The Meditation Center

Are you seeking to clear your mind, find tranquility, and experience deep relaxation? You have come to the right place. The Meditation Center of Chicago offers a wide range of meditation services for both novice and seasoned practitioners. Our meditation sessions are led by experienced monks and meditation mentors who will guide you on a transformative journey towards inner peace.

Our Services

At the Meditation Center of Chicago, we offer a variety of meditation services tailored to fit your schedule and needs. Our weekly schedule and monthly events cater to everyone, whether you are new to meditation or have been practicing for years.

Our services include:

• Guided Meditation: Our experienced instructors will guide you through a simple meditation technique that can help you manage stress, feel more present in your daily life, and connect to a deeper sense of self-awareness. We invite you to try guided meditation with us at no cost and discover peace of mind for yourself.
• Meditation Classes: We have two locations to fit your schedule. Join one of our classes and learn simple techniques that can help you manage stress, feel more present in your daily life and connect to a deeper sense of self-awareness. Our classes are designed for people of all backgrounds and beliefs, and we welcome anyone interested in exploring the richness of Thai culture.
• Meditation Retreats: Our meditation retreats offer a unique opportunity to deepen your meditation practice. Our retreats are held in a quiet and peaceful environment, away from the distractions of daily life. Our experienced instructors will guide you through a series of meditation techniques and provide support and guidance throughout the retreat.
• Full Moon Meditation: Join us for a special meditation session held under the full moon. The full moon is a powerful time for meditation and reflection, and our full moon meditation sessions offer a unique opportunity to connect with the energy of the full moon and deepen your meditation practice.

Our Mission

The Meditation Center of Chicago was founded by a small Thai Buddhist community who believe a more harmonious and peaceful world can be brought about through teaching meditation. Our goals are to spread the many benefits of mindfulness meditation, offer information on Buddhist tradition, and provide an environment for anyone interested in exploring the richness of Thai culture. We furnish a quiet space where anyone can come and meditate in a group setting. Our mission is to promote world peace through teaching inner peace.

Our Tradition

Our meditation center is one of many around the world branching from one of the biggest Buddhist temples in Thailand. The headquarters was established on February 20th, 1970 by Luang Por Dhammajayo and Master Nun Chandra Khonnokyoong. The founders and their disciples built the foundation on the teachings and research of Master Phra Monkolthepmuni, who rediscovered the ways of meditation. The belief of temple members is that world peace begins with inner peace, and with this, the temple has looked to teach meditation around the world.

Meet Our Instructors

Monk Prawed: Monk Prawed was ordained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand 24 years ago, after he graduated from Burapha University with a degree in Education. He came to the United States as an instructor of meditation classes. He was very excited about his work, which has taken him from Massachusetts to Colorado, Georgia, and California; in June of 2023, Monk Prawed relocated to Chicago, Illinois. He loves meditation and practices at least three hours daily. His firm belief is that meditation helps people to do good deeds, foster understanding, and develop their mental and spiritual abilities. His wish is that peaceful individuals and communities will eventually result in world peace. He is grateful for the awareness that he is not walking alone in the path of goodness.

Monk Piya: Monk Piya was born into a Thai-Chinese family in Chiang Rai, Thailand in 1975. He graduated with First-Class Honor from Chiang Mai University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also completed an executive MBA course from the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce. He has previously worked as a Maintenance and Production Engineer at Michelin and Siam Cement companies. He has been practicing meditation since 1998. Then, he entered the monkhood at Dhammakaya Temple in Thailand in 2001. Since then, he has been teaching the practice of meditation to people from all walks of life around the world.

Monk Sophon: Monk Sophon was born in Thailand and