7/29/23 - August Sangha News
September 17: Benefit and Celebration
Dharma Practice in Daily Life & The Path of Liberation
An afternoon of Question & Response with Joseph Goldstein
facilitated by Devin Berry
~ from 2-4 PM, with a reception to follow ~
We are deeply grateful that Joseph Goldstein is coming to Northampton to offer a benefit program for Insight Meditation Community of Western Massachusetts (IWM) in honor of our 25th year of offering the Dharma. In keeping with the spirit of dana, our goal is to raise $25,000. These funds will serve to strengthen our sangha through diversifying our teaching pool along with our offerings. Read more here.
* We need volunteers to help with preparation and on the day of the benefit! Please let us know if you would like to help by emailing [email protected].
Monday evening open practice sessions, 5:30 - 6:45
Continuing our new format for Monday nights, the second and fourth Mondays of the month will be offered in person at the center, including a hybrid option when we have volunteers to run the hybrid equipment. Starting on July 17 we began to focus on the Paramis, ten wholesome qualities of mind and heart the Buddha recommended for us to cultivate. Coming up:
July 31 Renunciation, Holly Bishop on zoom
August 7 Blessing Circle, Jennifer Delozier on zoom
August 14 Wisdom, Hal Fales in person
August 21 Courage, Holly on zoom
August 28 Patience, Jennifer in person/hybrid
The Dharma of Homecoming in Times of Fear
Half-Day Retreat with Lama Rod Owens
Sunday, August 6; 9:00am-1:00pm
Lama Rod will be offering a special BIPOC affinity lunch session at the end of the retreat, from 1-2pm. In person only. Bring your own lunch; light refreshments will be provided. Please email [email protected] with questions. *If you identify as BIPOC, would like to participate, and didn't register before we reached in-person capacity, please reach out and we'll let you know if we've had any cancellations.*
Read more about the retreat here.
Please note we have reached in-person capacity. You can still register on Zoom.
How to Breathe with a Tree
Half-Day Retreat with artist Gina Siepel and Bernadine Mellis
Saturday August 19, 9:30 AM - noon at Macleish Field Station (on forest and pasture land in Whately MA, owned by Smith College)
This offering involves a two-mile walk through uneven terrain. Please bring a mat to sit on. There is parking at the site; we encourage sangha members to carpool. There is bathroom access at the site. Rain/smoke date: September 23.
Read more about the retreat and register here.
Justice and Belonging
Our Land Acknowledgement
IWM's land acknowledgement has been in process for some time. When Bernadine started working at IWM earlier in the spring, we gave her a much longer history of the land that Keila Franks, a Harvard Divinity School student in Buddhist Studies who did a Field Placement at IWM, had researched and drafted in 2021. IWM is indebted to Keila for her work and the folder of rich materials she left us on the "Legacy of the Land."
Bernadine took what Keila did, and then did her own research and writing and, very thoughtfully, talked with others about IWM's efforts. The whole Board reviewed and endorsed Bernadine's draft. We are so grateful to her for her work on this! Here are the first two paragraphs of the Land Acknowledgement; to read the whole thing, please click here.
We acknowledge that IWM is situated on Nipmuc & Pocumtuc land. The Center is here today as a result of the history of settler colonialism in this region, and the continuing private ownership of this land, currently by Eastworks. “Settler colonialism is the removal and erasure of Indigenous populations, communities, and nations that pre-exist the arrival and creation of the settler nation.”
As Buddhists, it is our commitment and our practice to turn towards the truth, however painful it may be. We affirm that facing difficult truths - in this case the truth of the violent histories that have led to our presence here today - is essential to ethical conduct, and to liberation itself. Read the full land acknowledgement here.
Affinity Sangha Updates
Please contact Bernadine at [email protected] with questions or comments.
BIPOC Sangha
We are exploring avenues for creating supportive BIPOC affinity space at IWM. As part of this effort, Lama Rod Owens will be offering a special BIPOC affinity session at the end of his retreat on August 6, from 1-2. (Bring your own lunch; light refreshments will be provided.) Please email [email protected] with questions. *If you identify as BIPOC, would like to participate, and didn't register before we reached capacity, please reach out and we'll let you know if we've had any cancellations.*
If you identify as BIPOC and are interested in an affinity space, or would like to share your thoughts with us about this process, please let us know. We want to hear from you. [email protected]
Queer & Trans Sangha
All LGBTQIA2S+ identities are welcome! Our Q / T sangha meets the fourth Thursday of every month from 7:15-8:45 in person. When possible, we offer a hybrid option.
Disability/Chronic Illness Sangha
We would very much like to re-launch this group in whatever format is most supportive to the community. If you are interested in a group like this, or would like to be involved in helping to form it, please contact us at [email protected].
Parents & Families Sangha - Fall Gathering
Sunday, September 9 from 10AM-12PM with a picnic to follow
In person at the sangha at Eastworks! Please note we have an air purifier in the space - and we are happy to say we now have air conditioning as well.
Please join us for a Parents & Families Gathering. We welcome those who have participated in our children and families programming in the past as well as new parents, caregivers, and families to come together. Our intention is to build community and support each other to root our family lives in the Dhamma.
We will practice together, have time for discussion (for parents) and stories & play (for children), and share a picnic lunch.
White & Awakening in the Dhamma
We are happy to share that we will be offering the 6-month White & Awakening in the Dhamma curriculum again this year, starting in the Fall. WAD is designed to afford people who identify as white the opportunity to turn with mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion towards racism, white supremacy culture, and privilege, as they manifest externally and internally. With the course, we will provide a guided exploration of the racial conditioning of white people with the support of Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. Registration for the group will open soon; please keep an eye out!
Deep Gratitude
We deeply appreciate all who shared the Dharma with us and those who volunteered their time and care to the sangha during April, May and June.
Teachers/Guest Presenters:
Rebecca Bradshaw, Jill Shepherd, Chas DiCapua, Jean Esther, Nico Hase, Dave Smith, Maureen Shannon-Chapple, Nick Boutros, Brent Beresford, Manny Mansbach, Karen Waconda-Lewis, Michael Grady, Bernadine Mellis, Lore Detenber & Candace Cassin.
Sangha Stewards:
Zoom Hosts/In-Person Greeters/Hybrid Hosts: Catalina A, Lucy B, Holly B, Adam C, Vaughn F, Hal F, Cheryl K, Lesley M, Cathy R & Sue W.
Day-to-Day Operations (Admin/Teacher Liaison/Technology/ Volunteers): Lucy B, Anne F, Adam C, Cathy R.
Finance Committee: Lucy B & Jen G (staffed by Fariba G).
Green Metta: Betsy H, Rick H, Diana R & Andrea Z.
Programming Committee: Candace C, Hal F, Vaughn, F & Manny M (staffed by Casper L & Bernadine M).
Board: Suzanne A, Lucy B, Holly B, Hal F & Cathy R.
Community Dharma Stewards: Suzanne A, Holly B, Jennifer D, Hal F, Ruth F, Leslie F & Jaya K.
Peer-led Tuesday morning open practice and discussion and Friday evening open practice: Thanks to all who hold the space on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Facilitators (KM groups, White Caucus, White & Awakening in the Dharma, Affinity groups): Holly B, Jen C, Jennifer D, Lore D, Ruth F, Bernadine M & Melissa T.
Dharma Dialogue with Jennifer D.
“Self” or “No-Self”
I have been wanting to write about this for a while now, and it has been an elusive task. I will start off with an easy angle. Who is it in me that gets disappointed when only one person responds to this Dialogue? I am so grateful to have an ongoing Dialogue, it would seem like that gratitude would outshine any other feelings I may have. And yet someone in me says, “One is not enough!” Also, who is it in me that almost obsessively wonders if anyone is reading the Dialogue at all? There is no way of actually knowing, and I don’t really need to know. Yet again, there is part of me that wants to have the satisfaction of having the answers to both those questions. Of course, the operative words here are “me,” “I,” and “self,” and the implied culprit is “ego.” It is probably obvious by now that “ego” is the one who wants to take credit for the “Words of Wisdom” embarked on these pages each month. “Ego” is what robs me of the satisfaction of offering, without any attachment to the outcome.
Sometimes, it seems to me as if “no-self” could be the narrator/author of what is written, without “me”, having much of a say as to what appears on the page. That would be my aspiration. To be at least somewhat inspired and carefully looking at my practice to see what is available to share, and trusting that the words will be of Wise Speech. And watching what arises and passes away, which is what happens in daily life no matter what we may be doing. Even in the context of “my” practice, there is an indication of ownership, as if the practice belongs to me. And we all know that is not the case. The Buddha taught that there is no separate self in any true life experience.
So I will continue practicing (and typing) with the intention of being in the moment and hoping that the words may offer some sense of “Ah-ha” to someone in the Sangha who may be reading this!
With Metta,
Jennifer D.
Community Dharma Steward
If you would like to join in this monthly Dharma Dialogue, please send your offering in an email to [email protected]. Indicate if you would like it to be anonymous. You need not be a writer to contribute. Any topic of practice is open for discussion.
Downloadable Flyers
Below are downloadable flyers in case you want to share them with a friend or post them on a public bulletin board:
August Offerings: click here
Upcoming Courses & Retreats:
Feedback
If you have comments, questions, or ideas you’d like to share, please contact us: [email protected].
With much care and metta,
IWM Board
Dharma Practice in Daily Life & The Path of Liberation
An afternoon of Question & Response with Joseph Goldstein
facilitated by Devin Berry
~ from 2-4 PM, with a reception to follow ~
We are deeply grateful that Joseph Goldstein is coming to Northampton to offer a benefit program for Insight Meditation Community of Western Massachusetts (IWM) in honor of our 25th year of offering the Dharma. In keeping with the spirit of dana, our goal is to raise $25,000. These funds will serve to strengthen our sangha through diversifying our teaching pool along with our offerings. Read more here.
* We need volunteers to help with preparation and on the day of the benefit! Please let us know if you would like to help by emailing [email protected].
Monday evening open practice sessions, 5:30 - 6:45
Continuing our new format for Monday nights, the second and fourth Mondays of the month will be offered in person at the center, including a hybrid option when we have volunteers to run the hybrid equipment. Starting on July 17 we began to focus on the Paramis, ten wholesome qualities of mind and heart the Buddha recommended for us to cultivate. Coming up:
July 31 Renunciation, Holly Bishop on zoom
August 7 Blessing Circle, Jennifer Delozier on zoom
August 14 Wisdom, Hal Fales in person
August 21 Courage, Holly on zoom
August 28 Patience, Jennifer in person/hybrid
The Dharma of Homecoming in Times of Fear
Half-Day Retreat with Lama Rod Owens
Sunday, August 6; 9:00am-1:00pm
Lama Rod will be offering a special BIPOC affinity lunch session at the end of the retreat, from 1-2pm. In person only. Bring your own lunch; light refreshments will be provided. Please email [email protected] with questions. *If you identify as BIPOC, would like to participate, and didn't register before we reached in-person capacity, please reach out and we'll let you know if we've had any cancellations.*
Read more about the retreat here.
Please note we have reached in-person capacity. You can still register on Zoom.
How to Breathe with a Tree
Half-Day Retreat with artist Gina Siepel and Bernadine Mellis
Saturday August 19, 9:30 AM - noon at Macleish Field Station (on forest and pasture land in Whately MA, owned by Smith College)
This offering involves a two-mile walk through uneven terrain. Please bring a mat to sit on. There is parking at the site; we encourage sangha members to carpool. There is bathroom access at the site. Rain/smoke date: September 23.
Read more about the retreat and register here.
Justice and Belonging
Our Land Acknowledgement
IWM's land acknowledgement has been in process for some time. When Bernadine started working at IWM earlier in the spring, we gave her a much longer history of the land that Keila Franks, a Harvard Divinity School student in Buddhist Studies who did a Field Placement at IWM, had researched and drafted in 2021. IWM is indebted to Keila for her work and the folder of rich materials she left us on the "Legacy of the Land."
Bernadine took what Keila did, and then did her own research and writing and, very thoughtfully, talked with others about IWM's efforts. The whole Board reviewed and endorsed Bernadine's draft. We are so grateful to her for her work on this! Here are the first two paragraphs of the Land Acknowledgement; to read the whole thing, please click here.
We acknowledge that IWM is situated on Nipmuc & Pocumtuc land. The Center is here today as a result of the history of settler colonialism in this region, and the continuing private ownership of this land, currently by Eastworks. “Settler colonialism is the removal and erasure of Indigenous populations, communities, and nations that pre-exist the arrival and creation of the settler nation.”
As Buddhists, it is our commitment and our practice to turn towards the truth, however painful it may be. We affirm that facing difficult truths - in this case the truth of the violent histories that have led to our presence here today - is essential to ethical conduct, and to liberation itself. Read the full land acknowledgement here.
Affinity Sangha Updates
Please contact Bernadine at [email protected] with questions or comments.
BIPOC Sangha
We are exploring avenues for creating supportive BIPOC affinity space at IWM. As part of this effort, Lama Rod Owens will be offering a special BIPOC affinity session at the end of his retreat on August 6, from 1-2. (Bring your own lunch; light refreshments will be provided.) Please email [email protected] with questions. *If you identify as BIPOC, would like to participate, and didn't register before we reached capacity, please reach out and we'll let you know if we've had any cancellations.*
If you identify as BIPOC and are interested in an affinity space, or would like to share your thoughts with us about this process, please let us know. We want to hear from you. [email protected]
Queer & Trans Sangha
All LGBTQIA2S+ identities are welcome! Our Q / T sangha meets the fourth Thursday of every month from 7:15-8:45 in person. When possible, we offer a hybrid option.
Disability/Chronic Illness Sangha
We would very much like to re-launch this group in whatever format is most supportive to the community. If you are interested in a group like this, or would like to be involved in helping to form it, please contact us at [email protected].
Parents & Families Sangha - Fall Gathering
Sunday, September 9 from 10AM-12PM with a picnic to follow
In person at the sangha at Eastworks! Please note we have an air purifier in the space - and we are happy to say we now have air conditioning as well.
Please join us for a Parents & Families Gathering. We welcome those who have participated in our children and families programming in the past as well as new parents, caregivers, and families to come together. Our intention is to build community and support each other to root our family lives in the Dhamma.
We will practice together, have time for discussion (for parents) and stories & play (for children), and share a picnic lunch.
White & Awakening in the Dhamma
We are happy to share that we will be offering the 6-month White & Awakening in the Dhamma curriculum again this year, starting in the Fall. WAD is designed to afford people who identify as white the opportunity to turn with mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion towards racism, white supremacy culture, and privilege, as they manifest externally and internally. With the course, we will provide a guided exploration of the racial conditioning of white people with the support of Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. Registration for the group will open soon; please keep an eye out!
Deep Gratitude
We deeply appreciate all who shared the Dharma with us and those who volunteered their time and care to the sangha during April, May and June.
Teachers/Guest Presenters:
Rebecca Bradshaw, Jill Shepherd, Chas DiCapua, Jean Esther, Nico Hase, Dave Smith, Maureen Shannon-Chapple, Nick Boutros, Brent Beresford, Manny Mansbach, Karen Waconda-Lewis, Michael Grady, Bernadine Mellis, Lore Detenber & Candace Cassin.
Sangha Stewards:
Zoom Hosts/In-Person Greeters/Hybrid Hosts: Catalina A, Lucy B, Holly B, Adam C, Vaughn F, Hal F, Cheryl K, Lesley M, Cathy R & Sue W.
Day-to-Day Operations (Admin/Teacher Liaison/Technology/ Volunteers): Lucy B, Anne F, Adam C, Cathy R.
Finance Committee: Lucy B & Jen G (staffed by Fariba G).
Green Metta: Betsy H, Rick H, Diana R & Andrea Z.
Programming Committee: Candace C, Hal F, Vaughn, F & Manny M (staffed by Casper L & Bernadine M).
Board: Suzanne A, Lucy B, Holly B, Hal F & Cathy R.
Community Dharma Stewards: Suzanne A, Holly B, Jennifer D, Hal F, Ruth F, Leslie F & Jaya K.
Peer-led Tuesday morning open practice and discussion and Friday evening open practice: Thanks to all who hold the space on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Facilitators (KM groups, White Caucus, White & Awakening in the Dharma, Affinity groups): Holly B, Jen C, Jennifer D, Lore D, Ruth F, Bernadine M & Melissa T.
Dharma Dialogue with Jennifer D.
“Self” or “No-Self”
I have been wanting to write about this for a while now, and it has been an elusive task. I will start off with an easy angle. Who is it in me that gets disappointed when only one person responds to this Dialogue? I am so grateful to have an ongoing Dialogue, it would seem like that gratitude would outshine any other feelings I may have. And yet someone in me says, “One is not enough!” Also, who is it in me that almost obsessively wonders if anyone is reading the Dialogue at all? There is no way of actually knowing, and I don’t really need to know. Yet again, there is part of me that wants to have the satisfaction of having the answers to both those questions. Of course, the operative words here are “me,” “I,” and “self,” and the implied culprit is “ego.” It is probably obvious by now that “ego” is the one who wants to take credit for the “Words of Wisdom” embarked on these pages each month. “Ego” is what robs me of the satisfaction of offering, without any attachment to the outcome.
Sometimes, it seems to me as if “no-self” could be the narrator/author of what is written, without “me”, having much of a say as to what appears on the page. That would be my aspiration. To be at least somewhat inspired and carefully looking at my practice to see what is available to share, and trusting that the words will be of Wise Speech. And watching what arises and passes away, which is what happens in daily life no matter what we may be doing. Even in the context of “my” practice, there is an indication of ownership, as if the practice belongs to me. And we all know that is not the case. The Buddha taught that there is no separate self in any true life experience.
So I will continue practicing (and typing) with the intention of being in the moment and hoping that the words may offer some sense of “Ah-ha” to someone in the Sangha who may be reading this!
With Metta,
Jennifer D.
Community Dharma Steward
If you would like to join in this monthly Dharma Dialogue, please send your offering in an email to [email protected]. Indicate if you would like it to be anonymous. You need not be a writer to contribute. Any topic of practice is open for discussion.
Downloadable Flyers
Below are downloadable flyers in case you want to share them with a friend or post them on a public bulletin board:
August Offerings: click here
Upcoming Courses & Retreats:
Feedback
If you have comments, questions, or ideas you’d like to share, please contact us: [email protected].
With much care and metta,
IWM Board