Welcome to Insight Western Mass (IWM)
Resource for Newcomers
If you are new to IWM, and/or to meditation practice in our tradition, and you would like some basic orientation and information, please feel free to email us at [email protected] including your contact info, and a Board member or Community Dharma Steward will be in touch with you.
If you are new to IWM, and/or to meditation practice in our tradition, and you would like some basic orientation and information, please feel free to email us at [email protected] including your contact info, and a Board member or Community Dharma Steward will be in touch with you.
Where to Start
We have open sittings suitable for all levels on Mondays 5:30-6:15pm with discussion until 6:45, hosted by a Community Dharma Steward. We offer an Open Community Practice and Dharma Talk with an experienced Dharma teacher every Wednesday from 7- 8:30pm. Please see our Offerings page for upcoming Dharma Talks. We also have open sittings led by a Community Dharma Steward on Thursdays 7:45-8:30am.
Affinity Groups are another great place to start and meet people. Current Affinity Groups: Queer & Trans, BIPOC, Chronic Illness/Disability, 35 & Under.
Some of our offerings are in-person, and others are via Zoom, or hybrid. Please see our offerings page for more information.
There’s no need to sign up ahead of time, although you might want to come a a few minutes early in order to have time to get settled comfortably. For in-person gatherings, we typically have cushions and chairs. Depending on the venue, we may also have mats, blankets, and bolsters available. The teacher or facilitator usually asks if anyone is new, but you might want to mention to them ahead of time. If you are unsure which would be better, we recommend the Wednesday nights if you're able, because they're led by a Dharma teacher. All of our offerings are offered freely. Many have suggested donation amounts, but no one is turned away for inability to donate.
We have open sittings suitable for all levels on Mondays 5:30-6:15pm with discussion until 6:45, hosted by a Community Dharma Steward. We offer an Open Community Practice and Dharma Talk with an experienced Dharma teacher every Wednesday from 7- 8:30pm. Please see our Offerings page for upcoming Dharma Talks. We also have open sittings led by a Community Dharma Steward on Thursdays 7:45-8:30am.
Affinity Groups are another great place to start and meet people. Current Affinity Groups: Queer & Trans, BIPOC, Chronic Illness/Disability, 35 & Under.
Some of our offerings are in-person, and others are via Zoom, or hybrid. Please see our offerings page for more information.
There’s no need to sign up ahead of time, although you might want to come a a few minutes early in order to have time to get settled comfortably. For in-person gatherings, we typically have cushions and chairs. Depending on the venue, we may also have mats, blankets, and bolsters available. The teacher or facilitator usually asks if anyone is new, but you might want to mention to them ahead of time. If you are unsure which would be better, we recommend the Wednesday nights if you're able, because they're led by a Dharma teacher. All of our offerings are offered freely. Many have suggested donation amounts, but no one is turned away for inability to donate.
What is Insight Meditation?
Insight Meditation, also known as Vipassana or mindfulness meditation, originated in the Theravada School of Buddhism, now primarily located in India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Burma. Vipassana, which means "to see clearly", is the simple practice of moment to moment awareness which leads to the development of wisdom and compassion.
Mindfulness, or present-time non-judgmental attention, comprises the heart of Buddhist meditation practice. This awareness training has been cultivated in Asia for over 2,500 years and, because of its simplicity and power, is now practiced by people from a wide variety of spiritual outlooks.
By cultivating mindfulness, we experience for ourselves the ever-changing flow of the mind/body, including sensations in body, hearing, thoughts, emotions, and consciousness itself. This awareness leads us to a deeper intimacy with life, and a greater ability to accept more fully the pleasure and pain, fear and joy, sadness and happiness that life inevitably brings. As insight deepens, we develop greater peace and equanimity in the face of the three basic characteristics of reality, the truths of impermanence (annica), unsatisfactoriness (dukkha), and not-self (anatta).
Our practice also develops qualities of heart and mind known as the spiritual perfections (paramis), such as generosity, ethical conduct, patience, simplicity, lovingkindness, and equanimity. With greater clarity and freedom in our hearts and minds, and from a place of greater wisdom and compassion, we can share the fruits of our practice with others through our caring and service.
Insight Meditation, also known as Vipassana or mindfulness meditation, originated in the Theravada School of Buddhism, now primarily located in India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Burma. Vipassana, which means "to see clearly", is the simple practice of moment to moment awareness which leads to the development of wisdom and compassion.
Mindfulness, or present-time non-judgmental attention, comprises the heart of Buddhist meditation practice. This awareness training has been cultivated in Asia for over 2,500 years and, because of its simplicity and power, is now practiced by people from a wide variety of spiritual outlooks.
By cultivating mindfulness, we experience for ourselves the ever-changing flow of the mind/body, including sensations in body, hearing, thoughts, emotions, and consciousness itself. This awareness leads us to a deeper intimacy with life, and a greater ability to accept more fully the pleasure and pain, fear and joy, sadness and happiness that life inevitably brings. As insight deepens, we develop greater peace and equanimity in the face of the three basic characteristics of reality, the truths of impermanence (annica), unsatisfactoriness (dukkha), and not-self (anatta).
Our practice also develops qualities of heart and mind known as the spiritual perfections (paramis), such as generosity, ethical conduct, patience, simplicity, lovingkindness, and equanimity. With greater clarity and freedom in our hearts and minds, and from a place of greater wisdom and compassion, we can share the fruits of our practice with others through our caring and service.
Click below for more information on IWM Teachers, our tradition of dana (generosity), and Dharma Talks :