What’s New At Insight Meditation Center

Introducing IMC Community site and new IMC Email list

Introducing IMC Community site and new IMC Email list

New IMC Community website We have launched a new IMC Community website. The IMC Community was created so that members from the IMC/AudioDharma worldwide community can take refuge and help each other with various aspects of their practice. You can become a member of the IMC Community site at: IMC News and Upcoming Events Mail List Want to know what is going on at IMC?  Don’t want to miss an event? We have created a new weekly “IMC News and…

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Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Taught by Ines Freedman

Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Taught by Ines Freedman

Five Wednesday Evenings June 16 to July 14, 2010, 7:30 to 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, it is…

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Article: Awakening with Dependent Origination

Article: Awakening with Dependent Origination

A person who was lost in the jungle may not have learned the way out if he or she accidentally stumbles out. Lost in the jungle again, the person may be no wiser about how to get free. On the other hand, if a lost person carefully studies the jungle and learns the way out, he or she may never become lost in that jungle again. The person may even become a guide helping others out. The Buddha didn’t stumble…

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Insight Meditation Retreat with Gil Fronsdal, Mary Grace Orr and Noah Levine

Insight Meditation Retreat with Gil Fronsdal, Mary Grace Orr and Noah Levine

Friday, July 2, 3:00 pm – Sunday, July 11, 12:00 pm (9 nights) This Spirit Rock ( see http://www.spiritrock.org/) retreat follows the usual Insight Meditation (Vipassana) format of sitting and walking in silence, with systematic meditation instructions. Teachers give daily dharma talks and there will be time for individual interviews. A good retreat for beginning and experienced meditators. This retreat is held at the Vajrapani Institute located in the beautiful mountains above Santa Cruz. More information can be found on…

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Sati Center: Deconstructing Buddhism with Stephen Batchelor

Sati Center: Deconstructing Buddhism with Stephen Batchelor

Saturday, March 20, 9am to 5pm Based on an examination of early discourses found in the Buddhist Pali Canon, we will explore the question: “What did the Buddha teach that was distinctively and originally his own?” By differentiating the Buddha’s Dhamma from the ideas of Indian religion and metaphysics that prevailed at his time we will seek to uncover a clearer sense of the Buddha’s message and then consider what relevance it still has for people living in the modern…

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Letter from our new Volunteer Director

Letter from our new Volunteer Director

Thank you so much to all the volunteers who make a heartfelt contribution of time and effort to keep IMC running smoothly. From small jobs to large, all are important to the well being of the sangha. From the results of our recent survey, it is clear that many more sangha members are interested in volunteering.  With this in mind, there are a number of new opportunities for participation.  In particular, we are planning major improvements to Audiodharma which will…

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Full Moon Gathering for Women

Full Moon Gathering for Women

Fridays, December 4, January 29, February 26 and March 26, 7:15 to 9:15pm Come join us at IMC for a fun, informative, warm-hearted evening of sharing with other women of the Sangha. We will meet in the small cozy conference room off the main hall. Dharma Talk; Arts and Crafts after the Dharma Talk.  Moon Gazing if conditions permit. Donations welcome. No need to RSVP. Speakers: January 29 Ani Lama Kunzang February 26 Carolyn Dille Carolyn Dille is a poet…

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Sati Center: Sutta Study – The Supreme Net Taught by Andrea Fella

Sati Center: Sutta Study – The Supreme Net Taught by Andrea Fella

Friday, April 30, 9:30am to 1pm During this class we will study the Brahmajala Sutta, the first discourse from the Digha Nikaya. In this profound discourse, the Buddha describes sixty-two speculative views about the nature of the self and the world. All these speculative views are shown to lead away from freedom; the Buddha points to the craving and agitation that underlie them. Finally, the Buddha teaches the way out of the net of speculative views through the development of…

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Forgiveness Daylong with Daniel Bowling and Maria Straatmann

Forgiveness Daylong with Daniel Bowling and Maria Straatmann

Saturday, April 3, 9am to 4:30pm Forgiveness is something we do for ourselves; it is the act of not shutting someone out of our hearts. But how do we forgive the unforgiveable? Forgiveness is a way to let go of the pain, anger and fear we carry from harm that was done to us or by us. The day will be devoted to Buddhist practices on forgiveness through meditation, discussion and reflection. Daniel Bowling is a mediator and teaches negotiation…

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Mindfulness of Mind Daylong Retreat with Andrea Fella

Mindfulness of Mind Daylong Retreat with Andrea Fella

Saturday, October 2, 9:30am to 4:30pm Taught in the style of U Tejaniya, an approach to mindfulness emphasizing relaxation and careful attention to the attitude one has toward one’s experience; mindfulness in the context of one’s daily life.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…

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Mindfulness in Daily Life Retreat with Andrea Fella

Mindfulness in Daily Life Retreat with Andrea Fella

(Householder Retreat) Sunday to Saturday, March 7 – 13 Integrating practice into our daily lives can be difficult. Many of us need support for this challenging but rewarding aspect of practice. We will integrate formal practice and Dharma discussion with daily life by surrounding our usual workweek and workdays with practice & discussion. A half-day retreat with instructions and discussion on Sunday, ending with a daylong retreat on the following Saturday. During the week, meet morning and evening. You may…

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Beginners’ Practice Group

Beginners’ Practice Group

Wednesdays, February 17, 24, March 3, 10, 17, 7:30 to 9pm This series is for those beginners who have taken a basic mindfulness meditation instruction class and would like to take the next step in building and supporting their practice.  Come to this six-week discussion group on developing mindfulness practice.  There will be a 20 minute sitting, a review of the basic teachings, and lots of discussion.  The class will review the basic instructions in mindfulness meditation, discuss the five…

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