Interview with IWM Teachers Tara Mulay and Devin Berry, May 2021
Tara Mulay; Devin Berry
On Sunday, June 6 from 4:00-5:00pm ET, Sharon Salzberg and Roxanne Dault will engage in a Sangha of Service and Advocacy discussion to support a trauma-informed mindfulness training program for survivors of gun violence, followed by a guided meditation. Details can be found below.
We asked Tara Mulay and Devin Berry to share about their experiences with Insight World Aid and the Sangha of Service and Advocacy. Their collaborative responses are below.
We asked Tara Mulay and Devin Berry to share about their experiences with Insight World Aid and the Sangha of Service and Advocacy. Their collaborative responses are below.
Q: How long have you been part of Insight World Aid, and how would you describe your role?
A: We have been a part of IWA for about 2 years. Devin currently serves as president of the board. Tara is currently the treasurer. We are a small working board of 6 members, mostly Dharma teachers, and we work collaboratively, including on organizing and curating the SSA (Sangha of Service and Advocacy).
A: We have been a part of IWA for about 2 years. Devin currently serves as president of the board. Tara is currently the treasurer. We are a small working board of 6 members, mostly Dharma teachers, and we work collaboratively, including on organizing and curating the SSA (Sangha of Service and Advocacy).
Q: What is something you appreciate about the Sangha of Service and Advocacy discussions?
A: The format of the Sangha of Service and Advocacy is unique. It is kind of like a video podcast, in which a dharma teacher who is involved in service or advocacy work is interviewed about how dharma practice has inspired them to serve the community and the connections they see between dharma and service. The relational, lively format of a dialogue between guest and interviewer draws out from the guest teacher stories about important life events and aspects of practice that were pivotal in motivating the guest’s service work. The conversations touch deeply on aspects of dharma practice that seed service, such as generosity, compassion, wisdom, dukkha, and awakening. We also get to hear about the fascinating and inspiring projects the guests have created or supported.
We appreciate that we lead with service and that the form of the dharma sharing breaks the mold of the traditional format of a dharma talk plus discussion. Our primary intention and objective is to highlight the service aspect of mindfulness and the Dhamma. The discussions are direct, simple, and pragmatic, but they also point to the deepest dharma realizations. The Sangha of Service and Advocacy is about connection, belonging, and service as practice.
A: The format of the Sangha of Service and Advocacy is unique. It is kind of like a video podcast, in which a dharma teacher who is involved in service or advocacy work is interviewed about how dharma practice has inspired them to serve the community and the connections they see between dharma and service. The relational, lively format of a dialogue between guest and interviewer draws out from the guest teacher stories about important life events and aspects of practice that were pivotal in motivating the guest’s service work. The conversations touch deeply on aspects of dharma practice that seed service, such as generosity, compassion, wisdom, dukkha, and awakening. We also get to hear about the fascinating and inspiring projects the guests have created or supported.
We appreciate that we lead with service and that the form of the dharma sharing breaks the mold of the traditional format of a dharma talk plus discussion. Our primary intention and objective is to highlight the service aspect of mindfulness and the Dhamma. The discussions are direct, simple, and pragmatic, but they also point to the deepest dharma realizations. The Sangha of Service and Advocacy is about connection, belonging, and service as practice.
Q: Do you know how the Sangha of Service and Advocacy series began, or any context you'd like to share around its origin?
A: Gil Fronsdal, the long-time guiding teacher of Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California, and one of the core teachers of the IMS Dharma Teacher training we just completed, models leadership and is service oriented. A couple of years ago, Gil asked Tara if she wanted to revive Insight World Aid, since it had been a dormant non-profit for a number of years. Tara asked a number of members of the IMS teacher training cohort to join the board. We started out by directly supporting schools in Myanmar, projects for the Uganda Buddhist Center, and the prison mindfulness program called Guiding Rage Into Power (GRIP). When the pandemic started, we collaboratively created the Sangha of Service and Advocacy to bring attention and raise funds for a wider range of service projects, while at the same time providing dharma sharings by the teachers who are involved in those projects through our SSA interviews.
A: Gil Fronsdal, the long-time guiding teacher of Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California, and one of the core teachers of the IMS Dharma Teacher training we just completed, models leadership and is service oriented. A couple of years ago, Gil asked Tara if she wanted to revive Insight World Aid, since it had been a dormant non-profit for a number of years. Tara asked a number of members of the IMS teacher training cohort to join the board. We started out by directly supporting schools in Myanmar, projects for the Uganda Buddhist Center, and the prison mindfulness program called Guiding Rage Into Power (GRIP). When the pandemic started, we collaboratively created the Sangha of Service and Advocacy to bring attention and raise funds for a wider range of service projects, while at the same time providing dharma sharings by the teachers who are involved in those projects through our SSA interviews.
Q: Anything else you'd like to share about Insight World Aid or Sangha of Service and Advocacy?
A: Yes, please join us Sunday, June 6 with Sharon Salzberg and Roxanne Dault.
IWA (Insight World Aid) meets the first Sunday of every month.
You can find us at the IWA website and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube as Insightworldaid.
A: Yes, please join us Sunday, June 6 with Sharon Salzberg and Roxanne Dault.
IWA (Insight World Aid) meets the first Sunday of every month.
You can find us at the IWA website and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube as Insightworldaid.
Sangha of Service and Advocacy Discussion and Meditation, June 6
Sunday, June 6; 4:00-5:00pm ET
Sharon Salzberg and Roxanne Dault will engage in a discussion to support a trauma-informed mindfulness training program for survivors of gun violence, followed by a guided meditation.
This event is hosted by the Sangha of Service and Advocacy and supported by Insight WM, with an opportunity for dana through UC San Diego (add note for Survivors of Gun Violence project in “Special Instructions” section) and at Insight World Aid.
This offering will be hosted on the Insight World Aid Zoom account, not the IWM Zoom account.
Sharon Salzberg and Roxanne Dault will engage in a discussion to support a trauma-informed mindfulness training program for survivors of gun violence, followed by a guided meditation.
This event is hosted by the Sangha of Service and Advocacy and supported by Insight WM, with an opportunity for dana through UC San Diego (add note for Survivors of Gun Violence project in “Special Instructions” section) and at Insight World Aid.
This offering will be hosted on the Insight World Aid Zoom account, not the IWM Zoom account.