- With Matthew Daniell

Thursday Morning Retreat - With Matthew Daniell

Thu 11/21/19 - 9:30am to 12:30pm

Thursday Half Day Retreats are designed to be flexible to personal schedules while offering the opportunity to deepen practice through periods of silent sitting and walking meditation. You may come for part, or all of this retreat.  While at the center, please adhere closely to the schedule and maintain silence.  Click here for retreat schedule.

Teacher Matthew Daniell leads the retreat and there will be minimal instruction offered as needed.  He will provide time for an optional teacher interview with each participant.  A bell will be rung to signal the rotation between silent sitting and walking meditation.  Cost: $25/nonmembers and $20/members  (Can be paid at the door with cash or check only.)

These practice periods are not suitable for complete beginners: An introductory meditation class or equivalent experience is strongly recommended before attending. Attendance is on a drop-in basis; no pre-registration is required.

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Note:  You can pre-register for this retreat online or pay at the door.  Pre-registration is not required. 

To pay by check or read our refund policy, click here

- With Matthew Daniell

An Open Approach to Breath Awareness - With Matthew Daniell

Sat 11/23/19 - 9:00am to 5:00pm

Breath awareness is a central mindfulness teaching of the Buddha. It is a foundation for touching calm, steadying attention in the present, and a gateway to clarity and insight. The way it is often taught however may impose limitations on how fully our awareness can grow and open using it as a base. Have you ever found yourself struggling to 'get the breath' and push away other experience, only to find yourself tired and frustrated? I certainly have. Or perhaps you've had a great formal mediation on the breath but then suddenly find yourself reactive once you get off the cushion? But what if we were to approach the breath in a more open light way where we didn't strive to get it right, or block thoughts or experiences that are other than this anchor? What if we deeply embraced attitudes that knew the breath was serving a light steady inclusive awareness and not the other way around? What if we truly embraced an openness that breath awareness was a powerful tool in daily life and not just a calming relief from daily life? In this daylong silent retreat we will explore the subtle, but powerful implications, that truly cultivating an open approach to breath awareness can have on the quality of how we live our life.

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Lunch: For those staying for the entire retreat, a volunteer will provide vegetarian soup, salad and bread at lunchtime. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch or a supplement for the soup, if they prefer. A microwave and refrigerator are available.

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Loving Kindness Sitting with Community Prayer List

Mon 12/02/19 - 7:00pm to 7:45pm

Twice a month on the 1st and third Mondays from 7:00-7:45 there will be a community metta (loving kindness) support sitting.  This will consist of four parts: A community member will read a list of names at the beginning of the sitting* to be held with loving kindness intentions/prayers.  Then the group will then do a simple chant of repeating the terms: ‘metta (loving kindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (sympathetic joy), upekha (equanimity)’ for five minutes.  A 35 minute period of non-guided silent sitting (one can do metta, breath awareness, or open awareness.. as one sees fit). Finally the metta sutta (handouts provided) will be recited together to finish the session.  Click here for the metta sutta.

Nancy Winkler will be the primary group leader for these events.  Brad Balkus will continue to be the community leader for the silent sitting held on the off weeks.

*Anyone in the community may send Director Debra an email during the period up until the day of the sitting.  A new list will be generated after two weeks, and the old list nor longer used. You may resubmit names as many times as you would like. Please include the name of the person or persons you want to be read out loud, and a short message (so and so has such and such illness, or passed away, or…) if you would like to.  The center may edit anything submitted (for purposes of length) or leave requests out if deemed inappropriate (not in the spirit of goodwill, politically motivated, etc…). This list may sometimes also be read at other gatherings at the IMCN in the spirit of supporting our community.

This is a free offering, donations always welcome!

- With Ted Jones

Waking Up To Your Life: A Retreat for Beginning and Newer Students - With Ted Jones

Sat 12/07/19 - 10:00am to 12:30pm

Insight meditation is a time-tested method of mind training that enables us to change our relationship to each moment’s experience, and thus our lives. In this retreat, specially designed for beginners and those with limited meditation experience, we will systematically explore (through sitting and walking meditation periods, teachings, and discussion) how to calm and steady the mind and see more clearly.  As we strengthen this capacity we begin to move from suffering and reactivity to responsiveness, freshness and ease. We learn how to touch and live in the mindful moment.

Read About Ted Jones

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To pay by check or read our refund policy, click here