SoundGate Meditation

First & Third Fridays of the Month
7-8 PM

Our SoundGate program offers an opportunity to meditate using sound as a source of concentration. Experience how the union of breath and sound can anchor you in the present moment. No prior experience or registration necessary.

The Buddha instructed his students to bring awareness and sensory clarity to each of the six sense “gates” of experience. Just as we can anchor in breathing, we can anchor in body sensations, seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling or mindfully track the activity of the thinking mind.

These SoundGate Meditations offer a sound-scape of sensory experience to be your object of meditation, allowing you to linger in the experience of hearing (and take a break from other sense gates perhaps). A variety of sounds will be offered, bells and bowls, chanting, music, recordings of the natural world and soundscapes of our common humanity. While most are designed to be pleasant and carry beneficial intention, some will be neutral or varied in content.

You may simply relax and bathe in harmonious sound, or more intentionally bring elements of Insight practice to your meditation.

Check our listings below to see what will be offered when, or simply drop in with curiosity and explore.

No registration necessary | Donations welcome; any funds collected will be split equally between the Dharma Center and Facilitator.

May 10: Soundbath with Mantras of Compassion

Annika Sophia Grace (vocals), Marius George (percussion) and Jessie Solon (bowls, gong, monchord) return to treat us to a bilssful sound bath.

June 7: Guest Artist TBA

June 21: Summer Solstice Service with Jessie Solon

This hour-long service will include poetry, a guided meditation and a 25-minute SoundBath with Chrystal bowls. Stay tuned for more details.

Coming back this summer: Kirtan-style Chanting with Harmonium

We are excited to welcome Kathleen Karlsen back again. Kathleen is a mantra practitioner, kirtan leader, composer, and artist focused on the transformative power of the arts. She has three levels of training from the Kirtan Leadership Institute and has led regular kirtans, mantra events, and workshops for the last six years. She joins us for an hour of Buddhist chants to the sacred sounds of the harmonium.

Chants will be provided for those who would like to chant in unison — this is an evening where your voice is welcome!

More about Kathleen can be found on her website here.