Winter 2024 Edition

Written By Chan Dharma Community

Chan Dharma Community

Winter 2024 Edition

Sustaining a Regular Meditation Practice

Sustaining a regular meditation practice is one of the most common challenges Dharma practitioners face. In our busy world, there are many demands for our attention and it can be difficult to set aside regular time for meditation—potentially leading to frustration or self-criticism. If sustaining a daily meditation practice has been challenging for you, there may be one key missing ingredient: other people! Although meditation is a solo activity, it has always been meant to be practiced within the context of a supportive social group. It is so important that the Sangha (Dharma communities such as the Chan Dharma Community) is considered one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism. Why is the group so essential to individual meditation practice?

  • Connection and support: Have you ever noticed that it is easier to meditate on a retreat or with a group of people? There is often a sense of connection and support—a feeling that you’re not alone—especially when you’re engaging in something that can be difficult at times.

  • Accountability: We are more likely to follow through with something when others depend on us. Making plans to attend meditation retreats or weekly meditation groups are some ways we can make sure we have made a commitment to engage with the practice.

  • Learning from one another: Beginning meditators may believe they are failing at meditating when they observe their mind wandering, not realizing that this is the default for all of us and part of what meditation is meant to address. When we share our meditation experiences with one another (or with teachers), we get helpful feedback and perspective to support us in staying on the right path.

Chan Dharma Community Weekly Meditation

Our Chan Dharma Community has created weekly group meditations to help address the isolation of practicing on your own. They’ve been ongoing for more than a year by members of the CDC planning committee and welcome all members of our community. Here are some common questions we hear.

What is meditating online like?

Great, actually! While it might seem strange to meditate in front of a computer, having someone online to meditate with can feel just as helpful as when you are in the same room.

Who is this open to?

These weekly sits are open to current Chan Dharma Community practitioners who have attended at least one retreat with Rebecca Li, and are not open to the public. Therefore, you might see some familiar faces if you join!

Can I attend if my schedule doesn’t allow me to come regularly?

Yes! While we encourage regular attendance, we understand that sometimes your schedule might change and you won’t be able to attend every week.  

How can I remember to attend?

We have created a new opt-in weekly reminder email that will be sent out for anyone who is interested in signing up. If you would like to receive a weekly email reminder please click here.

Practitioner Quotes

To help understand the experience of the attendees and timekeepers who have been leading our weekly meditation groups, some of our practitioners have shared their experience.

It has been so supportive to have the weekly meditation. I have been surprised how connected I felt just by meeting briefly over Zoom, and how much we could support each other's practices!

—LiZhen W王立真

I had attended the Monday morning sit for about 6 months. Every Monday morning, the sit was a great way to start off the week. I liked the duration (about a 25-minute sit), the constancy of seeing other regulars, and the feeling of connectedness with the others. I am grateful for the support. At the time I attended, for several months it was the only manner of practice for me and I intend to resume the Monday sits in the near future.

—Peter Thambidurai

I do think group sit has its benefits. I go to a local sangha weekly, and in-person is different from Zoom, but Zoom sangha still works to support the practice.

—TzouMin Hsiung

I found the weekly sessions to be a refreshing experience, especially as someone in a rural area with no local Buddhist community. It gave me the opportunity to feel connected to a Sangha and make time for myself and my practice. I am grateful that I could participate.

—Heather Swope

As one of the timekeepers of the Thursday evening sittings, the consistent weekly practice has helped me to cultivate greater compassion and wisdom, since these sittings often usher in many undigested moments of the day or the accumulated weariness from work. There have been many sittings where I felt frustrated with myself for getting lost in replaying the moments of regret for words spoken or left unsaid. Then there are the other moments when fatigue envelops me throughout the entire sitting, only to be jolted awake by my duties as the timekeeper. The Thursday sitting is unique in that we reserve time to listen deeply to one another's sitting experiences. A profound understanding deepens with hearing fellow practitioners share their encounters with drowsiness, getting lost in wandering thoughts, and feeling overwhelmed by the day's events. I am not alone in my struggles; we are all travelers guiding each other on this path, and this awareness allows the knots of frustration to loosen and, on occasion, unravel into laughter. It is amazing to consider the distances that span across different time zones of practitioners who come together for the Thursday evening sittings. This precious opportunity to sit with others has deepened my commitment to our collective journey of awakening.

—Annie Chiu (timekeeper)

Though I was initially skeptical about meditating over Zoom, I greatly look forward to seeing my fellow Chan practitioners and always feel glad that I attended. Practicing on my own has always been hard for me, and these groups have helped me feel more connected and inspired.

—Brian Pilecki (timekeeper)

To me, hosting the Monday morning sit is a great privilege and I am so grateful for the opportunity. I have also been able to serve as timekeeper in a handful of retreats at DDRC with Rebecca Li. The first few times that I did this, I was so nervous. It seems silly now because the sessions flow so naturally, and we have such a warm and supportive sangha, but at the time I would think myself into anxiety about the mistakes I could make or I would suffer from a surprising fear of the vulnerability of being at the center of attention, a feeling I have had in public speaking situations in the past, and other situations. In these particular ways, serving as timekeeper has been a major benefit to my practice, allowing me to sit with those feelings, the physical responses and emotional reactivity, in a formal practice environment that is reinforced with the recitation of vows and the community of sangha, to reflect and investigate them, and to be present as they pass. I have been able to observe how these reactions and anxious habits have been transformed by this regular practice, that my mind has widened a bit to be able to hold those feelings without being possessed by them.

-Lee Harrison, (timekeeper)

We hope you consider trying out one (or both) of our meditation groups. We always love to welcome new people and welcome back familiar faces.

If you would like to sign up to receive reminder emails about the weekly sitting please click here.

Chan Dharma Community

Practice Opportunities

Weekly Sitting Meditation

Monday Mornings, 7:00 to 7:25 AM ET

The Monday morning session includes light neck stretches, recitation of the Four Great Vows, and a 20-minute sitting session.

Thursday Evenings, 9:00 to 9:25 PM ET

Each meditation session includes light neck stretches, recitation of the Four Great Vows, and a 20-minute sitting session.

*The weekly meditation sessions are intended for Chan Dharma Community members who have practiced with Rebecca Li. All levels of experience are welcome.

Online Sangha Friends Gathering

4th Wednesday of every month

Join us on the fourth Wednesday of every month for an unstructured gathering where we can check in with one another, talk about whatever has come up in the past month, support one another, and stay in touch as a sangha. Each gathering will begin with 10 minutes of meditation, and then everyone will check in and share, and discuss what comes up.

Please contact us if you would like more information about the programs or to be added to the contact list for the Sangha Friends Gathering.

Stay in Touch

Chan Dharma Community Links

Rebecca Li

Talks, Retreats, and Other Opportunities

2024 Retreats & Talks:

Books by Rebecca Li

Allow Joy into Our Hearts: Chan Practice in Uncertain Times

Available now on: Indiebound, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and  Amazon


Illumination: A Guide to

the Buddhist Method of

No-Method

Published by Shambhala Publications on October 31, 2023. You can learn more about the book here.

“The world is blessing us with many opportunities to practice. We have much to be grateful for indeed.”

— Rebecca Li

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Our mailing address is:
Chan Dharma Community PO Box 6202 Bridgewater, NJ 08807-0202 USA

Chan Dharma Community https://www.chandharmacommunity.org/
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