Intro to Calm Abiding Meditation with Justin Kirkwood

From the moment we wake up until we fall asleep, our minds are working. How familiar are we with what’s actually happening in our minds? And how attached are we to the stories that our minds create? When our minds are unexamined, we are likely to experience stress, anxiety, emotional pain and so forth. When we familiarize ourselves with the happenings of our minds, we can uncover and rest in the peaceful state that is always available to us.

In this three-part series, we will cultivate habits of seeing and relating to our own inner and outer worlds in a new way that brings us comfort and ease. We will discuss various types of meditation and their roles on the Buddhist path while focusing on the practice of Calm Abiding or Shamata.

Calm Abiding serves as the foundation for all other practices. It is a technique used to develop our power of attention and bring our thoughts to a peaceful state. Then we practice resting the mind in that state which feels like a vacation for our often scattered and distracted minds. Calm Abiding serves as the stable ground from which we can move into practices such as Vipassana (Special Insight) meditations on selflessness and emptiness.

Given the cumulative nature of the content, attendance at all three sessions is highly encouraged.

Students interested in deepening their study of Shamata through the Walking the Path program can enjoy an introduction to the technique and Justin's teaching style in this 3-week course prior to The Way of Calm Abiding Walking the Path Retreat on March 7-9.

What participants can expect:

• In-depth instructions and discussions on preparing to meditate
• Guided Calm Abiding (Shamata) meditation practice sessions
• Advice for integrating meditation into daily life
• An on-ramp for students interested in deepening practice through the Walking the Path program

Details:

Location: In-person in Missoula or online (Zoom link sent upon registration)

Namchak Buddhist Practice and Retreat

250 Station Drive, #2nd Floor, Missoula, MT, 59801

Please note Mountain Daylight Savings Time

Wednesday, February 19, from 5:30-7 pm MST

Wednesday, February 26, from 5:30-7 pm MST

Wednesday, March 5, from 5:30-7 pm MST

Zoom link will be provided upon registration. Please note: 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.

We will be recording this session and will provide access to it after the event. If you do not feel comfortable being recorded, we understand. You can turn your camera off, ask your question in the chat, and/or ask Namchak staff to ask your question for you.

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 work-study, please contact [email protected].

Invite a Friend!

Sangha (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 Introduction to Calm Abiding Meditation 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 confirmation 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 [email protected] if you have any questions.

About Justin Kirkwood

Justin Kirkwood is a dedicated dharma student and teacher with over 20 years of experience in studying and practicing Buddhism. As a former monk who spent eight years in India, Justin had the privilege of studying and practicing with renowned Tibetan masters. He has also worked as a Tibetan translator and interpreter for over a decade, deepening his understanding of the sacred texts. Justin is a vital member of the Namchak Foundation, serving as a translator of texts, an interpreter for Namchak Khen Rinpoche, and a teacher. To get a feel for Justin's teaching style and for a brief introduction to Tibetan Buddhist meditation practices, see video below!

What students are saying:

"Justin is a great teacher! In every single session, he says something that just "clicks" and brings things together for me." - Sandy

"Justin is amazing. Not only is he so knowledgeable, so well trained in dharma, but he’s a natural teacher. He explains things so thoroughly and well, he’s a gift really." - Mati

"Justin has a real skill for breaking down the teachings in a way that is easy to understand and it has been really nice to be able to talk with him in person while attending the classes in Missoula." - Mac

About Namchak

Namchak brings ancient meditation practices to modern life through online learning, in-person retreats, and a vibrant community guided by Tibetan masters and Western teachers. We support students on every step of the path, from those exploring mindfulness for the first time to more experienced students looking to deepen their practice. We offer a variety of learning programs, including in-person teaching, small group learning, online courses, and residential retreats at the Namchak Retreat Ranch in western Montana.

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