Monday Meditation Group

A Weekly Meditation Group for LGBTQIA+ and Allies

This group is designed as a safe space for LGBTQIA+ and allies. All are welcome.

“NAVIGATING DAILY LIFE has never been more complicated. Life’s unrelenting demands disturb our inner state of peaceful quiet. Constant electronic interruptions can lead to feeling hopeless, helpless, and without inner support. There is an alternative to feeling overwrought by life. We can turn inward to engage in soothing, nourishing Buddhist heart practices that feed our soul. These ancient heart meditations allow us to gently, lovingly touch our contracted, wounded hearts while opening to the flow of the unconditioned heart qualities of our deeper nature. Engaging a heart meditation means following a formula to relax our learned resistances to heart qualities, such as compassion, while opening to receive compassion for ourselves and ultimately directing it for the benefit of others.”

― Stephen Snyder, Buddha’s Heart

Practices include:

• Heart meditations (Brahmavihārā)
  • Innate Goodness Meditation (Metta)
  • Compassion (Karuna)
  • Sympathetic Joy (Mudita)
  • Equanimity (Upekkha)
• Gratitude practice
• Forgiveness practice
• Breath Awareness Meditation

Innate Goodness produces a sense of serenity and well-being and combats negative self-talk. Upekkha, or accepting the truth of this moment, leads to a feeling of perfect balance. Mudita let’s us feel joy at another’s success. Karuna Meditation helps us deal with the suffering of life.

Practices can be found in Buddha’s Heart: Meditation Practice for Developing Well-Being, Love, and Empathy.  It is not necessary to purchase the book but you may find it a helpful companion.

Liam Myoshin Montanarelli has had a daily meditation practice since 2010. He has a background in Zen, Theravada, and Tibetan Buddhism, and he has sat many retreats, including three retreats of between two and three months. Since 2021, Myoshin has been a student of Stephen Mugen Snyder, Roshi. In 2025, he completed the two-year Buddha’s Heart Teacher Training, and Roshi authorized him to teach the Brahmavihāra, breath awareness meditation, forgiveness and gratitude practices in the Theravada Buddhist Pa Auk Sayadaw lineage. He lives in Porto, Portugal with his spouse, Valeria, and a turtle named Gimli.

Experience Prerequisites

No meditation experience is needed. This group is oriented towards beginners and intermediate meditators.

Joining

Participants join a Signal Group where the Zoom link is shared each week. Cancellations are also announced in the Signal Group.