What’s New At Insight Meditation Center
Saturday, November 14, 6:30 – 7:30 pm – reception 7:30 – 8:30 pm – Dramatization 8:30 – 9:00 pm – reception At IMC IMC will host a grand dramatization of the great passing away of the first Buddhist nun, the Buddha’s foster mother, Mahāpajāpatī. The dramatization will be based on an ancient poem that confidently asserts the spiritual potential of women. It also celebrates the role Buddhist nuns have for teaching the Dharma and displaying the attainment of liberation. Dramatizing the…
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On Saturday, November 14 the Sati Center will host a symposium highlighting the accomplishments of women scholars in the early years of Buddhist Studies in the West, on the one hand, and portraits of women as presented in the scriptures of early Buddhist literature on the other. We will celebrate the contributions of these women as part of a benefit to support the pioneering Theravada Buddhist nuns living at Aloka Vihara in the Sierra foothills. Bring a bag lunch. Lunch…
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The great value of mindfulness practice can be found in the ordinary activities of daily life. It is not necessary to engage in extraordinary pursuits to realize the full depth and breadth of Buddhist practice. Listening is one of the ordinary, daily activities that can serve as a powerful vehicle for cultivating mindfulness, insight, and freedom. Dharma practice is to develop the ability to “see clearly;” listening well is a way to do this. Through listening we can better appreciate…
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October – December 2015 Newsletter is now Available
The Summer-Fall 2015 IRC Newsletter is now available.
Renunciation is one of the most beneficial, empowering, and freeing practices of Buddhism. As its purpose is to heighten the best qualities of our hearts and minds, renunciation is not meant to diminish our lives but rather to enhance them. Abstaining from intoxicating drinks and drugs—the fifth ethical precept—is an important Buddhist practice that can reveal the power of renunciation. On the surface, the fifth precept differs from the first four in being more personal than interpersonal. Killing, stealing, sexual…
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The July-September 2015 IMC Newsletter is now available.
Benefits Second Harvest Food Bank THE POWER OF GENEROSITY: The struggle to end hunger in Silicon Valley -Toren Fronsdal Most-Needed Foods The Food Bank accepts all non-perishable food donations, but especially needs these nutritious items: Meals in a can (stew, chili, soup) Tuna and canned meat Peanut butter Canned foods with pop-top lids Low-sugar cereals 100% fruit juices in single serving boxes Canned fruit packed in juice Canned vegetables (low salt) Collection canister is located in the community hall, left rear from…
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The April-June 2015 IMC Newsletter is now available.
The Winter-Spring 2015 IRC Newsletter is now available.
Memorial Day Weekend Family Retreat: K- 8th Graders and Parents Saturday May 23- Monday May 25. Jikoji Retreat Center, Los Gatos. Practice together as a family during a relaxed weekend that will offer structured retreat practice and small group sharing with other parents, teens, and children, along with hiking and appreciation of the forest, grasslands, and views from the top of the Santa Cruz mountains. The site features camping and a limited number of shared dorm rooms. . Registration by lottery…
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“RETREAT FULL, WAITLIST” Noon Sat. May 28 to Noon Mon. May 30, 2016 with Richard Shankman, Andrea Castillo, Liz Powell & Bruni Dávila During this weekend we will meditate together as families, as well as in separate groups for parents and children. There will also be plenty of time to enjoy hiking, arts and crafts, and spend free time relaxing outdoors. Everyone will also share in doing simple chores. Please click on the 3 links below to carefully review detailed…
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Fundamentally, Buddhist practice is a training in peace—and Buddhist ethics serve as a protection of this peace. As our sense of ease, harmony, and calm deepen with our practice, we begin to understand how our ethical choices impact our experience of peace, and we see that the five Buddhist precepts safeguard our well-being. Because we so frequently talk and communicate with others, the fourth precept—avoiding false speech—is particularly relevant in our daily lives. Living by this precept protects us, and…
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7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on 5 Wednesday evenings, January 14 to February 11, 2015 Insight Meditation or Vipassana, is a simple technique, beginning with focusing the attention on the breath. The practice concentrates and calms the mind. At the heart of Insight Meditation is the practice of Mindfulness, a practice of moment-to-moment observation that cultivates a clear, stable and non-judgmental awareness. While mindfulness practice can be highly effective in helping bring calm and clarity to the pressures of daily…
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