Sila, Samadhi, and Pañña (Ethics, Meditation, and Wisdom)
See Upcoming Yearlong Programs for current year’s programs
Three Eight-month programs offered repeatedly over a three-year cycle. They lay out the fundamental Buddhist teachings that support the path of practice. Participants can join at that start of any of the three programs. Pre-requisite: Four to five years of committed insight meditation practice, 4 seven-day (or longer) silent insight meditation retreats and completion of the IMC Eightfold Path Program or its equivalent.
1. Sila: Equivalence of Ethics and Enlightenment Program
This eight-month program provides experienced practitioners an opportunity to delve into some of the deeper teachings of our Buddhist tradition in a community of other committed practitioners. In this program participants study and discuss core principles of the Buddha’s teachings on ethics to understand the ethical nature of his teachings and to discover how the Buddha’s path to awakening is an ethical path, that awakening itself is an ethical awakening, and that the awakened life is an ethical life. The program includes required monthly readings and writing of short reflective essays. Participation in the program is by selection.
2. Deepening Meditation Program
An eight-month program giving experienced practitioners the opportunity to delve into meditation practice and the Buddhist teachings and instructions for meditation. The program will focus on understanding the different attentional factors involved in mindfulness, insight, and concentration meditation. We will also consider the supports and challenges to meditation, and the experiences and insights emphasized in traditional Vipassana practice.
3. Entering the Stream Program
This eight-month program provides experienced practitioners an opportunity to delve into some of the deeper teachings of our Buddhist tradition in a community of other committed practitioners. Core principles and insights important in the Buddha’s teachings, including aspects of liberation and awakening are explored and discussed. The program includes required monthly readings and writing of short reflective essays. Participation in the program is by selection.