Loving Kindness Meditation Society

03/12/2026

"Does your family need a moment to just... breathe? 🕊️✨
Life moves fast, and the world can feel a little noisy sometimes. That’s why we’ve created a special place for you to find your center.

All are welcome every Thursday at 6:00 PM ET for a journey into Loving Kindness. This is more than a class—it’s a spiritual sanctuary for all ages and all walks of life. Whether you are 5 or 95, your heart has a home here.

📍 Join us Onsite: 301 W. Butler Street, Bryan, Ohio
💻 Join us Online: Live on Facebook & YouTube

Calling our neighbors in Bryan, Defiance, Bowling Green, and Toledo: Come as you are. This practice is 100% free and open to everyone. Let's grow more kindness together.

Serving Bryan, Toledo, Bowling Green, and Defiance, our community is a spiritual sanctuary for all walks of life. Join us onsite at 301 W. Butler Street or stream live . This 100% free practice of Loving Kindness (Metta) helps us cultivate compassion and calm.

All walks of life, all ages, and all perspectives are warmly welcomed. Come as you are, regardless of your background or experience level.

03/12/2026

Don’t Just Carry the Boat—Cross the River
Have you ever met someone who loves talking about the gym but never actually lifts a weight? Or someone who spends all winter reading glossy gardening catalogs, buying the best organic seeds, and collecting the sharpest tools, but when spring comes, they never actually step outside to dig? Their backyard remains a patch of weeds while their shelves are full of books on how to grow a paradise.

It is easy to fall in love with the idea of transformation while avoiding the actual work of it. In the Alagaddupama Sutta (MN 22), the Buddha gives us one of his most famous reality checks: The Simile of the Raft.

The Story: Imagine a traveler who reaches a wide, dangerous river. To get across, they gather sticks and branches to build a raft. Using that raft, they safely paddle to the other shore. But here is the kicker: Once they reach dry land, would it be wise to strap that raft to their back and carry it everywhere? Of course not. That would just be a heavy, useless burden.

The Pali Wisdom:
The Buddha explains the purpose of the Dhamma clearly:
"Kullaūpamaṃ vo, bhikkhave, dhammaṃ desissāmi nittharaṇatthāya, no gahaṇatthāya."
(Monks, I will teach you the Dhamma compared to a raft, for the purpose of crossing over, not for the purpose of holding onto.) — MN 22

The Reality: Knowledge is only as good as its application. We often wait for a miracle or a teacher to "fix" us, but the Dhamma is a journey of personal practice.

"Tumhehi kiccaṃ ātappaṃ, akkhātāro tathāgatā."
(You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point the way.) — Dhammapada 276

"A teacher can open the door, but you must enter by yourself." The map isn't the journey. The raft isn't the shore. Even the most enlightened teacher can only point the way; the actual walking—the actual practice—is 100% up to you.

The Takeaway: Don't turn the teachings into a heavy backpack of "facts" and "debates. If the Dhamma isn't making you lighter, kinder, and more peaceful, you might be carrying the raft instead of paddling it. Sometimes we get so caught up in "owning" the truth, winning debates, or collecting spiritual knowledge that we forget to actually use it to change our lives. The goal isn't to be a scholar of the raft; the goal is to reach the other shore.

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03/12/2026

03/12/2026

03/11/2026

🌿 Feeling stressed, busy, or overwhelmed? Take one peaceful hour for yourself this Thursday. 🌿

Join us for Family-Friendly Meditation every Thursday at 6:00 PM (ET) with the Loving Kindness Meditation Society in Bryan, Ohio.

This weekly gathering is a peaceful space where people of all ages, backgrounds, and spiritual paths can come together to practice mindfulness, relax, and cultivate kindness. No experience needed. Just come as you are. 💛

📍 In-Person Meditation
Loving Kindness Meditation Society
301 W Butler Street
Bryan, Ohio

Comfortable pew seating is available, making it easy for everyone to sit and meditate in a relaxed posture.

💻 Join From Home
Watch LIVE on Facebook or YouTube at and meditate with our online community.

🌎 Serving Northwest Ohio & Surrounding Communities
We welcome friends from:
Bryan • Bowling Green • Defiance • Perrysburg • Toledo
and nearby communities in Michigan and Indiana.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Everyone is Welcome
✔ All ages
✔ All spiritual backgrounds
✔ Beginners and experienced meditators
✔ Families, individuals, and curious newcomers

✨ Why meditate with us?
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Improve focus and emotional balance
• Experience loving-kindness and compassion
• Connect with a positive community

Even a few minutes of mindfulness can change your entire day. Imagine what a peaceful hour each week can do.

😊 Come practice mindfulness with us.
Arrive just as you are — and leave with a smile and a lighter heart.

📅 Every Thursday
⏰ 6:00 PM Eastern Time

💬 Comment “PEACE” if you plan to join us this week!
👍 Like & Share to invite friends and family to meditate together.

03/11/2026

One of the Greatest Blessings in Life… Good Friends

The Buddha taught in the Maha Mangala Sutta that associating with wise and good friends is one of the highest blessings in life. When we surround ourselves with compassionate and mindful people, our hearts grow in peace, wisdom, and happiness.

Join Bhante Devananda for Buddhist chanting and meditation and cultivate loving-kindness for yourself and the world. Meditation helps calm the mind, reduce stress, and develop inner peace in our daily lives.

Everyone is welcome — all ages, cultures, and religions. Meditation is free and open to the public.

📍 Meditation Locations
Indiana Buddhist Temple
Mon & Thu – 6:30 PM ET
7528 Thompson Rd
Hoagland, Indiana

Loving Kindness Meditation Society
Thu – 6:00 PM ET
301 W Butler St
Bryan, Ohio

Lankarama Buddhist Temple
Everyday – 7:00 PM PT
398 Giano Ave
La Puente, CA 91744

🌎 Join LIVE from anywhere in the world Facebook & YouTube:

🔔 Subscribe and share the blessings of meditation.

May all beings be well, happy, and peaceful.

03/11/2026

03/11/2026

03/11/2026

Cultivating Your Inner Peace You are warmly invited to join the Loving Kindness Meditation Society for our weekly meditation gathering! Whether you are looking to reduce stress, cultivate compassion, or simply find a quiet moment of connection in your week, our doors are open to everyone.

As you can see from our welcoming space, we are a community that embraces peace and togetherness. Our gatherings are completely free and open to the public. All backgrounds and experience levels are welcome!

Join us this week:
🗓️ When: Every Thursday
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
📍 Where: Onsite at 301 W. Butler Street, Bryan, Ohio (or join us Online!)
💰 Cost: 100% Free

Come as you are, and share in the beautiful practice of cultivating love and goodwill for ourselves and all beings. We look forward to meditating with you! 🙏✨

“For our online friends, we will be going live right here on this page at 6:00 PM EST! Make sure you follow our page and turn on notifications so you don’t miss it. See you tonight! 🙏”

Community Metta InnerPeace