All posts tagged: Meditation

Sun. 10/12/2025: Sacred Homage: Fall Foliage and Nature Meditation at Chuang Yen Monastery, 10am – 3pm

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Join us for a contemplative day of meditation and reflection amid the fall foliage at Chuang Yen Monastery in Putnam County. This sacred site, home to the largest indoor Buddha statue in the Western Hemisphere, has housed Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi and a vibrant monastic community since 2006. Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, the monastery’s serene grounds and elegant halls—the Kuan Yin Hall (1985) and the Great Buddha Hall (1997), inaugurated by the Dalai Lama—offer a peaceful setting for spiritual practice. The halls house 10,000 mini buddhas and many antique Buddha statues. Past participants were deeply moved by the beauty and stillness of these sacred spaces, as well as the opportunity to learn about the monastery’s history, rituals, and deep ties to the Buddhist lineage. We’ll begin our day with quiet exploration, meditating among the walkways and halls as we immerse ourselves in the presence of this living temple. After a lovingly prepared vegetarian lunch offered by monastery volunteers, we’ll head outdoors to walk the grounds and appreciate the fall foliage, connecting with the changing …

Sat. 9/6/2025: From Skyline to Soil: A Day of Nature Meditation and Ecology Exploration at Governors Island, with Maho Kawachi

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Join us for a joyful day of practice, exploration, connecting, and sharing on the splendid grounds of Governors Island.  Just minutes from Manhattan by ferry, Governors Island is one of New York City’s most treasured green spaces—a vibrant sanctuary crisscrossed with walking paths and expansive lawns, offering breathtaking views of the FiDi skyline and upper harbor. It is home to many environmental restoration projects such as the Teaching Urban Farm, Earth Matters, Billion Oyster Project and more, inviting opportunities to explore and contemplate our relationship as urban dwellers to the natural world. During our time together, we’ll enjoy guided walking, standing, sitting meditation, gentle movement, and inquiries. Along the way, we’ll also learn about the rich history of Governors Island, and tour the Urban Farm —a key site of ecological stewardship on the island. Learn how composting works on a city scale, discover the role of healthy soil in climate resilience, and deepen your awareness of our interdependence with the natural world. Meetup Location: Governors Island Ferry ticket office near Battery Park, Manhattan. Note: All …

Sun. 6/29/2025: Sacred Homage: Nature Meditation at Chuang Yen Monastery

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Location: 2020, Route 301, Carmel, NY 10512 Time: 10am – 3pm Join us for a contemplative day of meditation and reflection as we pay homage to the rich Buddhist lineage at the Chuang Yen Monastery, nestled in the peaceful Town of Kent, Putnam County.  This sacred space is home to the largest indoor statue of Buddha in the Western Hemisphere and has been the residence of Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi since 2006, alongside a vibrant monastic community. Designed by the architect I.M. Pei, the monastery’s beautiful grounds provide a serene backdrop for contemplation. The elegant Kuan Yin Hall, inspired by the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty, was completed in 1985, while the Great Buddha Hall, where the Dalai Lama presided over the groundbreaking ceremony in 1989, was finished in 1997. We will begin the day by exploring the monastery’s beautiful halls, soaking in the history and tranquility of the temple.  After a vegetarian lunch provided by the monastery (prepared with care by volunteers who dedicate their weekends to this service), we’ll venture outdoors for a …

Sat. 5/10/2025: Sunset Meditative Walk – Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn Bridge Park, 6:15-8:30pm

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Date: Saturday, 5/10/2025 Time: 6:15-8:30pm ET Location: Meet at 6:15pm, corner of Chamber St. and Center St. We often think of meditation as an indoor formal sitting practice, but it’s a practice we can integrate anytime and anywhere. Join us for an outdoor meditation as we walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and practice at Brooklyn Bridge Park during sunset. Together, we’ll immerse ourselves in the beauty of a cityscape sunset, fostering a deep connection with our body, mind, and the natural world. Amidst this urban backdrop, we’ll reflect on our interconnectedness with humanity and the environment. We will explore the rich history of Brooklyn Bridge Park, a testament to community activism transforming abandoned industrial space into a sustainable waterfront haven, blending recreation with ecological preservation. The meditative walk will start at the Brooklyn Bridge from the Manhattan side and continue over the bridge to Brooklyn Bridge Park. This experience will proceed rain or shine, barring heavy rain or severe weather threats. To reach the meeting location by Subway: Take 4, 5, and 6 trains to …

Sat. 9/7/2024: BIPOC Meditative Hike to Anthony’s Nose, with Sebene Selassie

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For Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color “The true miracle is not walking on water or walking in air, but simply walking on this earth.” — Thich Nhat Hanh Join us on this fall Saturday for a journey into nature — a time to reconnect with both the natural world and ourselves. Throughout the hike, we’ll weave in various nature meditations, embracing silence as a key element for introspection and transformation. This is a chance to unwind and restore. It’s also an opportunity to understand our relationship to nature in both its simplicity and complexity. “We need acts of restoration, not only for polluted waters and degraded lands, but also for our relationship to the world.” — Robin Wall Kimmerer *********************** As teachers, we always begin every session of practice (whether inside or outdoors) with three honorings: honoring native land, honoring practice lineages, & honoring personal ancestors. But what does it mean to honor native land in a culture rampant with the destruction and desecration of nature? How do we heed the call of …

Sunset Meditative Walk – Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn Bridge Park – Sunday, 8/4/2024

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Date: Sunday, 8/4/2024 Time: 6:15-8:30pm ET Location: Meet at 6:15pm, corner of Chamber St. and Center St. We often think of meditation as an indoor formal sitting practice, but it’s a practice we can integrate anytime and anywhere. Join us for an outdoor meditation as we walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and practice at Brooklyn Bridge Park during sunset. Together, we’ll immerse ourselves in the beauty of a cityscape sunset, fostering a deep connection with our body, mind, and the natural world. Amidst this urban backdrop, we’ll reflect on our interconnectedness with humanity and the environment. We will explore the rich history of Brooklyn Bridge Park, a testament to community activism transforming abandoned industrial space into a sustainable waterfront haven, blending recreation with ecological preservation. The meditative walk will start at the Brooklyn Bridge from the Manhattan side and continue over the bridge to Brooklyn Bridge Park. This experience will proceed rain or shine, barring heavy rain or severe weather threats. To reach the meeting location by Subway: Take 4, 5, and 6 trains to …

November 24, 2017: Black Friday Nature Meditation at Central Park

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Register Here “Everything in this universe has a rhythm; everything dances.” – Maya Angelou Need some renewal time after the Thanksgiving holiday? Inspired by REI’s #OptOutside campaign which closes its stores on Black Friday and encourages everyone to go outdoors, we would like to take this opportunity to immerse in the season with nature meditation and gratitude practices. Every season has its unique gifts.  With the abundance of late fall, we reflect on the work from this past year, harvest what we reap, and release what we no longer need.  It returns to the essence of our experiences and who we are, as we let go of the attachments to the beauty and excitement of summer.  As days get shorter and we are heading into winter, it is a time for introspection, letting go, and spiritual connection. Who: Jon Aaron and Lin Gordon When: 10:30am-12:30pm, Friday, November 24th Where: Central Park, 100th St. and Central Park West Meeting Location and Time: 10:15am at 100th St. entrance, Central Park West No prior meditation experience needed. Fee by donation: Suggested donation starts …

May 20, 2017: Bird Watching/Nature Meditation at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Preserve

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“To see is to forget the name of thing one sees.” – Paul Valery   Want to spend a spring late afternoon watching birds and sunset?  With a short train ride away, we will be transported to a wild sanctuary from the city.  We will be sharing various nature meditation practices in this beautiful open space – cultivating stillness, opening our senses and our heart, and let nature help us unfold in ways that we cannot foresee. The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge—part of Gateway National Recreation Area—is one of the most significant bird sanctuaries in the Northeast and one of the best places in New York City to observe migrating species. With more than 330 bird species—nearly half the species in the Northeast—sighted at the refuge over the last 25 years. When: 4-6:30pm, Saturday, May 20, 2017 Where: You can meet us directly at 3:45pm at the Visitor Center at the  Jamaica Bay Wildlife Preserve.  Or if you would like to travel together to Jamaica Bay from Manhattan, we’ll meet at 2:30pm at the corner of 14th …

April 22, 2017: Earth Day Nature Meditation at Central Park

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“We ask for the presence of the spirit of Gaia and pray that the breath of life continues to caress this planet home. May we grow into true understanding — a deep understanding that inspires us to protect the tree on which we bloom, and the water, soil and atmosphere without which we have no existence. May we turn inwards and stumble upon our true roots in the intertwining biology of this exquisite planet. May nourishment and power pulse through these roots, and fierce determination to continue the billion-year dance. May love well up and burst forth from our hearts.” – John Seed, environmentalist, founder of Rainforest Information Centre in Australia   On this Earth Day, April 22, join us to immerse in nature practices to connect with the Earth and your senses.  From a single leave, we see the whole universe.  Our sense of separateness falls away when we come into contact with the natural world. In addition to sensory awareness practices, we will explore a Gaia Meditation created by Joanna Macy and Australian environmentalist John …