Welcome to the Howard County Dharma Group. The group provides a place for those who wish to establish, maintain, and deepen a meditation practice with the support and encouragement of others. No previous meditation experience is necessary. All are welcome.

The coordinator is a local lay practitioner who is presently a student of Steve Hagen*. Prior to beginning study with Steve Hagen, he trained in mindfulness meditation with Jon Kabat-Zinn and studied at Zen Mountain Monastery over a period of several years. There is not a teacher on-site; we gather as a sangha (community) to support each other's practice. Activities are suitable to anyone with a sincere interest in meditation, from experienced meditators to the simply curious. If you have never meditated before, please call to arrange simple instruction in mindfulness meditation before your first period of sitting. Prior to coming, it will be helpful if you familiarize yourself with a basic overview of meditation posture and practice. Two good sources are the Zen Mountain Monastery Website which has excellent, illustrated written instructions and the Dharma Field website where audio instructions, written instructions and posture photographs can be found.

The group meets in Ellicott City every Thursday evening for zazen (sitting meditation) and kinhin (walking meditation), monthly on Sunday morning for zazen, kinhin and a recorded Dharma Talk by Steve Hagen, and periodically for longer retreats. Please check the "Meditation Schedule" or "Calendar" link for times and for occasional cancellations. Activities may expand to include study and discussion groups as interest indicates. For location, directions, and to arrange your first visit, please call Jeff at 410.419.4659. For any other information, call Jeff or click here.

*Steve Hagen teaches at Dharma Field Meditation and Learning Center in Minneapolis, MN. He has studied Buddhism for over thirty years including 15 years with Dainin Katagiri Roshi, from whom he received Dharma transmission in 1989. He is the author of Buddhism Plain and Simple (1997), Buddhism is Not What You Think (2003) and Meditation Now or Never (2007).

The Howard County Dharma Group is not a formal affiliate of Dharma Field or Zen Mountain Monastery.