What’s New At Insight Meditation Center
Anyone practicing mindfulness knows there are forces in the mind that can make it difficult to stay attentive to one’s present moment experience. Ranging from weak to very powerful, these forces hamper our ability to remain mindful, develop concentration and have clear insight. They pull our attention away from our efforts to meditate. Even with the best of intentions to stay focused, these forces can propel us into the world of pre-occupation and distracted thought. Rather than reacting to these…
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The Spring 2014 IRC Newsletter is now available.
Saturday, January 4, 2014, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm After the busyness and external focus that often accompanies the holidays, this mini-retreat offers a quiet and grounding place where we can slow down, deepen our meditation, connect with our bodies, and perhaps help clarify what is important for the coming year. Appropriate for beginners and experienced yogis and meditators – you don’t need to be flexible to do yoga; you only need to be as you are. Bring a large…
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March 1 – 28, 2014 With Gil Fronsdal, Mary Grace Orr, John Travis, Sharda Rogell, Phillip Moffitt, Heather Martin, Teja Bell (qigong) Click here for further information.
December 27 – January 4, 2014 With Gil Fronsdal, John Travis, Sharda Rogell, Eugene Cash, Janice Clarfield (yoga) Click here for further information.
September 13 – October 25, 2014 Taught by Joseph Goldstein, Carol Wilson, Andrea Fella, Winnie Nazarko, Bhante Buddharakkhita For more information: Three Month Course, Part One at IMS
Feb 1-28, 2014 With Guy Armstrong, Carol Wilson, James Baraz, Andrea Fella, Greg Scharf For further information: February Month-Long at Spirit Rock
June 20-27, 2014 With Andrea Fella Taught in the style of Sayadaw U Tejaniya. For further information: Cloud Mountain Mindfulness of Mind Retreat
Four Tuesday mornings: February 4, 11, 18, 25 9:30 – 11:00am These three conditions characterize all of our existence. To “see things as they really are” means seeing experience in the context of: the impermanence of all things, the presence/unsatisfactoriness of suffering; and the realization that we are not our experiences. This series will delve into the encounter, insight and freedom inherent in the unfolding of these factors in our lives. Week 1: Impermanence Week 2: Suffering Week 3: Not-Self…
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Four Thursday evenings: January 2,9,16,23 7:30pm – 9:00pm In this four-week series, we will explore the Buddha’s key teachings on suffering and dissatisfaction. The series will particularly investigate the path of practice that leads to the ending of suffering. January 2: The Four Truths January 9: The Path of Practice: Wisdom (Panna) January 16: The Path of Practice: Ethics (Sila) January 23: The Path of Practice: Mental Cultivation (Samadhi) Tony Bernhard’s biography
Thursday, November 28, 8:30 to 10:30 am Thanksgiving Day invites us to reflect upon the good in our lives, and to appreciate our good fortune. Even if we are feeling sad, low, grumpy or just not particularly fortunate, coming together in the stillness of meditation and the movement of yoga can revitalize our acceptance, gratitude and joy. Appropriate for beginners to yoga or meditation, as well as those with more experience. Bring a large towel and sticky mat, if you…
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Saturday, March 1, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm A daylong retreat introducing the basic practice of mindfulness.There will be direction of mindfulness of the breath, body, emotions, thoughts, walking and eating. There will be time for sitting meditation, walking meditation and discussion. Suitable for both beginners and those wanting to review the basics of practice. Ines Freedman’s biography
4 Wednesday evenings, February 12, 19, 26, and March 5, 7:30 – 9pm For beginners who have taken an introductory mindfulness meditation class and would like to take the next step in building and supporting their practice. This is a 4-week series on developing mindfulness practice with a 20-minute meditation, review of basic instruction and introduction to further teachings that support mindfulness practice.
5 Wednesday evenings, January 8, 15, 22, 29, and February 5, 7:30 – 9pm 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 which 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 life,…
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A 3-part series on January 7, 14, and 21 * Generosity * Benevolence * Serenity, Insight, and Peace The path of Buddhist practice includes both letting go of harmful actions and mindstates and cultivating wholesome actions and mindstates. Each one beautifies the mind and leads it away from suffering. In this series of three talks, we will examine some of the key areas of practice that cultivate the mind — generosity, harmlessness, goodwill, and meditation. Kim Allen’s biography