Kirtan
Joyful call-and-response chanting set to live music. No experience needed.
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Meditation Chicago
Kirtan, japa, and Gauranga Breathing
Free, beginner-friendly practice online and occasionally in person.
about the practice
A sound older than worry. A practice gentle enough for a first night.
Meditation Chicago is a small, welcoming community that gathers online and occasionally in person to practice kirtan, japa, and Gauranga Breathing. The practice is spiritual, not religious. It is free of charge, always.
sound-based meditation
Why sound-based meditation?
Mantras and the heart
Mantras are transcendental sounds passed down through an unbroken line of fully realized spiritual teachers. Chanting mantra clears away the dust covering our hearts and minds so we can see everything clearly.
Kirtan
A joyful, call-and-response style of chanting set to live music. You do not need to be musical or know the words. Sing, clap, or simply listen and soak in the uplifting sound.
Japa
A quieter, personal form of mantra meditation. Using a string of japa beads, you repeat a mantra softly to yourself, bead by bead, calming the mind and connecting inwardly.
Gauranga Breathing
A calming breathing exercise with mantra. You think the sounds in your mind while taking a deep breath, then say the mantra out loud as you exhale, at your own pace.
All the practices are relaxed and beginner-friendly. Sessions usually begin with Gauranga Breathing to get grounded, then move into kirtan to lift the heart. For in-person gatherings, we can also include japa. There is no right or wrong way to participate — you can chant enthusiastically, hum along, or simply sit and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Is this a religion?
No. Our meditation is spiritual, not religious. There are no doctrines to accept and no group to join. Just the experience. If you already have a spiritual path or religious practice, there is no need to give it up — you can just add this to what you are already doing.
Our approach
our approach
Come as you are
Our meditation techniques are simple and inclusive. We offer a space where people from all backgrounds can come together to experience meditation as a source of calm, clarity, and connection. There are no expectations and no pressure to believe or perform in any particular way.
Whether you are new to meditation or have practiced for years, whether you come seeking peace, insight, or simply a quiet place to be, you are welcome exactly as you are. Just try the practice and see what it does for you.
Where the practice comes from
The mantras we chant and the breath practice we share come from the bhakti tradition — a stream of devotional spirituality from India that has been carried forward for thousands of years by teachers who lived what they taught. Among the modern voices whose recorded teachings have inspired our Chicago community is Acharya das, whose clear, accessible talks are freely available at wisdom.yoga.
You do not need to know any of this to practice. The sound itself does the work.
Come try a session
The next free kirtan is on the schedule below. Join from anywhere with a Zoom link.
Japa
A quiet, personal mantra meditation practice with beads.
Ask about japaGauranga Breathing
A calming breath practice with mantra, practiced at your own pace.
Join a kirtan