- With Matthew Daniell

Insight Meditation for Beginners: A Retreat for Beginning and Newer Students - With Matthew Daniell

Sat 04/27/19 - 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.

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- With Ted Jones and Joel Grossman

Interspiritual Dialogue: Meditation in the Insight and Jewish Traditions - With Ted Jones and Joel Grossman

Sun 04/28/19 - 9:30am to 1:00pm

This workshop will explore some of the similarities and differences between the Buddhist practice of Insight Meditation and a variety of Jewish meditation practices. The unifying theme will be the emphasis in both traditions on receptivity and interior silence, along with love and kindness. The goal will be to demonstrate how these two traditions can be approached as complementary, affording a deepening spiritual journey when practiced together. The workshop will include instruction as well as periods of silent meditation and contemplation in each tradition. There will be ample time reserved for questions and discussion.

Ted Jones has been practicing Insight Meditation for over forty years, and he has been a meditation instructor at IMCN since 2011. Formerly he had a professional career as a psychotherapist and mental health administrator.

Joel Grossman has been a hospice chaplain for 14 years and is presently Director of Spiritual Services with Constellation Hospice, Newburyport. He has had a private practice as a spiritually based psychotherapist since the late '70s. Joel is a past president of Congregation Ahavas Achim, Newburyport, where he leads a monthly meditation group, and has led meetings about Kabbalah. Joel is a trained Spiritual Director for individuals and groups, and he is a faculty member of the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine, an Interfaith seminary.

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Practice Oriented Book Group (6 week series: 4/30-7/9)

Tue 04/30/19 - 7:00pm to 8:30pm

This six-session group will focus on the application of mindfulness practice to the challenges of daily life. The book for this session is Dancing with Life, by Philip Moffat.  In this book we will discover it does not offer academic theories of vague promises of finding happiness.  Rather, it presents a practical approach for dealing with pain and hardship based on the Buddha's teaching of the Four Noble Truths.

This group will meet every other Tuesday (with the exception 6/18 and 6/25) for six sessions (4/30, 5/14, 5/28, 6/18, 6/25, 7/9). Pre-registration is required for the entire series before the first session.  Facilitated by sangha member Barbara Dowd.

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Students will need access to a copy of the book Dancing with Life, by Phillip Moffett, and will be expected to complete the readings in between group gatherings.

For the first session, the assignment is to read the Introduction and the First Noble Truth chapters. Please select a short passage to read to the group and share how the passage relates to your meditation practice. 

PRE-REQUISITE: At least one year of Insight Meditation practice or with permission of the instructor.

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- With Matthew Daniell

Natural Awareness for Daily Living (10 week class - 5/1-7/10) - With Matthew Daniell

Wed 05/01/19 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

The 10 weeks series will explore how to use wise attitude, effort, and mindfulness to bridge the gap between daily life and formal practice.  The teachings of the Burmese monk, Sayadaw U Tejaniya, in his book 'When Awareness Becomes Natural' will be used as a frame for our inquiry.  This is part two of the series.  It is open to those who have done the first part of the series and to new students as well.  For new students, please read and work with the material in the book through page 81 before coming to our first gathering.  After a review, we will begin our exploration together with Part II of the book 'Wise Investigations of the Mind.'  Each week we will be asked to work with specific pages of the book, apply them to our daily lives, and formal practice, and discuss the following week.  The book is available on Amazon, and also as an Audible recording.  Sayadaw's approach to meditation and honest sharings on his life's journey will provide a unique window into the possibility that awareness in daily life can become natural and transformative.

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This is a 10 week class running from 5/1-7/10 (no class on 6/12).  There are no drop-in classes.  You must be registered for the entire class.

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