I am leading a meditation group that meets on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm at the Unity Church on 2467 Veneman Avenue, Modesto, California.  We will be meeting in the large building behind the house that faces the street, in the children’s classroom to the right of the sanctuary. (Note the change of location – we met the first two weeks at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on 2172 Kiernan Rd., Modesto, CA, but due to a lack of air conditioning there, we have moved.) If you want to be on the mailing list for this group or have questions, please contact me (Lori Wong) by email (insightmeditationmodesto@gmail.com) or phone (209.343.2748).

This group will focus on Buddhist teachings in the Theravada tradition, most specifically those teachings which support the practice of insight and insight meditation.  We will meet for two hours weekly (although this could change).  Typically, we will start with a period of meditation, followed by listening to a dharma talk and/or discussion.  Initially, we will start with a 6-week series of beginning mindfulness meditation instruction (the audio course from Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City) for those new to the practice – or as review for those who are not new to the practice.  If you have attended an MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction) course (offered at some hospitals) or the Mind-Body Medicine course (offered at Kaiser), you may find this group to be a useful on-going support for what you learned in those courses.

Our first meeting was on June 9th.  The 6-week series started on the 16th and will end on July 21st.  We will continue beyond July 21st with recorded teachings and talks by various Insight/Theravadan teachers.

All are welcome to drop-in, although the greatest benefit will be for those who can attend all of the 6-week series.

The teachings and this group are offered in the spirit of dana – the Pali (language in the time of the Buddha) word for generosity.  The teachings and meetings are offered freely, without charge, as a gift to all who wish to come.

Donations are gratefully accepted, but the wish is for those donations to come joyfully from whatever generosity may arise naturally from your heart as an expression of gratitude. There is no expectation or obligation to make a donation.

Directions to the Unity church:

The address is: 2467 Veneman Avenue, Modesto, California

The church is on the north side of Veneman Avenue between Viader Dr. and Marsala Way, just east of Dale Rd. (near Vintage Faire Mall) in a residential neighborhood.  Veneman Avenue is between Standiford and Snyder Avenues.

If you are coming from the east on Standiford Avenue, you can turn right on Conant Ave. (there is a signal light there) and go north on Conant to Veneman (it ends at Veneman).  Turn left on Veneman and it will be on your right after two streets.

If you are coming from the west on Standiford Ave., turn left on Dale Rd. and proceed north to the stoplight at Veneman and turn right.  Continue east on Veneman past two streets on your left – the church will be on your left after Viader Dr.
If you are coming from North of Modesto, take Highway 99 south to either Pelandale Ave. or Standiford Ave.

If you take Pelandale, make a right at Dale Rd. and proceed south to the stoplight at Veneman and turn left. Follow the directions above.
If you take Standiford, make a left at Dale Rd. and proceed north to the stoplight at Veneman and turn right.  Follow the directions above.

See the map below: