What’s New At Insight Meditation Center
The October – December 2012 Newsletter is now available in HTML or PDF
The Buddha’s teachings describe an accessible path to liberation. The ancient Buddhist metaphor of a path draws on the idea of a cleared passageway that allows one to move through an otherwise impassable forest. Just as a person brings his or her entire body along when walking on a path in the forest, so a spiritual practitioner enters the Buddha’s path by engaging all aspects of who he or she is. Yet while a physical path exists whether we walk…
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Saturday January 12, 9am-12:30pm This retreat offers an opportunity to develop a continuity of awareness in movement and in stillness. We will integrate yoga poses, breath work, relaxation, loving-kindness (metta), guided and silent meditation and let the synergy of these practices inform and deepen one another to open heart and mind. The retreat is appropriate for beginners to either yoga or meditation as well as experienced yogis and meditators. You do not have to be flexible to do yoga, nor…
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Thursday November 22, 8:30-10:30am 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 have one. Terry…
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3 Wednesday evenings, 7:30-9pm, November 7, 14 & 21 This series is for beginners who have taken a basic mindfulness meditation instruction class and would like to take the next step in building and supporting their practice. This will be a three week discussion group on developing mindfulness practice. There will be a 20 minute sitting, a review of the basic teachings, and discussion with an introduction to the Four Noble Truths. Jim Podolske’s Biography/Talks Shin Kwan Park’s Biography/Talks
5 Wednesday evenings, 7:30-9pm, September 26, October 3, 10, 17 & 31 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, it is…
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We are delighted to announce that registration is open for our first retreat at our new Insight Retreat Center (IRC). The retreat is scheduled for November 11-18 and will be taught by Gil Fronsdal and assisted by Max Erdstein. Please see our Retreats Page for more information.
The July – September Newsletter is now available in HTML or PDF formats
Anger is one of the most common human emotions and perhaps the most dangerous. Regardless of whether the anger is directed toward ourselves or others, it can be painful and cause a great deal of suffering. While the danger of mild anger may only be discomfort for the person who is angry, rage and simmering hostility can lead to significant pain and distress for ourselves and others. The danger of anger increases dramatically when it’s acted out: relationships can be…
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June 1st marks the one-year anniversary of taking possession of the new home of the Insight Retreat Center! We’re two months into the renovation and things are progressing well. This is a brief informal video of Gil when he visited IRC last week:
On March 31, IMC held its first IPO (Insight Practice Opportunity). If you were unable to attend or if you want to hear it again, you can listen to the event on Audio Dharma: http://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/2956.html
The April – June 2012 Newsletter is now available.
Buddhist practice involves engaging in actions on a path to freedom and awakening. Action, in other words, is key. Reading about Buddhism is not the same as taking up the practice. If we learn about Buddhist practice but don’t change any of our behaviors, we won’t experience the benefits of the practice. Unless we actually take up the activity of mindfulness, mindfulness practice will have no role in our lives. If we decide we want to meditate but fail to…
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by: Gil Fronsdal At the Insight Meditation Center, and soon, at the new Insight Retreat Center, we offer our residential retreats freely at no cost to anyone who participates. We do so because we believe Buddhist practice unfolds best in a field of generosity, gratitude, and goodwill. We also believe the freely given aspect of retreats exemplifies the remarkable inner freedom that Buddhism champions. By demonstrating an alternative to the dominant materialism and acquisitiveness of our culture, we hope these…
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The March 2012 Insight Retreat Center Newsletter is now available for reading.