From traditional Buddhist practices to modern mindfulness techniques, Portland’s diverse meditation scene caters to seekers of all levels and backgrounds. Regardless of the specific tradition or technique, regular meditation practice can yield numerous benefits including:
- Stress reduction and improved emotional regulation
- Enhanced focus and concentration
- Increased self-awareness and mindfulness
- Better sleep quality
- Reduced anxiety and depression symptoms
- Improved overall well-being and life satisfaction
Getting started
For those new to meditation, many of these centers offer introductory classes or beginner-friendly sessions. It’s often helpful to explore different styles and communities to find the one that resonates with you personally.
Remember, meditation is a practice, not a destination. Be patient with yourself as you embark on this journey of self-discovery and inner peace.
Here are just a couple of the city’s notable meditation spaces – I’ve pulled the descriptions off their web sites and posted them below for quick reference. Maybe I’ll see you there?
Portland Insight Meditation Community (PIMC)
6536 SE Duke St, Portland, OR 97206 / 503-519-9686
PIMC offers a variety of opportunities for practice in the insight (vipassanā) meditation tradition, both in-person and online. Our offerings support beginners, experienced practitioners, and everyone in between.
133 SW 2nd Ave, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97204 / 503-343-4831
The Pause Method® isn’t just a technique—it’s a transformative approach to living that can revolutionize how you navigate both your professional and personal life. By cultivating these four core intelligences, you’re not just managing stress—you’re unlocking your full potential. You’re learning to respond rather than react, to create rather than cope, and to connect more deeply with yourself and others.
1244 NE. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., Portland, OR 97232 / 503-252-3637
Oregon Meditation Center (O.M.C) is a non-profit organization, whose primary purpose is free teaching dhammakaya meditation. It is our conviction that individual peacefulness of mind underlies the collective potential for harmony and peace in the world. The center operates under the Dhammakaya Foundation headquarters in Thailand, a non-governmental organization of the United Nations.
Portland Friends of the Dhamma
1404 SE 25th Ave, Portland, OR 97214 / 503 – 764-6721
Our purpose is to help interested people understand the Buddha’s teachings both conceptually and through direct experience. Equally, we aim to support a community of lay people following the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path of virtue, meditation, and wisdom, grounded in generosity and compassion. Portland Friends of the Dhamma is supported by contributions (dana) from the community and does not charge fees for its programs or events.
8500 NE Siskiyou St, Portland, OR 97220 / 503-239-4846
We are a Soto Zen Buddhist sangha sharing the practices of zazen meditation, mindfulness, reflection and ethical living. We seek to relieve suffering by the skillful use of Buddhist teachings and the generous acceptance of all beings. We honor the ancestors and traditions of the past while we adapt to the needs of current practitioners and future generations. Our shared intention is to cultivate authenticity and integrity in our own lives and in the larger community in which we live. Our hope is to engage in wise and compassionate activity for the benefit of all beings.
6401 NE 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97211 / 503 – 728-0654
The purpose of Heart of Wisdom is to provide a refuge of stillness and peace in a busy urban environment, to practice and share Buddhist teachings, and to cultivate community, compassion, and wisdom. Zen Community of Oregon founded Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple in 2011 with the purchase of the beautiful old church it inhabits in Northeast Portland. Many hours of loving volunteer labor have gone into the renovation. It is a warm and inviting place, one you are welcome to come and enjoy.
1722 SE Madison St, Portland, OR 97214 / 503-239-5678
Miao Fa means Supreme Ultimate Dharma in Mandarin Chinese. Miao Fa is aMahayana/Chan Buddhist temple, founded in 1998 by Venerable Master Tsien Tien. Our Mother Temple, also called Miao Fa, is in Tainan, Taiwan. Miao Fa is open to visitors every day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We gather to chant different sutras, such as The Great Compassion, along with a dharma talk (in Mandarin Chinese). But even if you don’t speak Chinese the prayer books come with English translations that you can follow. Our Chinese congregation is happy to show you how to chant along. A vegetarian lunch is served afterwards.
