The Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple offers a variety of services such as wedding ceremonies and blessings, birthday blessings, birth rites and blessings, house blessings, hospital visitations, last rites, family retreats (by appointment), youth retreats, one-on-one meditation sessions for beginners (by appointment), and school programs; not to mention almost daily guided public meditation sessions. Please use the tabs below to see a schedule of our activities and read further about the Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple special events and groups.
We are also affiliated with the Daham Sevana Human Potential Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to identify and support economically disadvantaged children in Sri Lanka. The foundation was created, and is managed by, the same man responsible for the creation and management of the Blue Lotus Temple, Bhante Sujatha. Please click here to check it out.
All are welcome to our meditation groups. It matters not if one has experienced a meditation course before, or not. What matters, is a willingness to give it a try in a non-judgmental, peaceful space!
Meditation creates a time of quiet contemplation in a peaceful atmosphere. Participants are encouraged to sit in whatever manner is comfortable for them while one of our monks, or nuns, leads them in quieting their minds. This is done through quiet talking, visualization, and by being mindful of our breath. The great majority of the time is spent simply sitting quiet and being mindful. Bhante Sujatha (or one of our other monks, or nuns) always provides an opportunity for questions and answers, comments, and discussions which many times are highlighted by his own personal experiences throughout the world.
There is no charge for joining or being a part of meditation groups; however the temple is funded by goodwill donations and other goodwill contributions and can not continue its work with out everyone's kindness. Fees that are collected by some individual groups are to help organize events and serve the community. Please contact us for more information or to share your thoughts.
Illinois
Woodstock
Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple
221 Dean Street
Woodstock, IL 60098
Saturdays: 10am to 11am
Mondays: 7pm to 8pm
Tuesday - Thursday: daily practice 6pm to 6:45pm.
Friday: youth meditation 6pm to 6:45pm
Crystal Lake
Downstairs in the Lakeside Legacy Arts Park
401 Country Club Rd.
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Wednesdays: 7pm to 8pm
Cary
Church of Religious Science (www.newthoughtmchenry.org)
204 Spring St.
Cary, IL 60013
Tuesdays: 10:00am to 11:00am
Geneva
Prana Yoga Center (www.pranayogacenter.com)
321 Stevens Street
Geneva, IL 60134
Sundays: 6pm to 7pm
Roscoe
Lazy Dog Yoga Studio
5426 Williams Drive
Roscoe, IL 61073
Once per month 2pm to 3:30pm
For more information call 815-703-3384.
Lake Zurich
Ying Yang Pilates studio (www.yinyangpilates.com)
111 S. Rand Road
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
Every third Thursday of the month at 7pm
For more information call 847-719-1800
Wisconsin
Elkhorn
Elkhorn Community Center (shares lobby with Matheson Memorial Library)
101 N. Wisconsin Street
Elkhorn, WI 53121
Thursdays: 7pm to 8pm
Contact Bhikkhuni Vimala at 262-203-0120.
Nevada
Las Vegas
Blue Lotus Insight Meditation Center
Please visit our meet up group: http://meditation.meetup.com/639/
Contact Amber at 702-882-6352
Vishaka Day
The Day of Buddha’s Birth, Buddha’s Enlightenment and Buddha’s Death held once every year in late spring. The festivities include music, drumming, dancing, chanting, Dharma talks, visitation of Monks from different parts of the world and traditions and ending with a special lantern parade.
Taste of Sri Lanka
A big event where we celebrate the culture of Sri Lanka with music, dance, food and good company. This is the biggest fundraiser for our temple. All are welcome. The Taste of Sri Lanka for 2009 will be taking place on March 7th. Please review the PDF with all the information here. We hope you and your family can attend.
Day of Mindfulness
A day of outdoor meditation, practicing Loving Kindness and cultural experiences from various spiritual spheres held once a year in the summer.
New Year Blessing Night
A celebration of the new year and a way to give your good thoughts to the future.
Annual Summer Picnic
Once a year we all get together just to have a good old picnic.
Youth Group Retreat
The children come to discover basic meditation and the practice of Loving Kindness. We encourage concentration and peace of mind by learning to apply Buddhist teachings to everyday situations.
Adult Day Retreat
Practice love, kindness, reading, walking meditation, chanting, discussions, and learn about self. This can be a weekend, or all day event. We also conduct 2 hour beginners retreats to cover the basics for those new to the teachings.
Precept Taking Ceremony
A ceremony to celebrate those members who are taking their precepts (vows to uphold Buddhist teachings). This is a time for those who have practiced six months or more to commit to 5 or 8 precepts. All are welcome to come and be a part of this special event. Download the manual in PDF format here.
Yoga on Saturdays with Jayson Warn
Jayson is a certified hatha yoga instructor. He completed the Chicago Yoga Center’s teacher training program in 2006 under the direction of Suddha Weixler. He has also studied with senior teachers Richard Freeman, Sarah Powers, Paul Grilley and Erich Schiffmann. Jayson has been a student of yoga and meditation since 2002. Jayson is one of the original members of Blue Lotus Temple and has been a student of Bhante Sujatha since 2003. He is actively involved in many of the Temple’s activities. He loves teaching yoga and he wishes to create a safe and comfortable environment for his students to practice.
Yoga starts at 8:45 am and ends before the 10:00 am meditation before Saturday morning meditation. All levels are welcome. And we ask for a $5 donation. For more info contact Jayson Warn at [javascript protected email address]
Additional Services
