What’s New At Insight Meditation Center

Thursday Nov 28 — Thanksgiving Day Vegetarian Potluck

Thursday Nov 28 — Thanksgiving Day Vegetarian Potluck

Thursday November 28, 2024: 1:00 – 3:00 pm In-person at IMC Hosted by Gloria Schulz Gloria Schulz is hosting a Thanksgiving Day vegetarian potluck on Thursday, November 28 at IMC from 1 – 3pm. Hopefully the weather will allow a table to be outside on the front porch. Please dress appropriately. A table could be set up inside as well. Offers to help with set-up and clean-up afterwards will be most welcome. We plan to close up at 3pm. Any…

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Sunday, December 15, 1:15 – 4:15 pm, Memorial for Stephen Browning

Sunday, December 15, 1:15 – 4:15 pm, Memorial for Stephen Browning

At IMC Stephen Browning was one of the oldest members of our community. He started with IMC in the early 1990’s. In the mid-1990s he supported our programs at the Friends Meeting House and managed the Sunday Program at Portola Valley.He was also one of the first members of the IMC Board.  He was a writer, poet, and artist, father, husband, and friend. His painting is on the front cover of The Issue at Hand. His kindness and friendliness is…

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Nov 16: Daylong Retreat with Gil Fronsdal

Nov 16: Daylong Retreat with Gil Fronsdal

In-person at Insight Meditation Center Saturday, November 16⋅8:30am – 5:00pm, with  Gil Fronsdal   This silent daylong retreat is meant for people already familiar with the basic practice of mindfulness; no instruction will be given. The schedule consists of alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation. At the end of the day Gil gives a Dharma talk. Brief one-on-one practice discussions to talk about the practice will be available with Gil. Previous experience is recommended. Practicing mindfulness on retreat is…

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Saturday Nov 23: Mindfulness Meditation and Practice Half-Day with Ari Crellin-Quick

Saturday Nov 23: Mindfulness Meditation and Practice Half-Day with Ari Crellin-Quick

Saturday, November 23, 2024:  9:30 am – 12:15 pm In-person only at IMC Offered by: Ari Crellin-Quick This half-day of mindfulness practice will include guided or lightly guided meditations, a brief dharma talk, group discussion, and mindful activity. This is an opportunity to deepen your meditation practice and daily life practice, ask a teacher questions and practice with other sangha members. Mindfulness meditation half-days are appropriate for beginners and those with more experience. Registration is not required. Bring lunch. 9:30 –…

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Saturday Nov 30 — Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Daylong with Mei Elliott

Saturday Nov 30 — Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Daylong with Mei Elliott

Saturday, November 30, 2024:  9:30 am – 4:30 pm In-person only at IMC Offered by: Mei Elliott This daylong retreat will include guided meditations, dharma talks, and alternating periods of sitting and walking. Instructions and guidance on mindfulness of breathing, body, emotions, thoughts, and open attention will be provided. This daylong retreat is an opportunity to strengthen mindfulness, develop concentration, practice with the IMC community, and ask a teacher questions. Appropriate for beginners and those with more experience. Bring lunch. The…

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Our Practice is Designed for These Times

Our Practice is Designed for These Times

The greater our ups and downs, the greater the value of Buddhist practice. Rather than a practice to avoid challenges or to avoid celebration, it is a practice that prepares us to meet them wisely and calmly. We can meet all our inner life with honesty and goodwill so we can be wise and skillful. In all challenges, it is possible to find inner peace and freedom, equally open to grief and heartbreak as to joy and love. We can…

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Buddhist Prayer for Political Responsibility

Buddhist Prayer for Political Responsibility

As we participate in our democracy, may we be guided by the ten virtues of political leadership:   May we be generous, so everyone is supported. May we have integrity, so everyone trusts us. May we renounce selfish interest, so everyone benefits. May we be honest, so everyone hears what is true. May we be kind, so everyone can relax. May we have self-control, so everyone will be safe. May we be free of ill-will, so everyone can speak freely….

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Saturday Sep 26 — Earth Care Meeting — Reconnecting with Nature Through Water with Alex Julie

Saturday Sep 26 — Earth Care Meeting — Reconnecting with Nature Through Water with Alex Julie

Saturday, October 26, 2024: 8:30 am — 10:00 am on Zoom Offered by Alex Julie Topic: Reconnecting with Nature Through Water to Create a Life-Sustaining Society for All Beings The Ocean is the source of all life on our planet, and it can also be a fertile ground for deep embodied insight. With our Ocean on the brink of climate induced collapse, the urgency of reconnection has never been greater. Join Awake in the Wild meditation teacher Alex Julie as…

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Oct 17, 1:00 p.m. Remembering Mick Bennett on Zoom

Oct 17, 1:00 p.m. Remembering Mick Bennett on Zoom

Thursday, October 17, 2024: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm on Zoom Longtime IMC member Mick Bennett died on August 4. Mick served on the IMC Board and was the much loved founding teacher for the Chronic Disease Support Group and the Life-Threatening Illness Support Group. IMC’s support group, which is a continuation of what Mick started, will offer an open Online ZOOM session on Oct 17th 1-2:30pm PT to remember the founding leader, Mick Bennett. All are welcome to join….

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Saturday Oct 19: Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Daylong Retreat with Dawn Neal

Saturday Oct 19: Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Daylong Retreat with Dawn Neal

Saturday, October 19, 2024:  9:30 am – 4:30 pm In-person only at IMC Offered by: Dawn Neal
 This daylong retreat will include guided meditations, dharma talks, and alternating periods of sitting and walking. Instructions and guidance on mindfulness of breathing, body, emotions, thoughts, and open attention will be provided. This daylong retreat is an opportunity to strengthen mindfulness, develop concentration, practice with the IMC community, and ask a teacher questions. Appropriate for beginners and those with more experience. Bring lunch. 
The…

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To Care

To Care

 by Gil Fronsdal To care and offer care are fundamental expressions of Buddhist life. The Buddha himself was called “The Caring One” who taught out of his care for others. After his first students became enlightened, he instructed them to live for the welfare and happiness of others out of “care for the world.’ In the Buddha’s teachings “care” is the basic attitude and motivation for benefiting others.  As such, it can be seen as the foundation for both compassion…

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Saturday Sep 21 — Mindfulness Meditation and Practice Half-Day with Tanya Wiser

Saturday Sep 21 — Mindfulness Meditation and Practice Half-Day with Tanya Wiser

Saturday, September 21, 2024:  9:30 am – 12:15 pm In-person only at IMC Offered by: Tanya Wiser This half-day of mindfulness practice will include guided or lightly guided meditations, a brief dharma talk, group discussion, and mindful activity. This is an opportunity to deepen your meditation practice and daily life practice, ask a teacher questions and practice with other sangha members. Mindfulness meditation half-days are appropriate for beginners and those with more experience. Registration is not required. Bring lunch. 9:30 –…

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Saturday Sep 7 — Intensive Daylong with bruni dávila

Saturday Sep 7 — Intensive Daylong with bruni dávila

Saturday, September 7, 2024:  6:00 am – 9:00 pm In-person only at IMC Offered by: bruni dávila This is a great opportunity for a full day of immersion in silent Dharma Practice. Practicing mindfulness on retreat is one of the foundations for maturing insight meditation. The simplicity, silence and support of retreats contribute to letting go of many of the distractions that get in the way of clear seeing. Retreats also are a wonderful environment for developing a continuity of awareness…

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