Liberation Park is a Buddhist community, study and practice center in Oak Park, Illinois. Their practice of early Buddhism emulates the approach of Ajahn Buddhadasa of Suan Mokkh (in Thailand); while endeavoring to be well grounded in tradition and open to the modern world -- ecumenical, socially progressive, non-patriarchal and pragmatic - with creative insight.
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Wat Dhammaram is the Thai Buddhist Temple of Chicago. Its mission is to maintain and promote Buddhist teaching and Thai culture, and to organize Buddhist followers for religious and charitable activities. “Vipassana Meditation Center” (VMC), serves as a meditation center as well. There is a Sunday School for young students and adults, and a cultural center that is open to the public. LINK
Insight Chicago, part of the Prairie Sangha Network is a community of practitioners of Vipassana meditation, based on methods in the Thai Forest manner as taught by Ven. Ajahn Chaa, in the Theravada tradition.. The sangha was founded in 2000 by Nancy Randleman and Ellen McCammon with the guidance and teaching of Sandra Hammond. The sangha provides a variety of offerings, such as weekly sits, periodic days of mindfulness, as well as longer retreats. Visiting teachers include Sandra Hammond, Andrew Getz, Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia, and Santikaro (Liberation Park).
Varayana
The Shambhala Meditation Center of Chicago was founded by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist Master, artist and poet. Mindfulness-awareness meditation practice and instruction are available several times each week, free of charge, and classes are offered in
Buddhist studies, Shambhala Training, and Contemplative Arts. The Shambhala community welcomes people of any spiritual background or way of life. LINK
The Rimé Foundation - Rimé ("ree-may") is Tibetan for "unbiased" and the
Rimé Movement began in Tibet in the 19th century to bridge the
Foundation promotes the Dharma by sponsoring teachings in Chicago by
Vajrayana masters from different traditions.
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Mahayana
Soka Gakkai International-USA
(SGI-USA) is an American Buddhist association that promotes world peace and individual happiness based on the teachings of the Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism. Its membership reflects a broad range of ethnic and social diversity.
SGI-USA is affiliated with the worldwide SGI organization that has more than 12 million members in more than 190 countries and territories, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
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The Chicago Zen Center, established in 1974, is a non-sectarian temple, and a growing Zen community in Evanston, IL. They offer daily sittings, dharma talks, meditation retreats, and residential training. Their practice core is Harada-Yasutani Koan Curriculum, resting on a Soto Zen meditation base. The temple includes a variety of sincere practitioners both lay and ordained.
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