Welcome to Insight Western Mass (IWM) Formerly known as Insight PV*
Some IWM courses/retreats/Dharma talks are currently being held in-person and some via Zoom and some as hybrids. To learn more more about upcoming IWM offerings, please click on the button below:
Insight Meditation Community of Western Massachusetts is a community-based meditation center in Easthampton, Massachusetts, offering teachings and meditation practice support for all who are interested, rooted in the Insight tradition, and centered on the Buddha’s teachings of liberation for all. We endeavor to provide inspiration and guidance for all who seek to cultivate wisdom and compassion in daily life.
IWM is dedicated to being a welcoming community to all. We are firmly committed to welcoming diversity of race, class, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, cultural and religious background, and ability within our midst, so that all might feel included and comfortable in practicing here.
We are committed to making the dharma accessible to all, and all teachings and programs are offered freely, by donation only. No one will be turned away for inability to donate. Click About Us to learn more.
We are currently hosting a Sangha-wide “Common Read” of Kate Johnson’s book Radical Friendship. This is a way for everyone to come together in reading and discussing this transformational book, which takes the Buddha’s teachings about friendship and applies them to our lives, and our care for others and for the world. Click here to read more.
There are three ways to participate:
Join a Kalyana Mitta, or Spiritual Friends, group (update: groups are now full and underway)
Join one or more facilitated drop-in sessions discussing the book (update: five drop-ins were offered in February)
Attend a special event on February 25 when Kate Johnson comes to IWM! -- POSTPONED
Please join us in bringing practice into everyday life through sangha service. For more information about the roles and responsibilities of the Board and the application process, click here. The Board application can be found here. You can reach out to us with any questions at leadership@insightwma.org.
*December 2021 - About Our Name Change: Last year, in the spirit of wise action, and in solidarity with the widespread awakening taking place around the US, the Board (which, at the time, included Tara Mulay as the Interim Guiding Teacher) engaged the sangha in a process which led to our new name: Insight Meditation Community of Western Massachusetts Dhamma Dena, Inc.
We undertook that process after considering what it is we were signaling as a community by including the word "Pioneer" in our name. Among other things, the word pioneer implies celebration of the colonization of this area by European settlers, often through acts of genocide and war.
As a sangha, we endeavor to live with compassion and lovingkindness for all beings. With these qualities in our hearts, and as the sangha aligns more fully with our collective aspirations of awakening, liberation, and true welcoming, we were eager to adopt a name that reflects our commitments. We’ve been using our new name for many months. And, now that we’ve made the necessary changes formally and legally, we will be bringing in the new year with a new URL and new email addresses.
