Weekly Sitting

Weekly Sitting Group

Fees: Dana or Donation – for online sessions e-transfer Dana to steven.hick@carleton.ca

All are welcome, both beginning and experienced meditators, to our weekly sitting group. It is a drop-in group led by Steven Hick and occasionally by other experienced practitioners.

Location: IN-PERSON IS SUSPENDED

Day of the week: Thursday
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm (EST)
Fees: Donation

The session begins with a 30 minute guided meditation. I offer a Dharma talk at 6:30 pm followed by a Q&A. We  conclude at 7:30.

The sessions are in English and include meditation instruction, sitting and walking meditation practice and a Dharma talk and discussion. The sessions are normally led by Steven Hick. In Steven’s absence senior practitioners facilitate the group.

The group focuses on practicing insight meditation, cultivating awareness, love and compassion, giving rise to greater peace and happiness in the world. The group is dedicated to creating a space that welcomes all people regardless of cultural and religious background, race, socio‐economic class, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, education, and physical ability.

There is no cost for attending. The group operates on the basis of Dana.

Dana

The programs of OIM operate on the basis of Dana. Following the 2,500-year-old Buddhist tradition, the weekly sittings and teachings are considered priceless and so are offered freely. You are invited to offer dana, or donations. This is what True North Insight (our sister organization) says about Dana “Dana is an ancient Pali word meaning “giving” or “gift.” Dana is at the heart of the 2,500 year old Buddhist tradition. When the Buddha would give a public discourse, he usually began with teaching on the importance and the benefits of dana. The act of giving itself is of immeasurable benefit to the giver; it opens up the heart, diminishes for a moment one’s self-absorption and places value on the well-being of others. The simple gesture of offering a flower, an act of service or a kind thought can in fact be a sincere form of practice. The size or value of the gift is of little importance; the key is that the act of giving itself is the natural expression of a connected and loving heart.”

Guiding Teacher

Steven Hick, PhD

At the peak of his career, former social work professor and founder of War Child Canada, Steven Hick dove into the Dharma full-time in 2005. He has since founded the Ottawa Insight Meditation Community and now teaches insight meditation with an emphasis on reducing the stress in our daily life. He is Director of MBSR Ottawa where he established MBSR teacher training in Manitoba, Newfoundland and Alberta. Steven is the author of numerous books including Mindfulness and Social Work and Mindfulness and the Therapeutic Relationship. He holds a PhD in social work, and is a father and activist. Steven has been practicing meditation and yoga since 1979 with a variety of teachers, including Matthew Flickstein, Adyashanti, Bhagavan Shanmukha and Thich Nhat Hanh.

Programs and Courses

Occasionally, the Ottawa Insight Meditation Community offers meditation and study opportunities. Add you name to our email list to obtain advanced updates on this.