Ongoing Evening Meditation Gathering with Robert Beatty
Begins Thursday, February 26
A HYBRID class for in-person attendance in Portland & online from anywhere in the world
What if Meditation Isn't About Escaping Life, But About Falling More Deeply in Love with It?
Join us Thursday evenings for Mindfulness for the Awakened Heart - a weekly meditation community practicing what could be called Life-affirming Buddhism.
This isn't meditation that asks you to transcend your humanity. It's practice that helps you meet your actual life - emotions, relationships, challenges, joys - with wisdom and an open heart.
The result? Genuine happiness that doesn't depend on everything going your way.
This isn't meditation that asks you to transcend your humanity. It's practice that helps you meet your actual life - emotions, relationships, challenges, joys - with wisdom and an open heart.
The result? Genuine happiness that doesn't depend on everything going your way.
Life Affirming Buddhism Says
- Your emotions are teachers, not obstacles
- Your body and senses are gateways to presence
- Your relationships and daily life are the curriculum
- Love, kindness and compassion are essential to transformation
We practice engagement with life, all of it.
What Happens Each Evening
- Heart-centered opening practice
- Dharma talk (15-20 minutes, recorded to YouTube)
- Guided meditation accessible to all levels
- Community sharing
- Closing lovingkindess meditation
Everyone is welcome - whether you're brand new to meditation or have practiced for decades.
We'll Explore:
- Foundational skills - breath awareness, basic mindfulness
- Working with challenges - the Five Hinderances and difficult emotions
- The Enlightenment Factors - cultivating qualities that support awakening
- The Brahma Viharas - lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity
- Living the Dharma - bringing practice into relationships, work, and daily life
Think of it like a river - you can step in at any point and the water is complete, yet the river also has a direction and flow. Each Thursday evening offers complete teachings you can use immediately, while the year-long arc takes us on a journey through the full landscape of practice. I have created a one year curriculum which will gradually introduce meditation and the teachings of the Buddha in a systematic way. Your practice will become gradually more comprehensive and rich.
Building Community
This isn't just a class. It's a community we're growing together, one Thursday evening at a time.
The Dharma reveals and develops a radically different world view. It is essential to have friends with whom to share one's evolving being. One of the three refuges in Buddhism is sangha - community. We don't awaken alone; we awaken together.
Whether you join us in person or online, you're part of this community. Both formats are real sangha. Choose what works for you each week, or come in person sometimes and join online others.
The Dharma reveals and develops a radically different world view. It is essential to have friends with whom to share one's evolving being. One of the three refuges in Buddhism is sangha - community. We don't awaken alone; we awaken together.
Whether you join us in person or online, you're part of this community. Both formats are real sangha. Choose what works for you each week, or come in person sometimes and join online others.
How to Join
When: Thursday evenings, 7:00-9:00 PM Pacific
Start Date: Thursday February 26, 2026
Where: Hybrid - both in-person and online
In-Person: To begin: 7645 SW 84th Ave, Portland, OR 97223. Later close in Southeast.
Online: Zoom link provided upon registration
Dana: The suggested donation is $15 per gathering or $50 per month The dharma is offered freely in the spirit of dana (generosity). This contribution helps sustain the teaching, and no one is turned away for lack of funds.In fact, to attend live, simply come when you can, Please come a few minutes early so we can start on time.
Offer Your Dana: HERE
Format: Drop-in friendly - come when you can
Start Date: Thursday February 26, 2026
Where: Hybrid - both in-person and online
In-Person: To begin: 7645 SW 84th Ave, Portland, OR 97223. Later close in Southeast.
Online: Zoom link provided upon registration
Dana: The suggested donation is $15 per gathering or $50 per month The dharma is offered freely in the spirit of dana (generosity). This contribution helps sustain the teaching, and no one is turned away for lack of funds.In fact, to attend live, simply come when you can, Please come a few minutes early so we can start on time.
Offer Your Dana: HERE
Format: Drop-in friendly - come when you can
Online Attendance: CLICK HERE
Questions: Contact Robert at [email protected]
YouTube: Weekly dharma talks at youtube.com/@RobertBeattyBuddhistMeditation
Will sessions be recorded?
Each week Robert will offer a dharma talk about a particular topic. Only this will be recorded. These talks will be available on his youtube channel, in a playlist called Robert's Dharma Talks.
Begin Your Journey
The awakened heart isn't about achieving some special state. It's about meeting your actual life with such complete presence and love that you are drawn to become more engaged and alive.
I look forward to exploring with you .
Questions: Contact Robert at [email protected]
YouTube: Weekly dharma talks at youtube.com/@RobertBeattyBuddhistMeditation
Will sessions be recorded?
Each week Robert will offer a dharma talk about a particular topic. Only this will be recorded. These talks will be available on his youtube channel, in a playlist called Robert's Dharma Talks.
Begin Your Journey
The awakened heart isn't about achieving some special state. It's about meeting your actual life with such complete presence and love that you are drawn to become more engaged and alive.
I look forward to exploring with you .
About Robert Beatty
Robert brings over 50 years of meditation practice and decades of psychotherapy experience to his teaching. He is the author of Mindfulness for a Happy Life
Robert's teaching is warm, practical, and deeply human - grounded in traditional Buddhist wisdom while addressing the real challenges of contemporary life.
With metta,
Robert Beatty
Robert's teaching is warm, practical, and deeply human - grounded in traditional Buddhist wisdom while addressing the real challenges of contemporary life.
With metta,
Robert Beatty