Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you meet online or in person?
We currently offer online gatherings on Zoom. Please see the Schedule page for details. For regular updates and links to our online sessions, sign up for our weekly mailing list.
I'm interested in meditation instruction. How do I sign up?
We do not offer meditation instruction at this time. However, our Wednesday evening online sessions usually begin with a short guided practice.
Do I have to be a Buddhist to participate?
Not at all. The Prairie Sangha is open to the general public, and everyone is welcome to attend regardless of religious affiliation.
May I visit your group as part of a course assignment or class project?
Absolutely, though we encourage you participate as meditators (rather than observers) so that you may get the most out of the experience. Please let us know if you have any questions.
What if there's a teaching I don't understand or agree with?
If something isn't clear, please don't be afraid to ask questions. If something doesn't makes sense to you or fit within your experience, simply set it aside for the time being. Practitioners are encouraged to engage the teachings with an attitude of ehipassiko, which means "come and see for yourself." Meditation is not about blind belief but rather attention to and investigation of what is unfolding in the present moment.
Does it cost anything to attend?
No. These sessions are offered free of charge.
How else can I help?
In addition to offering financial support, sangha members help out in many different ways:
Helping to run an online session as a facilitator or reader.
Contributing to the dhamma talk discussion.
Offering to "dedicate the merit" at the end.
Serving on the organization's board of directors.
Generosity is taught as the beginning of the Buddha's path, and we're grateful for all the ways people help make our sangha a vibrant and inviting community of practitioners.
Can I arrive late or leave early?
You may arrive or leave at any time during the evening. As best you can, please keep any disruption to a minimum.
What is the refuge chant?
The Refuge Chant is a simple devotional practice that is traditionally performed at the beginning of a retreat or formal practice. The chant is recited in Pali, the language of the oldest extant Buddhist scriptures, and expresses an intention to "take refuge" in the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha (referred to collectively as the "Triple Gem").
The chant can be understood as an expression of gratitude for those who have helped us along the path as well as for our own potential to awaken. More broadly, the chant expresses an intention to be present (Buddha) to our experience as it unfolds moment by moment (Dhamma) with an attitude of kindness and compassion for ourselves and others (Sangha).
What is the dedication of merit?
The dedication of merit is a devotional practice we perform at the end of the evening. By dedicating merit, we express our gratitude for the opportunity to practice and share the dhamma together as a group. The words also serve as a reminder that we practice not only for ourselves, but for the benefit of all the people in our lives and in the world as well. After someone has dedicated merit, the group responds by chanting "Sadhu!" three times, a phrase that means, "Well said!"
Unlike the refuge chant, the dedication of merit is not a formal recitation. The words are chosen by whomever has volunteered to perform the dedication.
For examples, please visit our Dedication of Merit page.