What’s New At Insight Meditation Center

Q&A, Thursday morning, March 26, 2020

Q&A, Thursday morning, March 26, 2020

Q: I notice I feel anxious after I watch or read the news.  What can I do? A: It can be helpful to choose to be intentional about when and how to watch or read the news.  That is, choose a time when you can be reflective and discerning about the news. Don’t be a passive recipient of what you read.  Before learning the news, do something wise and supportive.  This might be meditating or spending time outside.  Then sit…

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The Buddha’s Way of Speaking

The Buddha’s Way of Speaking

In an extended discussion of the Buddha’s ethical behavior, the suttas contain the following description of how the Buddha speaks.  On Sunday, December 1 I read this as part of a talk addressing one of the most important visibly public issues of our times, i.e., how we speak to each other in our society. Buddha’s Way of Speaking Abandoning false speech, The Buddha refrains from false speech. A truth-speaker, He is reliable, trustworthy, non-deceptive. Abandoning malicious speech, The Buddha refrains…

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Welcome to the New Website

Welcome to the New Website

I am happy to celebrate the launching of IMC’s new website by expressing much gratitude to all the people who have contributed to our previous website and now to the new one.  Our previous website grew gradually in content and pages so that plenty of our material was tucked away, unnoticed.  We hope that with the new design much more of the website is easily accessible. You are encouraged to explore it. We have added this “Reflections from Gil” section…

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Exploring Wise Speech through the practice of Insight Dialogue with Jill Shepherd (Sept 7)

Exploring Wise Speech through the practice of Insight Dialogue with Jill Shepherd (Sept 7)

9:30am – 4:30pm Insight Dialogue is an interpersonal meditation practice that brings the mindfulness and tranquility of traditional silent meditation into our experience with others. Resting on the foundation of traditional Buddhist teachings, this practice offers a way to integrate wisdom and compassion into our relational lives through mindful speaking and mindful listening.In this one-day non-residential workshop, we will use the power of relational meditation practice to understand the habits of heart and mind that lead to stress and distress,…

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Digital Detox: Meditation in Nature with Nikki Mirghafori (Sept 8)

Digital Detox: Meditation in Nature with Nikki Mirghafori (Sept 8)

Environmental Volunteers EcoCenter, 2560 Embarcadero Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303, USA Join us for an afternoon retreat at the Environmental Volunteers’ EcoCenter located at the beautiful Palo Alto Baylands’ Nature Preserve. We will collectively turn off our digital devices and turn our hearts and minds to awe inspiring nature inside and outside. The event is held rain or shine, partly indoors and partly outdoors, sitting and walking. There will be guided meditation, periods of silent sitting and walking, Q/A, and…

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An Evening For People of Asian Background (Sept 11)

An Evening For People of Asian Background (Sept 11)

WITH GIL, LILU, AND YINGWEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 7:30 TO 9PMPeople of all Asian and South Asian backgrounds are invited to an informal discussion about IMC and participation in IMC. This is a chance to ask questions, raise concerns, and to describe challenges, joys, and possibilities that might exist at IMC for people born in Asia or descendants of Asian immigrants. People coming to IMC from an Asian cultural background will sometimes notice how different IMC is from the form of Buddhism or other religions they may…

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The Eightfold Path Program (2019/2020)

The Eightfold Path Program (2019/2020)

TAUGHT BY CHRIS CLIFFORD, LIZ POWELL, BRUNI DAVILA & TANYA WISER Meeting Dates: Sunday 1:00 – 2:30: Sept. 8 Sundays 1:00-3:30: Oct 6, Nov 3, Dec 1, Jan 12, Feb 16, March 15, April 19, May 17 Saturday: June 13 9:30 to 4:30 Concluding Daylong Retreat at IRC, Scotts Valley The Buddha’s most explicit path of practice is the Eightfold Path— a set of eight practical approaches to bring Buddhist practice into the width and depth of our lives. The Eightfold Path Program…

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Loving-kindness Daylong with John Martin

Loving-kindness Daylong with John Martin

Saturday, August 17, 9:00am – 4:30pm   Insight Meditation Center, 108 Birch St, Redwood City, CA 94062, USA    Description:This will be a day devoted to cultivating loving-kindness (Metta). The practice of loving kindness was taught by the Buddha to cultivate the natural beautiful qualities of an open and loving heart. The practice begins with ourselves and expands outward for all beings. There will be instructions and and teachings to develop this practice and to work with the challenges that…

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Deepening Meditation Program (2019-2020)

Deepening Meditation Program (2019-2020)

TAUGHT BY GIL FRONSDAL, DIANA CLARK & MAX ERDSTEIN Mondays, 9:30 am-4:00 pm: 8/26, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm: 10/7, 11/11, 12/2, 1/6, 2/3, 3/2, 4/20 5/18.  Optional retreat: March 15-22. The DMP is an eight-month program giving experienced practitioners the opportunity to delve into meditation practice and the Buddhist teachings and instructions for meditation. The program will focus on understanding the different attentional factors involved in mindfulness, insight, and concentration meditation. We will also consider the supports and challenges…

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Live Video Streaming of IMC talks

Live Video Streaming of IMC talks

Video recordings of some of the Dharma Talks given at IMC are available on YouTube. When one becomes available there is a Video button associated with the talk in the Audio Dharma list of talks. All the video recordings can be reached from the Video link on the left menu on AudioDharma’s homepage.   Sunday morning talks by Gil (and occasionally other teachers) will also be live streamed. You can access the Audio Dharma Youtube channel directly at https://www.youtube.com/user/insightmed/vide

Study and Practice Series: The Anapanasati Sutta With David Lorey, Diana Clark, Kim Allen and Ying Chen

Study and Practice Series: The Anapanasati Sutta With David Lorey, Diana Clark, Kim Allen and Ying Chen

Sati Center Program at Insight Meditation Center Sati Center Program at Insight Meditation Center Wednesday afternoons, May 1st – May 29th⋅1:30 – 3:00pm Many forms of insight practice come from the ancient teachings of the Buddha and his disciples as documented in the suttas. In Study and Practice Series, we bring the elements of sutta study and practice together to enrich and deepen our Dharma practice. The sessions include teachings, discussions, practices, and Q&A. The first series will focus on…

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Four Foundations of Mindfulness Monday Evening Series with Gil

Four Foundations of Mindfulness Monday Evening Series with Gil

Four Foundations of Mindfulness Monday evening Dharma Talk series With Gil Fronsdal Starting January 7, for the months of January, February, and March, when he is present to teach on Monday evenings, Gil we give talks on the Buddha’s Discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.  These are the ancient teachings on mindfulness which are the source for the modern prcatice in mindfulness practice.