Awakin gatherings are rooted in silence, community, and service.
The first Awakin Circle emerged in 1996 when three friends got together to sit in silence, every Wednesday, in an ordinary living room in Silicon Valley. After the first hour of meditation, they shared some personal moments in the second hour and ended with a home-cooked meal together. There were no teachers, no brand, no marketing, no commerce, no agenda. Just a humble space for anyone to enjoy.
Instead of closing the door, they left it open ... to all. What emerged was totally unexpected -- and yet, so perfectly right. For over a decade, it was known simply as 'Wednesdays'. Over the years, more than 20 thousand people have walked into that initial living room (and that original circle still continues today), many of whom were friends who wanted to start "Wednesdays" in their own local community.
Today, Awakin Circles have touched countless lives across hundreds of locations around the globe. Each circle has its own flavor and context, is independently organized, and stays active as long as conditions are ripe. All circles are entirely volunteer-run, non-commercial, and labor of love offerings.
You can learn a bit more of its history here. (See also: Six Lessons From my First Awakin Circle)
"Meditation is a process of lightening up, of trusting the basic goodness of what we have and who we are, and of realizing that any wisdom that exists, exists in what we already have. We can lead our life so as to become more awake to who we are and what we’re doing rather than trying to improve or change or get rid of who we are or what we’re doing. The key is to wake up, to become more alert, more inquisitive and curious about ourselves." --Pema Chodron
Thank you for your resonance with our shared values. We are grateful to be in connected in the spirit of service, and look forward to planting a few more seeds of compassion together.
**Note: Each Awakin Circle is independently organized by the host. Awakin Circles are inspired by the design principles of ServiceSpace and Awakin.org, but hosts and particular circles are not verified or monitored live. Concerns? Reach out to Care @ Awakin.