Welcome to Insight Western Mass (IWM)
Formerly known as Insight PV
Accessibility
In the interest of making our Center accessible to all, we ask that you refrain from using scented body products. The Center is also wheelchair accessible (closest elevator is at the West entrance).
Registration Procedure
Pre-registration is strongly encouraged for all retreats and courses. One week before the retreat or start of the course, if there are too few registrants, the event may be cancelled at the discretion of the teacher. If an event is cancelled all donations will be refunded. Unless otherwise stated, over-enrolled retreats are first-come, first-served. Please pre-register to hold a place on the Wait List.
Register for retreats and courses on-line by clicking on the words "Register now!" below the description of the event. Follow the instructions provided at each step. You may register at the door if the course is not full or has not been cancelled. A note indicating there is space available will be posted after the description when online registration closes.
You may also download a hardcopy Pre-registration Form for Courses and Retreats by clicking Here. Copies of the form are also available at Insight Western Mass. Please complete the form and mail it with your Donation for Registration to Insight Western Mass at the address provided. You may also bring the form with your Donation for Registration to Insight Western Mass if you come to another offering before registration closes.
Registration and Teacher Donations
Insight Western Mass suggests donation ranges for each course and retreat to help support the Center, paying for rent, phone, and administration. Teachers and community dharma leaders at Insight Western Mass are not paid by IWM for leading courses and retreats. While a dollar amount is not specified for a Teacher Donation, we encourage you to consider making a contribution equal to or greater than the Suggested Donation for Registration. In this way, you support the teacher’s livelihood and the Buddhist tradition of offering the teachings freely.
For each retreat, course, or open sitting, please take a moment to reflect on the value of the offering to you and make an appropriate donation. Insight Western Mass continues its policy of welcoming all, no matter their financial situation. If the Suggested Donation is beyond your means, please just let us know when you register. If your funds are very limited, please save them for a contribution to the Teacher.
Open sittings have no suggested donation, but a box or basket is available for your donations to Insight Western Mass and/or the teacher. All forms of generosity are welcome at Insight Western Mass. Please consider donating your time to help your Center continue to operate with open arms.
Attending Retreats and Courses
Lunch
For one-day retreats, it is recommended that you bring a bag lunch so that your retreat is not disrupted. If you cannot bring your lunch, listed below are some restaurants in Easthampton:
Riff's Joint– counter service, eat-in high quality casual food (not a bar, in spite of the name) located right below the Center on the first floor of Eastworks
The Silver Spoon restaurant – traditional American food
Easthampton Diner – traditional diner food
Big E's Supermarket – ready-made and made-to-order sandwiches, hot soups and deli items
Cancellations
If there is a question about snow or other weather-related cancellations, please check the IWM homepage, the IWM Calendar, or call Insight Western Mass (413-527-0388) two or three hours before the scheduled start of the event. If a class is cancelled because of bad weather or teacher illness and cannot be replaced, participants will be offered a refund.
In the interest of making our Center accessible to all, we ask that you refrain from using scented body products. The Center is also wheelchair accessible (closest elevator is at the West entrance).
Registration Procedure
Pre-registration is strongly encouraged for all retreats and courses. One week before the retreat or start of the course, if there are too few registrants, the event may be cancelled at the discretion of the teacher. If an event is cancelled all donations will be refunded. Unless otherwise stated, over-enrolled retreats are first-come, first-served. Please pre-register to hold a place on the Wait List.
Register for retreats and courses on-line by clicking on the words "Register now!" below the description of the event. Follow the instructions provided at each step. You may register at the door if the course is not full or has not been cancelled. A note indicating there is space available will be posted after the description when online registration closes.
You may also download a hardcopy Pre-registration Form for Courses and Retreats by clicking Here. Copies of the form are also available at Insight Western Mass. Please complete the form and mail it with your Donation for Registration to Insight Western Mass at the address provided. You may also bring the form with your Donation for Registration to Insight Western Mass if you come to another offering before registration closes.
Registration and Teacher Donations
Insight Western Mass suggests donation ranges for each course and retreat to help support the Center, paying for rent, phone, and administration. Teachers and community dharma leaders at Insight Western Mass are not paid by IWM for leading courses and retreats. While a dollar amount is not specified for a Teacher Donation, we encourage you to consider making a contribution equal to or greater than the Suggested Donation for Registration. In this way, you support the teacher’s livelihood and the Buddhist tradition of offering the teachings freely.
For each retreat, course, or open sitting, please take a moment to reflect on the value of the offering to you and make an appropriate donation. Insight Western Mass continues its policy of welcoming all, no matter their financial situation. If the Suggested Donation is beyond your means, please just let us know when you register. If your funds are very limited, please save them for a contribution to the Teacher.
Open sittings have no suggested donation, but a box or basket is available for your donations to Insight Western Mass and/or the teacher. All forms of generosity are welcome at Insight Western Mass. Please consider donating your time to help your Center continue to operate with open arms.
Attending Retreats and Courses
Lunch
For one-day retreats, it is recommended that you bring a bag lunch so that your retreat is not disrupted. If you cannot bring your lunch, listed below are some restaurants in Easthampton:
Riff's Joint– counter service, eat-in high quality casual food (not a bar, in spite of the name) located right below the Center on the first floor of Eastworks
The Silver Spoon restaurant – traditional American food
Easthampton Diner – traditional diner food
Big E's Supermarket – ready-made and made-to-order sandwiches, hot soups and deli items
Cancellations
If there is a question about snow or other weather-related cancellations, please check the IWM homepage, the IWM Calendar, or call Insight Western Mass (413-527-0388) two or three hours before the scheduled start of the event. If a class is cancelled because of bad weather or teacher illness and cannot be replaced, participants will be offered a refund.
Carpooling
You may want to consider ridesharing to an event or ongoing class. Martin Urbel coordinates ridesharing to Insight Western Mass events. If you are interested, please contact him at urbel@comcast.net.
You may want to consider ridesharing to an event or ongoing class. Martin Urbel coordinates ridesharing to Insight Western Mass events. If you are interested, please contact him at urbel@comcast.net.
Courses
Courses are offered as a series of weekly classes, usually four, five, or six weeks long. For the purposes of building community among the participants and continuity in the offering, courses are not open on a drop-in basis. If you cannot make the first class you may have an opportunity to sign up, space permitting, at the second class. Check the website for availability.
Courses are offered as a series of weekly classes, usually four, five, or six weeks long. For the purposes of building community among the participants and continuity in the offering, courses are not open on a drop-in basis. If you cannot make the first class you may have an opportunity to sign up, space permitting, at the second class. Check the website for availability.
Other Helpful Information
- Please arrive 10-15 minutes early so that you'll have time to check in and find a comfortable seat. We have mats, cushions, blankets and bolsters to make yourself comfortable on the floor, and chairs if the floor doesn't work for you.
- Dress comfortably and in layers. It's sometimes cool in the morning, but warms up fairly quickly.
- For day-long retreats there will be a lunch break in the middle of the day. You are welcome to bring a lunch or we suggest Riff’s restaurant which is on the first floor in Eastworks.
- Teacher dana envelopes will be available when you arrive. Please remember that our teachers are not given any salary from IWM. We follow the ancient tradition of dana where the teachers give their wisdom freely and students give what they can to provide the teacher with a livelihood. Click to find out more information about dana.
- We've saved you a seat, so please let us know if you will be unable to attend. We will be happy to transfer your donation to any other event or to a general donation. Any donations are 100% tax deductible.
- Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any other questions or if I can be of further service. We are grateful for your presence and look forward to practicing with you.