Madison Tergar Community
Under the guidance of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, Tergar Madison holds weekly drop-in meditation groups and public talks, as well as periodic retreats, workshops and classes on meditation and Tibetan Buddhism. Please join us!
Please Note: Service animals are welcome in the center. Other animals are asked to stay home during the retreat to make the space as accessible as possible for those with allergies.
Joy of Living
Weekly Meditation Group
Tuesday Evenings, 7:00—8:00pm
Offered as a hybrid event via zoom and in-person. Please check our weekly news for the links in more detailed information or email madison.coordinator@tergar.org.
If you are a beginning meditator and would like to learn more, or if you are a seasoned practitioner and would like to deepen your practice, please join us every Tuesday evening as we explore the practices of mindfulness and compassion meditation.
*Community Nights: the first Tuesday of each month includes a 60-minute teaching/practice session followed by a 30-minute social period with snacks provided.
Weekly Meditation Groups
Wednesday Abhidharma Discussion Group. This discussion group meets via Zoom every second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 4 pm to 5:30 pm with rotating moderators and topics. For more information, please contact madison.coordinator@tergar.org
Friday Open Meditation Group -every Friday morning at 8 am. Join our in-person Open Meditation Group with one hour of unguided meditation followed by one hour of shared reflections. We alternate between Wingra Park on the west side of town and Burrows Park on the east side of town. If the weather is not good for an outside meeting, we will meet at the Tergar Center on Blount Street.An email is sent out on Thursday with the location for the following day.To join this group, please email madison.coordinator@tergar.org
Sunday Nectar of the Path Practice, the second Sunday of the month from 10:30 am to noon. FREE and open for everyone. In-person only. This is a monthly opportunity to come together with Tergar Madison friends to practice the Nectar of the Path at our center. This concise and beautiful liturgy was written by our guiding teacher, Mingyur Rinpoche, in 2010 at the request of his students. It captures the essence of many key aspects of Tibetan Buddhism in a lovely practice that involves contemplation, meditation, and chanting in both Tibetan and English. The practice will be led by a volunteer Umdze (chant leader). It is a one-hour practice that is open to all.
Abhidharma Dharma Talk
This talk will be offered twice a month on Thursdays and is led by guest speakers such as Cort, Kasumi, Scott, John, and others. These meetings will be FREE and open to everyone. The talk will start at 7 pm and be held at our center at 301 S. Blount St. but can also be accessed via zoom.
If you are interested in Buddhism or are taking part in the Tergar International online Abhidharma Course, this talk is for you. If you have any questions, please email madison.coordinator@tergar.org
OM Cancellations
TMad has an open meditation cancellation email group used by administrators to notify community members when sessions will not be held; this group is used for this purpose only.
To join this list and receive periodic cancellation notices, please follow please follow this link, click “Apply for membership,” and fill out the short form. You will need a free Google login to join the group.
For upcoming events and programs please go to our online calendar.
Science of Meditation with Dr. Richard Davidson
This is a Hybrid Event.
Date and time:
Monday, March 17, 7 - 9pm CDT
Location:
University of Madison - Gordon Dining and Event Center
770 W. Dayton Street Madison, WI 53706
While it can seem like meditation is all about self-improvement and chilling out, the practice of meditation actually has deep, pro-social roots. In this talk, Dr. Davidson will discuss how meditation has been associated with reductions in implicit bias, more equitable behavior, and improved outcomes in a variety of socially relevant measures.
Dr. Davidson’s groundbreaking research into the underpinnings of meditation and well-being has pioneered the growing field of contemplative neuroscience. A friend and confidant of the Dalai Lama, his studies into meditation continue to expand the frontiers of a scientific understanding of how this practice can promote wellness and flourishing.
Join us for a hybrid event on Monday, March 17, at 7 PM CDT to learn, ask questions, and experience a guided meditation practice. Attend in person at Gordon Commons on the UW-Madison campus or virtually on Zoom for what promises to be an insightful event!
Dr. Davidson is the founder of the Center for Healthy Minds and the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was named one of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2006 by Time Magazine.
No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Please contact madison.coordinator@tergar.org for more information.
Click here to register.
Anytime Anywhere Meditation Course - Madison, Wisconsin, USA
This is a Hybrid Event.
Date and time: Wednesday, April 2, 7 - 8:30pm CDT
Location
Tergar Meditation Community of Madison
301 South Blount Street, Madison, WI 53703 (Click here for a map)
Refund Policy
Contact the organizer to request a refund.
About this event
Event lasts 1 hour 30 minutes
About the program
Tergar Madison is pleased to offer a 5-week online workshop based on the brand new Anytime Anywhere Meditation program, designed to make meditation practice accessible and effective.
During this workshop, experienced Tergar Guide Stephanie Wagner will guide you step by step through the main topics of the program: awareness, compassion, and wisdom.
When: Wednesdays, April 2-April 30
7:00-8:30 pm US Central
Why should I attend?
This workshop is the perfect opportunity to start a journey of self-discovery with Tergar. A workshop that brings traditional wisdom into contemporary practices, Anytime Anywhere Meditation will dismantle any ideas that meditation is a rigid pursuit with lofty, unattainable goals. You will learn that compassion is easy, wisdom is accessible, and awareness is always within you.
What will I learn?
You’ll learn that traditional wisdom passed through modern scrutiny offers a new approach to meditation, providing effective tools to reveal what you’ve always held within yourself — your innate wellbeing that doesn’t depend on the circumstances.
What is included in this program?
Video teachings from Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Sessions with a Tergar Guide
Guided meditations
Group discussions
Requirements for participation
This program is open to everyone.
How much does it cost?
Base Rate: $50.00
Reduced: $25.00
Sponsor: $75.00
If the fee would be a barrier, please let us know – we want everyone to be able to participate.
Meet the Guide: Scott Anderson
Scott Anderson has practiced yoga and meditation since he was a teenager. Since meeting Mingyur Rinpoche in 2010, he has dedicated himself to the practice and dissemination of Rinpoche’s teachings as one of the founding leaders of Tergar Madison. Scott has a Ph.D. in Kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research at the UW-Madison’s Human Performance Lab explores the interaction of meditation, athletics, and physical recovery, and his teaching activities are at the intersection of physical activity and meditation.
Click here to register.
Half-Day Hybrid Retreat: Spring Renewal: Opening to New Possibilities
Date and time: Sunday, April 6 · 9am - 12pm CDT
Location: 301 South Blount Street, Madison, WI 53703. Click here for a map.
Refund Policy: Refunds up to 7 days before event
About this event
Event lasts 3 hours
In the busyness of life, finding moments of renewal can feel out of reach. Spring is a season of gentle renewal—a time when the earth awakens, energy stirs, and new possibilities emerge. This half-day retreat is an invitation to reconnect with yourself and embrace the fresh momentum of the season. Through guided meditations, mindful walking, and reflections, you’ll explore simple yet nourishing practices to bring renewal into your daily life. Like the soft unfolding of spring blossoms, this retreat offers a space to open with curiosity, inspiration, and a sense of ease as you step into what’s next.
Please join us for this half-day retreat on Sunday, April 6, 2025, from 9 am to noon, led by Kasumi Kato.
Retreat Schedule:
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Welcome and Opening Teachings
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM: Guided Meditation – Renewal and Recognizing Innate Wellbeing
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM: Tea and Reflection Break
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM: Walking Meditation – Seasonal Connection
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM: Meditation – Embracing Renewal
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM: Contemplation and Sharing – Practical Application
Meet Kasumi Kato
Kasumi Kato is an experienced educator and meditation practitioner. She holds two master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin, where she taught the Japanese language for nearly two decades.
Kasumi’s interest in meditation began in her childhood in Japan, where she learned to meditate from a young age. In 2011, she encountered Mingyur Rinpoche’s teachings and has been practicing under his guidance ever since. She has completed over a year in solitary meditation retreat, in addition to many group retreats in the Tergar community. Kasumi has also studied with some of the most respected teachers in the Tibetan tradition, including Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche, and Thrangu Rinpoche. Kasumi currently works full-time for Tergar International as a curriculum specialist, developing Tergar meditation and training programs. She also leads Joy of Living workshops and Path of Liberation retreats around the world and oversees the activities of Tergar Japan. Outside of her professional work, Kasumi lives with her husband, Cortland, in Madison, Wisconsin. In her free time, Kasumi enjoys personal retreats, traveling, and hiking in nature.
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Our contribution model allows you to support us in a way that feels right for you. Please review the price categories below and choose the option that best reflects your financial circumstances. We believe that meditation practice should be open to everyone, no matter your financial situation. If costs are a consideration, please reach out to us at madison.coordinator@tergar.org.
Online Only via Zoom – $10: This option provides access to the retreat via Zoom. Your contribution helps support the costs of hosting the online event while keeping it accessible to all.
General Admission – $25: This standard ticket supports the retreat’s core expenses, including space costs and facilitator fees, ensuring we can continue offering these gatherings.
Reduced Fee – In Person – $10: This option is for those who need financial flexibility to attend in person. It helps cover basic event costs while ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate.
Sponsor Fee – In Person – $40: If you’re in a position to contribute more, this ticket helps cover the cost of another participant who may not otherwise be able to attend. Your generosity strengthens our community and keeps these events sustainable.
Tergar Madison
Address:
301 S Blount Street, Suite 104, Madison, WI 53703
Click here for a parking map
Email: madison.coordinator@tergar.org
FaceBook: Tergar Madison
SoundCloud: Tergar Meditation Community
Suggestions and Comments for Tergar Madison Leadership:
If you would like to offer input to the Board of Directors and others in Tergar Madison leadership, please follow this link.
Donate to Tergar Madison
Please consider making a monthly or one-time donation to Tergar Madison. You can donate online at our secure site using a credit card, debit card or PayPal by clicking the donate link below, or mail a check, made out to Tergar Madison, to:
Tergar Madison
PO Box 70754
Madison, WI 53707-0754
If you have donation-related questions, please contact us at the above address or email us at joyofcommunity@tergar.org.
Tergar Programs
Joy of Living Workshops and Retreats
The Joy of Living is a course of meditation training that is open to people of all religious and cultural backgrounds. Tergar Madison offers regular workshops and retreats related to the practices of mindfulness, compassion, and insight meditation. Read more…
Exploring Buddhism
Exploring Buddhism is a study program that covers the core teachings of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. These teachings address the full spectrum of Buddhist thought and practice, starting with teachings on the Four Noble Truths and leading up to the philosophy of Vajrayana Buddhism. Read more…
Path of Liberation
The Path of Liberation builds on the foundational teachings of the Joy of Living, presenting a course of meditation practice rooted in the ancient teachings of Tibet. Tergar Madison holds regular activities for Path of Liberation practitioners. Read more…
If you have questions about Tergar Madison programs, please send an email to madison.coordinator@tergar.org.