Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Lamson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I moved to Houston from New York City in 2005 once I was admitted to the creative writing program at the University of Houston. Soon after arriving here, I began practicing yoga with Robert Boustany and meditating at the Houston Zen Center. These parallel paths helped to ground me in a strange city, and soon I noticed tremendous benefits from simply sitting and breathing, becoming more intimate with my body and mind. Then I learned that in the context of Buddhist teachings, meditation is not something one does only for oneself or by oneself, but a practice that needs to be shared in order to be fully realized.
In 2009, Matt Brownlie asked me to co-found the first iteration of the Houston Dharma Punx, a secular Buddhist meditation group. The Houston Meditation Society began in 2016 in response to the Orlando nightclub shootings. We wanted to form a community-based meditation group that held monthly gatherings throughout Houston to foster peace and compassion in our city. Currently, we meet every Sunday from noon-1 at the TexasYogini Studio in order to sit together and to discuss our meditation practice.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been many struggles along the path that have helped me to consider how the Houston Meditation Society can best serve the community as it continues to evolve. In bringing any Eastern philosophy or spiritual practice to the West, teachers must be attuned to how it can be translated and adapted to our circumstances without losing its integrity and authenticity. This is a balancing act, an ongoing conversation about how we can make meditation, and more specifically Buddhist practice, accessible while honoring and preserving its core values.
Another challenge is to acknowledge that we must be conscious about creating a safe, inclusive space in our meetings where everyone feels welcomed and heard. This requires that we practice ethical guidelines that ensure healthy boundaries and affirm everyone’s point of view.
The last challenge that comes to mind is continuing to find ways to share the benefits of our practice with the community. Yogis often speak about ways of bringing their yoga off of the mat and into the world, and were similarly committed to sharing the compassion and serenity we cultivate on our cushions where it is most needed.
Houston Meditation Society – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Houston Meditation Society is a secular Buddhist group that explores meditation practice and teachings and how they can impact our lives. We are self-sustaining and all of our meetings are free and open to both beginners and experienced meditators. Although we do accept donations, we feel strongly about making the teachings accessible to everyone.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
My view of the Houston Meditation Society is that our success rests upon how we can share the gifts of meditation with Houstonians in the most wholehearted way possible. This is shown when participants talk about how the group helps them to sustain their meditation practice and to navigate challenging life experiences with a little more flexibility and compassion.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: houstonmeditation society
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoustonMeditationSociety/
Image Credit:
Silvina Rearte
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