Peer-led Silent Sit
These difficult times we are living in call for Strong Determination: More silence, Less opinion.
Please refrain from wearing scented products (natural or unnatural) as some people are allergic.
Please check the TCMC Schedule before attending, in case the sit leader is ill and there is a last minute cancellation.
Every Tuesday from 5-6 p.m. all are invited to a silent, in-person sit led by Barry Reflow with assistance from Molly McKasson.
This is an opportunity to return to our meditation hall, deepen our commitment to the practice, and help create an environment that strengthens everyone's practice.
Noble Silence will be in place, except when someone new to the practice is in need of basic guidance concerning Concentration, Clarity and Equanimity.
Please do not attend if you have any COVID like symptoms.
Donations are gratefully accepted to help TCMC pay operating expenses.
A suggested $4 donation would be greatly appreciated to help cover utilities. No one will be turned away due to inability to pay. You may donate in-person or online Here.
If you have further questions, please call Barry at 520-224-8899.
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Desert Insight Meditation Offerings and Schedule
With Community Dharma Leader Lhasha Tizer
Monday Morning Online Buddhist Book Study Group: 10:00- 11:30 am.
This group consists of students who commit to participating in the book group for the entire length of the book. Each class begins at 10:00 with 30 minutes of partially guided and silent meditation. Talks are offered by the teacher, group discussion, and mindful inquiry. This group opens to new participants whenever a new book is begun. Please go Here for more information or to register.
Wednesday Evening Online Study Class: 6:00 - 7:30 pm.
Please check back for the start date for the next session. More Information
Basic Meditation Instructions
Lhasha Tizer, MS - has been studying, practicing and teaching mindfulness meditation and Buddhist Studies for over 35 years. She began practicing in the Insight Meditation tradition 19 years ago.
She is a graduate of The Community Dharma Leader Program IV through Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She teaches weekly class series in Introduction to Mindfulness, and the 4 Foundation of Mindfulness; The 4 Noble Truths; The 4 Brahma Viharas, The Noble 8 Fold Path; The Essential teachings of Insight Meditation; The Ten Perfections/ Paramis; The 5 Hindrances and other individual classes related to the above subjects.
In addition, she facilitates a weekly Book Study Group. Lhasha teaches silent daylong practice days and weekend retreats such as “Tucson Mindfulness in Nature Retreat”. She has also co-facilitated a monthly group in working with pain and difficult emotions. She co-teaches workshops in Wise Speech, and Compassionate Communication.
Lhasha also guides, consults and provides instruction privately to individuals in mindful living, meditation practices, and mindful inquiry and uses the tools of Somatic Experiencing when working with clients.
She is a teacher at Desert Insight Meditation and has been teaching at Tucson Community meditation Center since 2000 and in 2005 began teaching under the guidance of Anna Douglas, co-founder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
Her web site is: www.themindfulnesspath.com
You may contact Lhasha at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monday Night Mindfulness - 6:30 - 7:30 PM
The Monday Night Mindfulness class consists of about 40 minutes of guided mindfulness practice followed by a period of Q&A about the practice. The class is intended to be accessible to beginners but also useful to more advanced practitioners. It is a good place to start for those just beginning the practice.No registration is required. A fee of $3 - $5 is suggested to help pay for use of the facility, but students and other people with limited resources are welcome and nobody will be turned away for inability to pay the fee.
Beginners who need help with sitting posture options should arrive a few minutes early.
The benefits of mindfulness practice are many. Mindfulness can be useful for managing stress at its root. It can improve physical health by boosting immune function, reducing chronic inflammation, lowering excess cortisol levels, lowering high blood pressure, etc. Mindfulness can also be useful in managing chronic pain. But by far the most important benefit of mindfulness is bringing insight into the true nature of self and world.
The mindfulness techniques taught in the class, which follow the system developed by Shinzen Young, vary from week to week but are always aimed at developing the core mindfulness skills of concentration power, sensory clarity, and equanimity. The techniques generally involve focusing attention on one or more sensory streams (subjective and/or objective visual, auditory and/or somatic experiences) and bringing clarity and equanimity to those sensory streams.
Guidance is provided by Kaishin Ashley. Kaishin has been a student of Shinzen Young since 2001. He can be reached by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. His cell phone number is 520-240-5065
Shinzen Young has many helpful youtube videos relating to the methods used in this class and also has helpful websites at www.shinzen.org and www.basicmindfulness.org.
If you have hearing difficulties, please notify the teacher/facilitator. We have a PA system that can be used.
Please refrain from wearing scented products (natural or unnatural) as some people are allergic.
Mondays 6:00 - 7:15 PM - Meditating in Community - led by Blake Barton
This class meets in-person. It is also offered in a hybrid format, so you can also choose to attend from home via Zoom. Each class will consist of a 30 minute guided meditation exploring a variety of mindfulness meditation techniques, followed by a short talk on a meditation or mindfulness related topic. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A and discussions. This ongoing class is suitable for beginners or experienced students.
Tuesdays 10:00 - 11:15 AM - Immerse Yourself in Mindfulness Yoga. In-person at TCMC. Led by Lorelei, a certified yoga teacher
Mindfulness Yoga allows us to experience the adventure of living in the Present moment, thereby enjoying calmness of mind (including feelings) and compassion for the body. More Details
Tuesdays 5:00 - 5:50 PM Peer Led Silent Sit. In-person at TCMC
All are invited to a silent, in-person sit led by Barry Reflow with assistance from Molly McKasson. This is an opportunity to return to our meditation hall, deepen our commitment to the practice, and help create an environment that strengthens everyone's practice. More Details
Tuesdays 6:00 - 7:00 PM Art of Thriving led by Bonnie Colby
This class will be meeting online until further notice and will not be meeting in person. The next class series starts Apr. 9, 2024. More Details
Wednesdays 5:30 - 6:45 PM - Immerse Yourself in Mindfulness Yoga. In-person at TCMC. Led by Lorelei, a certified yoga teacher
Mindfulness Yoga allows us to experience the adventure of living in the Present moment, thereby enjoying calmness of mind (including feelings) and compassion for the body. More Details
Wednesdays 6:30 - 7:30 or 8:00 PM - Mindfulness and Loving Kindness - led by Chuong Tran
This class is now meeting in-person every other week from 7:00-8:00 pm. On the other weeks it meets from 6:30-7:30 pm. Please see the TCMC schedule to determine if it is meeting in-person or online this week.
This approach to meditation is based on " The Five Ways " of Shinzen Young, which encourages the practice of creativity and Love. All are welcome. Class Details
Thursdays 6:30 - 7:30 PM - Befriending Oneself Through Mindfulness and Meditation - A Compassionate, Body-Centered Approach to Happiness - led by Nick Van Kleeck
This class meets online. In this class, you will learn to relax your body, settle your mind and trust the inherent wisdom within you through meditation and other mindfulness techniques. By bringing a gentle awareness to your experience, you can discover your innate capacity for freedom and awaken a natural openness and generosity of spirit. Class Details
Sundays 8:30 - 9:30 am - Classic Sunday Morning Silent Sit
TCMC has resumed the classic silent sits that we conducted for years. This is a great opportunity to sit together in-person again. Only on the 2nd, 4th and 5th (if applicable) Sundays of the month. More Information
Sundays 2:30-3:30 pm - BIPOC Peer-led Practice Group
This is a practice group for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). The 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. More Information
