|
|
Special Events
There is no cost for classes, events and retreats at IMC. Donations are welcome. No pre-registration is required unless otherwise stated. For a calendar of retreats and all other events at IMC, see the IMC Calendar
- Dharma Practice Series: The Paramis with Gil Fronsdal
Dharma Practice Series: Fridays, 9:30am – 3:30pm
Study Group, Sundays, 1:30 to 3:30pm: 10/3, 10/ 31, 11/21, 12/12, 1/16, 2/13, 3/13, 4/24, 5/15, 6/26
Starting September 10, 2010, IMC is offering an ten month program of study and practice of the ten perfections (paramis). These are ten qualities of character which, when developed, support both Buddhist practice and compassionate involvement with others. People are welcome to attend any or all of the Friday programs. For people who commit to attending the whole series, the program will include a monthly two-hour discussion group with Ines Freedman, interviews with the program mentors, and readings.
Bring lunch.
The dates for these classes are:
September 10, 2010 Generosity (Dana)
October 15, 2010 Virtue (Sila)
November 5, 2010 Renunciation (Nekkhamma)
December 3, 2010 Wisdom (Panna)
January 7, 2011 Energy/Vigor (Viriya)
February 4, 2011 Patience (Khanti)
March 4, 2011 Truthfulness (Sacca)
April 15, 2011 Resolve (Adhitthana)
May 6, 2011 Lovingkindness (Metta)
June 3, 2011 Equanimity (Upekkha)
- Mindfulness of the Body Daylong Retreat with Gil Fronsdal
Saturday, September 11, 2010, 9:00am to 4:30pm
Mindfulness of the body lies at the foundation of Buddhist meditation practice. To support building a strong foundation, the day will include a variety of teachings and guidance on practices related to the body: instruction on how to practice mindfulness of the body, detailed instruction on meditation posture as well as a period of yoga supportive of meditation practice led by Terry Lesser.
Bring lunch.
- Volunteer Appreciation Tea with Gil Fronsdal
Sunday, September12, 11:15am to 12pm
Gil would like to take this opportunity to offer his appreciation to the many volunteers at IMC for the generous gift of their time and efforts. It will also be an opportunity for volunteers to become better acquainted with one another.
- Sati Center: Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program, Taught by Jennifer Block, Gil Fronsdal, Paul Haller and guest teachers
One Friday a month starting September 17.
A year-long training in Buddhist chaplaincy and spiritual care-giving oriented to Buddhist practitioners with at least four years of committed practice. Its aim is to provide a strong foundation in Buddhist chaplaincy for volunteer chaplains, those working toward being professional chaplaincy, and those serving the pastoral needs of their local sanghas. Information at www.sati.org, or karuna@sati.org.
Class dates: September 17, October 16, November 19, December 10, January 14, February 11, March 11, April 9, May 20, June 17, July 15, 2011
- Half-Day Retreat: Meditation and Yoga with Terry Lesser
Saturday, September 18, 2010, 9:00am to 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), and 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 to have a particular body type; you need only to be as you are. Please bring a large towel and yoga mat if you have one.
Terry teaches Yoga for Meditation. She has been teaching classes and retreats at the Insight Meditation Center since 1995. She began practicing yoga in 1984, and has been a student of Vipassana meditation since 1992. Trained in Iyengar style yoga, she also teaches at the California Yoga Center in Palo Alto. Her teaching is gentle, supportive, and sensitive to individual abilities.
- Aging as a Spiritual Practice Workshop with Lew Richmond
Saturday, September 25, 2010, 9am to 4:30pm
Lew Richmond will be offering another one-day meditation retreat on “Aging as a Spiritual Practice.” Lew feels that the experience of growing older is one important way we experience in our own bodies the fundamental Buddhist truths of suffering and impermanence, and for the last several months he has been exploring this issue on his blog www.AgingAsASpiritualPractice.com. He is also at work on a book, Aging as a Spiritual Practice: A Contemplative Guide to Growing Older and Wiser, to be published by Gotham Books in Spring, 2012.
The workshop will explore the connection between our own experiences of aging—loss, disappointment, loneliness, fear, as well as the positive aspects of gratitude, compassion, and a sense of wise perspective—with the basic Buddhist teachings of impermanence, the Five Great Fears, liberation from a fixed self, mindfulness (of aging) and loving kindness. Unlike the workshop given last year, the format of this day will be focused less on discussion and more on practice (although there will be both), and will include more guided meditation, including practices that Lew has created and adapted from the Buddhist tradition specifically to address our experiences of aging. Once again Lew will be assisted by two of his senior students, Peter Schireson and Karen Geiger. The website of Lew’s home sangha is www.vimalasangha.org.
- Daily Life Practice Retreat w/ Andrea Fella
Sunday, September 26 to Saturday, October 2, 2010
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 our daily life by surrounding our usual workweek and workdays with practice & discussion. We begin with a half-day retreat with instructions and discussion on Sunday, and end with a daylong retreat on the following Saturday. During the week we will meet each morning and evening to inspire, encourage and support our daily life practice. The Sunday and Saturday sessions are open to all.
Retreat Schedule:
Sunday 9/26: 1:30 to 5:00 pm
Monday thru Friday mornings 9/26 to 10/1: 7:30 to 9 am
Monday thru Friday evenings 9/26 to 10/1: 7:30 to 9 pm
(Monday & Thursday we will integrate with the usual sitting program)
Saturday 10/2: 9 am to 4:30 pm, daylong retreat
- 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 for developing a continuity of awareness for an extended period.
During this daylong retreat we will explore a relaxed open awareness with an emphasis on exploring qualities of mind, and the attitude towards one’s experience. Such an open awareness practice supports both the formal meditation of sitting and walking, as well as awareness of our normal daily activities. The schedule for the retreat will alternate periods of sitting and walking with instructions and discussion. Aside from the instruction and discussion periods, the day will be primarily in silence. It is recommended for both beginners and experienced practitioners.
Andrea Fella has been practicing Insight Meditation since 1996, and began teaching meditation in 2003. She is particularly drawn to intensive retreat practice, and has done a number of long retreats, both in the U.S. and Burma. During one long practice period in Burma, she ordained as a nun with Sayadaw U Janeka. Andrea teaches residential retreats for IMC, and at other centers around the country.
- Living This Life Fully, An evening of meditation, teachings and stories with Mirka Knaster
Wednesday, October 6, 7:30-9:00pm
This is an evening to experience and delight in the teachings of Munindra-ji, an Indian meditation master and Buddhist scholar who was one of the most important meditation teachers for the first generation of Westerners to study and then teach Insight Meditation, including Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg. Mirka Knaster, has written a delightful book of poignant and humorous anecdotes from his life that highlight the many qualities of mature Buddhist practice and great human beings. To celebrate the publication of ”Living This Life Fully: Stories and Teachings of Munindra,” Mirka will offer a sample of the practice, teachings, and stories of this remarkable man who embodied the Dharma. This is a wonderful opportunity to look back at the beginnings of our Western Insight Meditation movement through personal remembrances by the people who helped bring it about.
Mirka Knaster has been practicing in the Theravada tradition since 1981 and holds a Ph.D. in Asian and Comparative Studies.
- Benefit for Brahmavihara-Cambodia, Sunday morning talk by Beth Goldring
Sunday, October 10, 10am to 10:45am
For the last ten years IMC has been supporting the growth of Beth’s Buddhist Chaplaincy program in Cambodia called Brahmavihara-Cambodia. In recent years we have had annual benefits that have provided a significant amount of funding for her work. She and her staff started with caring for those dying of AIDS. With the success of her program, her project has expanded to also offer compassionate care to the desperately poor, prisoners, and those with serious illness. It has been gratifying that our IMC community has been able to help her program. All the dana from the Sunday morning sitting will be used to support her program.
- Buddhist Spiritual Care Symposium
Saturday, October 16th, 2010, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Welcoming Buddhist chaplains and those interested in deepening their spiritual care practice for a day of learning and community-building. Fleet Maull will will share about prison Dharma and Rev. Judith Finely from Final Passages will talk about Home Funerals and Natural death care. Vegetarian lunch included. Presented by Buddhist Chaplains Group. Pre-registration at www.buddhistchaplainsnetwork.org or call Bill Hart: 415 -567-9823
Acharya Fleet Maull is a senior teacher in both the Shambhala Buddhist and Zen Peacemaker communities. He founded both the Prison Dharma Network and the National Prison Hospice Association while serving 14 years in federal prison.
Reverend Judith Fenley, Chaplain and Instructor with Final Passages, will share information that can diminish fears surrounding death. She has a professional background in nursing, and currently practices as a health and spiritual educator and practitioner.
- “How to Be Sick”, Book Reading and Discussion with Toni Bernhard
Sunday October 17 11:15am to 12:15pm
Long time Vipassana student Toni Bernhard has written an insightful and helpful book on how to practice Buddhism while sick. Toni has been chronically ill for many years, much of that time housebound and bed- ridden. From her personal experience she has written a wonderfully personal and deeply compassionate book for people both ill and healthy. Since her illness limits how much she can do, we are fortunate that she will be sharing her book and wisdom with us at IMC. Her book is “How to Be Sick: A Buddhist Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and their Caregivers.”
In 1982, Toni Bernhard received a J.D. from the School of Law at the University of California, Davis, joined the faculty where she stayed until chronic illness forced her to retire. In 1992, she began to study and practice Buddhism. Before becoming ill, she attended many meditation retreats and led a meditation group in Davis with her husband, Tony
- Dharma Teens Bake Sale: Benefit for School in Mongkol Borei, Cambodia
Sunday, October 24, 10:45am
IMC’s Dharma teens present this benefit to support a poor school in Cambodia.
Information about the school and other ways of supporting it are at www.cambodiarotaryschool.org
- Ceremony of Love & Remembrance with Maria Straatmann
Friday, October 29, 7:30 to 9pm
Anyone who has lost a family member, friend or other dear person over the last year is welcome to join us for a chance to remember and honor those who have died but who enriched our lives and community. With the Buddhist practices of mindfulness and compassion, we will have a period of silent sitting and rituals of remembrance, bereavement, and farewell. Bring pictures or mementos for our altar of persons you wish to honor/remember. If you cannot come to the ceremony, you are welcome to send Maria the name of the person you would like us to include in our remembrance. Contact Maria at mstraatmann@gmail.com
Maria Straatmann, a former scientist and businesswoman, has been a student of Vipassana meditation since 1996. She is a graduate of the Sati Center Buddhist Chaplaincy Program and End of Life Counselor training with Metta Institute; volunteers with Zen Hospice Project.. Maria also serves as IMC Program Director and on its Chaplaincy Council. She is a Spirit Rock Buddhist Ritual Minister.
- Compassionate Vision, Conscientious Action, with Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
A Benefit for Buddhist Global Relief
Saturday, October 30, 9am to 5pm
Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi will lead a daylong program exploring traditional and contemporary approaches to Socially Applied Buddhism. Caring for oneself while caring for others is at the heart of the Buddha’s teachings. How we can best do this in our present-day world is a deeply challenging question with profound ramifications. Bhante will explore the canonical roots of Socially Applied Buddhism, with texts and discussion. He will develop a model aimed at articulating a postmodern integral understanding of Buddhism and explore corresponding approaches to Buddhist practice and sacred activism. He will also highlight the work of Buddhist Global Relief, a non-profit organization he founded in 2008, which has launched over fifteen aid projects throughout the world. All dana will go to BGR. This event will be jointly sponsored by IMC and the Sati Center.
Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist monk originally from New York City. After serving as a monk in Sri Lanka for twenty-four years, he now lives at Chuang Yen Monastery in upstate New York. Ven. Bodhi is a prolific writer of Buddhist essays and books and has translated and commented extensively on the Pali suttas.
- Teen Retreat with Gil Fronsdal
November 6, 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Within Buddhism, meditation is one element of an integrated approach to living a wise and stress-free life. This retreat will include instruction and practice of meditation, and an introduction to the Four Noble Truths, the heart of Buddhist teachings. The Four Noble Truths point to a happiness and peace not tied to our experiences in life. Discovering this happiness brings balance through all the changes life can bring. There will be time for peer discussion and exploration of the topic of the day.
All teens are welcome.
- Introduction to Meditation Daylong Retreat with Ines Freedman
Saturday, November 13, 2010, 9:30am to 3:30pm
Introducing the basic practice of mindfulness, with direction in mindfulness of the breath, body, emotions, thoughts, walking and eating. There will sitting and walking meditation and discussion. Suitable for both beginners and those wanting to review the basics of practice. Bring lunch.
Ines Freedman first became interested in meditation through her yoga practice in 1970. She has been practicing Buddhist meditation since 1985, with Gil Fronsdal being her primary teacher since 1995. She is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader Program and a past Managing Director of Insight Meditation Center. She directs and teaches the Audiodharma Online Meditation Course, and serves on the IMC Chaplaincy council. She is a retired chiropractor.
- Beginners’ Practice Group with Susan Ezequelle
Wednesdays, November 17 to December 15, 2009, 7:30 – 9pm
No class on 11/25/09
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 five-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 hindrances to meditation, and there will be an introduction to the Four Noble Truths. For those who have been practicing from one day to 6 months. No class 11/24/10
Susan Ezequelle has been practicing Insight Meditation since 1997. A student of Gil Fronsdal, she is a past IMC Board President and worked closely with Gil and other community members to found in 2001 the Insight Meditation Center. She is a member of the IMC Chaplaincy Council and teaches the Beginners Practice Group program. A long-time practitioner of yoga, she also fills in as teacher for the IMC yoga classes when the primary teacher is not available.
Bud Silver is a long time insight meditation practitioner and was one of the original Palo Alto group that welcomed Gil as a new teacher. Bud has partnered Susan for several cycles of the Beginners Practice Group, and is one of the teachers for the Thursday night Basic instruction sessions. Bud is trained as a Grief Counselor and volunteers at Kara in Palo Alto.
- Daylong Retreat with Gil Fronsdal
Saturday, November 20, 2010, 9am to 4:30pm
This is a daylong retreat with alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, instruction in mindfulness practice, particularly in mindfulness of the body and a dharma talk. It is recommended for both beginners and experienced practitioners. No interviews. Bring lunch.
- Sati Center: The Dhammapada – with Tony Bernhard
Investigating the Best Known Collection of the Buddha’s Teachings
Saturday, December 4, 2010, 9am to 4pm
The Dhammapada may well be the most widely read and most beloved collection of Buddhist scriptures presenting wisdom through vivid, poetic imagery and often blunt contrast. Its lesson goes to the heart of the Buddha’s teachings. During this daylong contemplation and investigation of the Dhammapada verses, we will examine both their scope and structure and explore some of the most challenging of the Buddha’s instructions. The primary translation used will be Gil Fronsdal’s.
As one of Spirit Rock’s community dharma leaders, Tony hosts sitting groups in Davis and periodically teaches around the bay area and central valley. Tony’s practice is guided by study of the Pali scriptures (in translation!) and by contemporary scholarship of these texts.
- Daylong Retreat with Gil Fronsdal
Saturday, December 11, 2010, 8:30am to 5pm
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 for developing a continuity of awareness for an extended period.
This particular daylong retreat is meant for people who already understand the basic practice of mindfulness; no instruction will be given.
The schedule consists of alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation. At the end of the day Gil gives a Dharma talk. Brief interviews to talk about the practice will be available with Gil. Previous experience is recommended.
(Bring Lunch)
- New Year’s Eve Meditation and Celebration with Berget Jelane
Friday, December 31, 7:30pm to 12:15am, January 1, 2011
Bring poetry or reading and treats to share. Sitting and walking meditation, time to share, refreshments about 9pm, ritual to bring in the new year. See Newsletter for contact information.
|
