Breathing is innate. “Following the breath” is a Buddhist concept that requires discipline, it is a tactic for focus during meditation and the practice of being mindful (meaning being present and aware).

Learning to have a mindful focus in a place like Los Angeles can be a challenge. We are afflicted by road rage, claustrophobic because of overpopulation, and in ill health because of pollution. These are all truths of our hometown that if not counterbalanced can trump even our best efforts to be kind, loving and present, as the Buddha suggests.

Lucky for us, there are many hiking trails, day spas and social hotspots to which we can retreat for a quick fix of escape and serenity. But for those of us who have an underlying desire to learn how to achieve Buddhist enlightenment-a way to live that centers around love, kindness and community-, we needed a place to learn…and Noah Levine answered our prayers.

Against the Stream is that place. Levine is an author (Dharma Punx and Against the Stream both available at www.againstthestream.org) and the founder of this punk rock, Buddhist meditation society that currently has two locations, one in East Hollywood and one in Santa Monica. It is a place where the teachings of the Buddha are made accessible to anyone interested in learning them, regardless of finances or religious commitments. Scholarships for classes are offered as freely as possible, so people who want to know more don’t miss out because they can’t afford a suggested cost.

The class list and online calendar at Against the Stream have a wide spectrum of activities. Offerings include meditation retreats, AA meetings, weekly social gatherings, meditation classes for every age group and special workshops such as Mindful Singing and a year-long group titled “A Year to Live” that, according the website, takes you through the “spiritual process of facing death and waking up to the life we are living.”

Levine is the founding father of an American Buddhist movement called Dharma Punx. Tired of drugs and destructive abandon, they turned their focus inward and discovered how the practice of quiet meditation works as an active way to combat anger and mental suffering. Against the Stream’s website tells the tale in simple terms:

“The Buddha said that his path to awakening was one of rebellion, a subversive path that is against greed, against hatred and against delusion. In order to awaken he taught that we have to travel against the norm of society and against our own self-centered tendencies. In his own language he said the path he had traveled and that all who wished to follow was “Patisotagami,” which literally translates “Against The Stream.

Whether you’re dealing with anger or grief, seeking a path away from addiction, looking for a new crowd, or if you’d like to learn about Buddhism and meditation, Against the Stream offers a warm welcome.

Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society
4300 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90029
1-323-665-4300
service@againstthestream.org
www.againstthestream.org/

images via flickr hylah and againstthestream.org

Tags: Balance, Buddhism, Finding Peace, Harmony, Inner Peace, meditation, Meditation in Los Angeles, Mindfulness, yoga