Dharma Friends events encourage spiritually-based friendships and a sense of community in our sangha. All sangha members are welcome to our events and may bring friends.
There is no cost for classes, events or retreats at IMC. No pre-registration is required unless otherwise stated.
We encourage sangha members to submit ideas for new events. We’re also here to support you through the process of planning and/or hosting them if you need it. Here are some guidelines and ideas to help you..
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If you have any questions or concerns please email us at: imc-dharma-friends-steering@googlegroups.com
Calendar View
- September 30, 2020
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We are assisting Reclaim Our Vote with their non-partisan efforts to reverse voter suppression of underrepresented minorities and increase voter turnout in the November election by writing postcards that inform them how to (re)register to vote and encourage them to exercise their voting rights (we will be making phone calls in later sessions).
Contact:
Kim at kaknapper@gmail.com
If you are interested please email Kim at least three days in advance of the meeting you wish to attend in order to obtain postcard blanks, stamps, and further information about the Zoom link.
Agenda:
Brief sit and check-ins
Training session
Postcard writing
Debrief
Dedication of merit
For updates on future Dharma Friends activities, please go to https://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/dharma-friends/ and follow the instructions under "subscribe to receive e-mail updates".
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- October 2, 2020
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The Contemplative’s Craft:
Internalizing the Teachings of the Buddha
By Ajahn Viradhammo
Next Zoom meeting: Friday, October 2, 5-6:30 p.m. Pacific time
READING ASSIGNMENT:
PDF, EPUB and MOBI are available for download.
Please read chapter 10,“Living a Contemplative Life”, page 119-144. This is a longer chapter than usual, so we will only discuss this one chapter.
From the preface by Ajahn Sucitto:
“[This book] contains the words of a craftsman. In our monastic fellowship, Anjan Viradhammo was known as such. Craftsmanship, in terms of sewing robes, weaving rattan and fashioning wood into monastic accoutrements, is a respected aspect of training of a bhikku in our lineage. It lessens the tendency to self-obsess and theorize – pitfalls for a meditator.… This is the way that Anjan Viradhammo works, lives and teaches. [In this book] you are given the fibers of the Buddha’s teaching and guided how to weave them step-by-step into a raft heading for liberation.”
Anjan Viradhammo, is a Canadian who is currently the Abbot of Tasarana Monastery, Onterio. His initial training was under Anjan Chah and Ajahn Sumedho.
The Dharma-Inspired book group is self-led. For our current book, Anne Foster is acting as facilitator and contact person: afoster@rawbw.com.
Now WEEKLY via Zoom!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85944054149?pwd=ZWVmZnNGOWNIL1AwbmFyTm9saUNSdz09
Meeting ID: 859 4405 4149
Password: 8n74PW
Phone:
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kc0WSFA9Ib
Meeting ID: 859 4405 4149
Password: 760464
About this book
To receive updates about Dharma friends events via e-mail:
Go to https://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/dharma-friends/ and follow the instructions under "subscribe to receive e-mail updates".
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- October 3, 2020
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What is the activity?
We are making honor cords (graduation leis) to give to incarcerated inmates when they graduate from the GRIP program. (no special skills or experience is needed, see this video for an quick example of the braid, see this video of a simple slip knot.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj21JDDSrgM ) See also examples of a braid here.
These cords are a potent symbol of the intricate, necessary, and beautiful work the men have done in healing themselves and "weaving themselves into a sangha" of deeply conscious human beings. These cords are deeply meaningful to the men as they continue to serve out their time.
What is the GRIP program?
The GRIP program (Guiding Rage Into Power) is a restorative justice training program for prison inmates, originally begun in San Quentin. The men have committed themselves to transforming their lives through non-violence and becoming "peacekeepers". The inmates commit to a one-year training of looking deeply into their lives. They are helped to develop emotional intelligence, mindfulness, ability to "sit in the fire", and address victim impact. They educate themselves about the suffering they have experienced and caused. When they graduate they again commit themselves to refraining from any violence, but this time for the remainder of their lives. It’s a highly successful program, truly transformative and healing. Many graduates become GRIP facilitators themselves, either working in prisons, or with at-risk populations upon their release.
When will we do this?
We have an on-line Zoom training session every Saturday at 11 AM. George Lunas, the GRIP facilitator at Soledad State Prison joins us. We spend the hour braiding, teaching newcomers, and George talks to us about GRIP, some of the challenges the men face, and some of the moving examples of their courage, love, and triumph over despair. It's potent.
Who to contact?
If you are interested in participating in this "braiding circle", please email Abraham Guenther <ehbrahamg@gmail.com> for details about sending you the braiding materials.
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- October 7, 2020
-
-
We are assisting Reclaim Our Vote with their non-partisan efforts to reverse voter suppression of underrepresented minorities and increase voter turnout in the November election by writing postcards that inform them how to (re)register to vote and encourage them to exercise their voting rights (we will be making phone calls in later sessions).
Contact:
Kim at kaknapper@gmail.com
If you are interested please email Kim at least three days in advance of the meeting you wish to attend in order to obtain postcard blanks, stamps, and further information about the Zoom link.
Agenda:
Brief sit and check-ins
Training session
Postcard writing
Debrief
Dedication of merit
For updates on future Dharma Friends activities, please go to https://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/dharma-friends/ and follow the instructions under "subscribe to receive e-mail updates".
[
Add to Calendar ]
- October 9, 2020
-
-
More info will be added the week before this meeting.
For questions, contact Anne Foster, afoster@rawbw.com.
To receive updates about Dharma friends events via e-mail:
Go to https://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/dharma-friends/ and follow the instructions under "subscribe to receive e-mail updates".
[
Add to Calendar ]
- October 10, 2020
-
-
What is the activity?
We are making honor cords (graduation leis) to give to incarcerated inmates when they graduate from the GRIP program. (no special skills or experience is needed, see this video for an quick example of the braid, see this video of a simple slip knot.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj21JDDSrgM ) See also examples of a braid here.
These cords are a potent symbol of the intricate, necessary, and beautiful work the men have done in healing themselves and "weaving themselves into a sangha" of deeply conscious human beings. These cords are deeply meaningful to the men as they continue to serve out their time.
What is the GRIP program?
The GRIP program (Guiding Rage Into Power) is a restorative justice training program for prison inmates, originally begun in San Quentin. The men have committed themselves to transforming their lives through non-violence and becoming "peacekeepers". The inmates commit to a one-year training of looking deeply into their lives. They are helped to develop emotional intelligence, mindfulness, ability to "sit in the fire", and address victim impact. They educate themselves about the suffering they have experienced and caused. When they graduate they again commit themselves to refraining from any violence, but this time for the remainder of their lives. It’s a highly successful program, truly transformative and healing. Many graduates become GRIP facilitators themselves, either working in prisons, or with at-risk populations upon their release.
When will we do this?
We have an on-line Zoom training session every Saturday at 11 AM. George Lunas, the GRIP facilitator at Soledad State Prison joins us. We spend the hour braiding, teaching newcomers, and George talks to us about GRIP, some of the challenges the men face, and some of the moving examples of their courage, love, and triumph over despair. It's potent.
Who to contact?
If you are interested in participating in this "braiding circle", please email Abraham Guenther <ehbrahamg@gmail.com> for details about sending you the braiding materials.
[
Add to Calendar ]