will have open discussions and practice together during guided sessions.
Part Three:
The Twenty-One Nails from the Dzogchen Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung with Geshe Tenzin Gelek Rinpoche
This teaching will be a line by line teaching of the root text,
along with translation and commentary from Geshe Gelek Rinpoche.
Participants will receive a copy of this translation and commentary.
Winter Practice Retreat Day with Noel Coakley
This one day retreat will be an opportunity for a deeper dive into longer practice sessions. We will review practice instructions for and participate in guided meditations on motivation, mindfulness, advanced concentration, and bodhicitta/loving-kindness. There will be opportunities for discussion, sharing, and connecting with one another as a practice community.
All practice levels are welcome.
For those who are unable to participate live, the retreat will be recorded and accessible for a week following the program.
Introduction to Mindfulness - 4 Session Course with Noel Coakley
This course is for those who would like to begin a mindfulness meditation practice or for those who could use a refresher on the principles of the practice. Together, we will build a safe and supportive community learning space. We’ll start with how to set an intention and aspiration for practice and then we’ll demonstrate the main aspects of the posture to help everyone find the posture that fits their body. We’ll walk through the basic steps of mindfulness meditation and practice together regularly. Our discussion will include the potential applications and outcomes of practice from a biological, psychological, and social view. Upon completing this course, participants will gain a understanding of how to practice mindfulness meditation and get a strong kick start to a regular habit.
"Unconditional Love as Entry Into, and Expression of, the Nature of Mind" with Lama John Makransky
This one day retreat (via Zoom) will explore ways of accessing and settling into our innate awakened awareness through practices adapted from Tibetan Buddhism. By participating in an empowering field of loving, spiritual connection, we can become increasingly receptive to the unconditioned openness, lucidity and compassionate responsiveness of our buddha nature. Yet parts of us, often unconsciously, can prevent us from becoming more fully receptive to such qualities of awakening. This is true even for long-time practitioners. To address that, we will focus on ways that the unconditional, healing powers of our buddha nature can help realign all parts of us with that nature. Then our innate awareness can increasingly manifest of itself, unleashing powers of love, discernment and responsiveness. This retreat is both for practitioners who identify as Buddhists and for people of other faiths and backgrounds who seek an accessible way to cultivate unconditional powers of love, compassion, and discernment. Guided meditations, explanation of principles, and discussion will clarify our collective practice.
