Tergar’s Meditation Group Program

The Tergar Community holds regular meditation groups that provide a thorough course of training in the fundamentals of meditation practice. Based on Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche’s two books, The Joy of Living and Joyful Wisdom, our groups use guided meditations, discussion, and daily meditation exercises to explore the cultivation of awareness, compassion, and insight – the cornerstones of spiritual practice.

The Joy of Living approach emphasizes direct experience and the integration of meditation with everyday life, presenting techniques that can be practiced by anyone, regardless of faith or cultural background. If you are new to meditation, our regular meditation groups offer a gentle immersion into the world of mindfulness. If you are following our Joy of Living or Path of Liberation programs, these groups provide a wonderful opportunity to deepen your experience of the core elements of the spiritual path.

What do Tergar meditation groups do?

Meditation groups feature three main activities: guided meditation, group discussion, and short presentations on the key points of meditation practice. The meditation group curriculum covers a broad range of topics and practices, but focuses particular attention on the practice of awareness meditation. Other practices are also addressed, including basic goodness, the essential elements of meditation practice, and loving–kindness and compassion.

What kinds of meditation are practiced?

Tergar meditation groups work with seven main forms of meditation. Click the links below to view the full program for each practice area:

1.    Meditating on open awareness and the breath [PDF]

  • The practice of open awareness and the breath

  • Open awareness and the breath in daily life

  • Open awareness and the breath in difficult situations

2.    Meditating on basic goodness [PDF]

  • Nurturing the spark of awareness

  • Nurturing the spark of loving-kindness and compassion

  • Nurturing the spark of wisdom

3.    Meditating with the senses [PDF]

  • Meditating with physical sensations

  • Meditating with pain

  • Meditating with movement

  • Meditating with visual objects

  • Meditating with sound

  • Meditating with smell and taste

4.    Essential elements of meditation practice [PDF]

  • Forming a compassionate motivation

  • Letting go of expectations

  • Sharing the results of practice with all beings

5.    Meditating with thoughts [PDF]

  • The practice of meditating with thoughts

  • Meditating with thoughts in daily life

  • Meditating with thoughts in difficult situations

6.   Meditating with emotions [PDF]

  • The practice of meditating with emotions

  • Meditating with emotions in daily life

  • Meditating with emotions in difficult situations

7.    Meditating on loving–kindness and compassion [PDF]

  • Meditating on loving-kindness

  • Meditating on compassion

Interested in Starting a Group?

Tergar’s meditation group program was created so that groups of like-minded people could gather together and share the path of meditation. Groups of meditators all over the world are using this program as a basis for their time together. Your group, whether associated with Tergar or not, is welcome to use the above resources.

If you’d like to learn more about joining the Tergar Meditation Community more formally and starting a Tergar Practice Group, please email [email protected]

If you’d like to find a Tergar group or community near you, you can look for a Tergar Community or Group in your area.