Common ground Meditation center

Common Ground Meditation Center Common Ground is a community meditation center dedicated to the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness meditation is the practice of waking up to the present moment and learning to be open and at ease with the unfolding conditions of life. With practice, mindfulness reveals deep wisdom, compassion, and intimacy with all things. Founded in 1993 by Mark Nunberg and his partner Wynn Fricke, Common Ground Meditation Center builds upon the history of the insight meditation tradition and recognizes the value in sustained spiritual community. From the beginning, Mark and Wynn shared a deeply felt desire to create a local, dedicated center that would serve as a support for mindfulness practice and a reminder of the importance of cultivating compassion and wisdom in daily life. In the years since its inception, the center has grown into a large, vibrant community of mindfulness practitioners. Common Ground opened in 1993 in a small storefront building, which also served as Mark and Wynn’s home. In collaboration with the Twin Cities Vipassana Collective (TCVC), the center offered daily open meditation sessions, yoga classes. In the first year, Mark began teaching a Wednesday night Weekly Practice Group, which continues to this day. He also began teaching an Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation class with Paul Norr. The Year End Retreat also began that first year between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Common Ground is open to everyone, whether they have an established practice or have never meditated before. Our weekly practice groups (Sundays from 10:30-11:45 a.m., or Sundays from 7:00-8:30 p.m., or Wednesdays from 7:30-9:00 p.m.) are a good place to see what Common Ground is like. These groups start with a half hour of guided meditation, followed by a dharma talk and discussion. These weekly groups are designed to be a cornerstone for one’s practice by providing ongoing instruction and teachings that help illuminate the simple but challenging practice of mindfulness. The Buddha taught that mindfulness is the way to go beyond habits of distraction and grasping. To walk this path of wisdom and compassion, we need the support of a community that shares this intention. If you have children, check out the Sunday morning Children’s Practice, Pre-Teen Practice, and Teen Practice programs.