Welcome

New to RIM

Where to begin, what to expect, and how to take part, in person or online.

A place for you

Come as you are.

You do not need to know how to meditate, or anything about Buddhism, to begin here. People come for many reasons and at every stage of life, and all of them are welcome.

Where to begin

Two welcoming ways to start, in person or online.

A first gathering

A drop-in gathering

A drop-in is a good place to start, in person or online. Each one is complete in itself, and no experience is needed. This week’s schedule shows what is coming up.

This week’s schedule

A fuller introduction

Foundations

For a fuller introduction, we encourage everyone to take Foundations, our introduction to Taking CARE, our way of practice, through guided meditation, teaching, reflection, and conversation. It is usually offered as a course or workshop, and our first offering begins in November.

About Foundations

A generosity-based community. Membership is freely offered. For most programs, no one is turned away for being unable to pay. Programs list suggested contributions to help sustain RIM.

Before you join us

A few minutes
to become a member.

We ask everyone who practices with us to sign up as a member. Membership is freely offered, and it takes a few minutes. Signing up is where each of us agrees to our Community Care Agreements. For our online gatherings, signing up is required, for the safety and integrity of those gatherings, and we ask everyone who comes to the center to sign up as well.

We ask the same of everyone who comes: to hold the agreements, a short shared vision and three agreements about caring for ourselves, one another, and RIM; to come with a sincere wish to practice; and to help keep RIM a safe place for everyone. The agreements are intentions we share, and holding them is a practice.

Become a member

Your first visit

What to expect.

At the center or online, you are welcome to take part in your own way.

Coming in person

Find us: 4040 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield, WI 53005
Building access: Our rooms are on the top floor, reached by stairs. The building is an older one and has no elevator.
The rooms: Upstairs there is a meditation room and a community room. Cushions and chairs are available; sit however your body is comfortable.
Arriving: Volunteers will greet you, help with anything you need, and respect your privacy. Nobody will ask you to speak or introduce yourself, and arriving late is fine.

You are welcome to come early, have a cup of tea in the community room, and browse our library. We ask everyone to take off their shoes and leave them on or under the shoe rack.

If you would like to offer a donation, there is a bowl beneath the Bodhi tree wood carving, in the entryway to the community room.

Joining online

Where we meet: Zoom. Once you are signed in, your gathering’s link appears on My Home.
Before joining: Sign up as a member. Some programs also ask you to register first, and the program’s page will say so.
When to arrive: The room opens ten minutes before the start, and you are welcome to come in any time after that.
Your camera: Cameras are welcome and never required.

Open My Home

If stairs are not possible for you, you are warmly welcome at our online gatherings, which are a full way to practice with us. Some of our gatherings, including days of mindfulness and retreats, take place in other settings; the schedule and our newsletter say where.

Practicing together

There is room
for your way of being.

RIM is a community for learning and practice, and each of us takes part in our own way. Some of us share readily and some prefer to sit and listen, and both help make the community a healthy place to learn and practice. People from every walk of life practice here, and our differences make us stronger.

If what brings you is a hard season, you are in good company; many of us arrived the same way. No explanation is owed, and none will be asked for.

Diverse Together

A little more reassurance

Questions
you might have.

Do I need meditation experience?

No. Every gathering is open to beginners, and the practice keeps deepening for people who have practiced for many years.

What does it cost?

Our teachings are offered freely, through dana, the practice of generosity. Programs list a suggested amount so you can see what an offering takes to sustain, and for most programs, no one is turned away for being unable to pay. A few offerings, such as overnight retreats, carry a minimum.

Is this religious?

Our practice comes from Buddhist meditation and is open to people of every faith and of none. It asks no belief. Its teachings are offered to be explored and tested in experience.

What if difficult feelings come up?

Meditation can bring up difficult feelings and memories. They are part of human experience, and they are met with care, at a workable pace, with a teacher available to talk with. Anyone receiving mental health care is encouraged to speak with their provider before beginning.

Is this therapy?

It is a practice of meditation and mindful living. It can support people through hard seasons, and it does not replace medical or mental health care.

What can practice help with?

People come for many reasons: to meet stress, pain, a hard season, or the weight of what is happening in the world; to enjoy life more; to be there for the people they love; to live by what matters; and, for some, to walk a path of awakening. There is room for all of these here, and Why We Practice describes how practice helps.

We are here to help

Still wondering
about something?

You are always welcome to ask anyone at the center. You can also get in touch before your visit.

support@rootedinmindfulness.org (414) 882-8932