Vancouver Queer and Trans Sangha

Join us for the Queer and Trans Peer Led Meditation Group at Mountain Rain!

This is a group for individuals who identify with the 2SLGBTQIAA+ community to come together and practice mindfulness and meditation.

Whether you are new to meditation or have been practicing for years, all are welcome to join us.

We meet on the first Tuesday of each month.

If you are able, please bring a donation to help cover the cost of renting the space. No one turned away for lack of funds.

Our Practice

We welcome all forms of meditation; many of us practice forms of Buddhist meditation.

Our practice begins with a brief introduction and optional check-in, taking into account access needs and requests.

This is followed by:

20-minute peer-led meditation

10-minute peer-led loving-kindness meditation

Brief discussion (participation optional)

Closing

Tea and snacks (participation optional)

*You are welcome to bring a snack to share if you are inspired to*

What is “Peer-Led”?

This means that meditation instruction and other roles are shared by fellow group members. There are a few members who volunteer their time and energy for administrative duties; however, we strive for a non-hierarchical structure where each participant is regarded as an equal.

We encourage everyone to contribute to the community by participating in roles such as leading the meditation, welcoming participants, facilitating, and bringing snacks to share.

Please note that as we are a peer led sangha, there is no expectation that the host leading the meditation should be an expert on or experienced at meditation. Meditations may be led by reading a script, setting a timer or playing an audio recording. Email us to volunteer at the next meeting.

Code of Conduct

All participants have the right to practice with us free from discrimination of any kind, including but not limited to discrimination based on gender, age, colour, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, or religion. If you are choosing to participate in this event, we ask you to agree to uphold this code of conduct to ensure that every participant is treated with dignity and respect. We will all do so by:

Acting and speaking with kindness and compassion

Practicing awareness of our words and actions and their impact on others

Not tolerating acts of aggression, discrimination, harassment, or violence

Dana

We received funding from a Neighbourhood Small Grant from the Vancouver Foundation to cover the rental fee and some light snacks for the group - you're welcome to bring a snack to share if you're inspired to.

Our sangha is offered freely under the Buddhist tradition known as ‘dana’ (a Pali word meaning ‘generosity’). We invite you to practice dana with your presence, signing up to help run the group each month, offering of tea or snacks, and/or donations if you'd like to help us cover the cost of the group when our funding ends at the end of October.

A donation box will be available at each sitting, and those able to donate may do so confidentially with an amount of their choosing. Donations may also be made via Interac e-Transfer to vanqueertranssangha@gmail.com. These donations will cover the rent of our meditation space in future months or other workshops the group may run.

Access Info

Mountain Rain is all one level (no stairs) with wheelchair accessible washrooms, chairs and meditation props (chairs, benches, cushions) for comfort.

People are welcome to pick a posture that works for their bodies including sitting, standing or lying down.

Please avoid wearing scents.

Due to the increase in COVID circulation in community right now, we will ask everyone to wear masks for the time being.

If arriving more than 15 minutes late, the entrance doors will be locked. If arriving after this time, please knock on the door and within a few minutes someone will let you in.

For Reminders and Updates

Join the email list here: https://forms.gle/Xq5Uiq64pvKA3V5W8

Land Acknowledgement

The Mountain Rain Zendō is situated on the unceded and ancestral lands of the šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ (Musqueam),Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We express gratitude for this land and to its original stewards, as we consider ways through our daily practices to reconnect to their history, question our collective and individual roles as guests on this land, and continue to bring Indigenous voices to the forefront to uplift and preserve their cultural practices, languages, beliefs, and wisdom.

Contact Us

vanqueertranssangha@gmail.com