Welcome to Insight Western Mass (IWM)
Formerly known as Insight PV
Kalyana Mitta Groups
IWM offers ongoing Kalyana Mitta (spiritual friendship and study) groups of 12 or fewer members, which periodically open for new membership. You can read more about what Kalyana Mitta ("KM") groups are below. An ongoing KM group facilitated by IWM sangha members Lore Detenber and Hal Fales began in September 2020 and is meeting twice per month on Sundays. Registration for the group is now closed. If you are interested in a KM group, please sign up for our email list or check our Offerings page to look out for future KM groups.
Kalyana Mitta is a Pali word meaning “spiritual friend.” A Kalyana Mitta group usually reads a dharma book or other dharma materials together. A typical meeting will include meditation together, check-ins, discussions about the book reading or other dharma material, process time about the group, closing with short sit, chant or dedication of merit. Kalyana Mitta groups are small, safe, peer-facilitated groups that provide an opportunity for:
Kalyana Mitta is a Pali word meaning “spiritual friend.” A Kalyana Mitta group usually reads a dharma book or other dharma materials together. A typical meeting will include meditation together, check-ins, discussions about the book reading or other dharma material, process time about the group, closing with short sit, chant or dedication of merit. Kalyana Mitta groups are small, safe, peer-facilitated groups that provide an opportunity for:
- Cultivation of a group of Dharma friends who can provide support for each other's practice.
- Deeper exploration and study of Dharma teachings and topics related to our practice in daily life.
- Increased integration between formal practice and daily life, nurturing our Dharma practice in an on-going way.
- A deepening understanding of the relational aspects of Dharma practice and the importance of sangha connections.
White & Awakening in the Dharma: Creating Antiracist Sanghas
A Six-Month Practice and Study Program at Insight Western Mass ran September-November 2020 and January-March 2021. Note: Registration is currently closed. Please stay tuned for updates moving forward.
IWM previously offered White and Awakening in the Dharma, a 6-month, 12-session study and practice program for white-identified practitioners to respond to these needs. WAD Graduates are currently meeting every other month from 9:30am-12pm ET, online, on the following Saturdays in 2021-2022: July 31, Sept 25, Nov 20, Jan 29, Mar 26, May 21. Dharma practice affords practitioners the opportunity to turn with mindfulness, kindness, and compassion towards the manifestations of racial suffering and privilege in our society and in ourselves. The aim of this course is to provide a guided, community exploration, drawing on Buddha Dharma and historical teachings, of our racial conditioning as white people. Our intention is to support white practitioners in developing the awareness, knowledge, and compassion needed to awaken individually, to collaborate in creating an equitable sangha, and to act effectively as allies in our larger society.
Participants’ Commitment to 12 Meetings and Study:
Participants will be admitted to the program on a first-come, first-serve basis. In order to ensure that all people who wish to benefit from the program can be admitted, please reflect and resolve at the time of applying to commit to completion of the entire course.
Dana
Suggested optional contribution for 6-Month Program: $25-$250. There will be opportunities to give dana (donations) to the facilitators. Registration is currently closed. Click here to contribute to this program. Please note that participation in this program is on a first-come, first-served basis. You may wish to wait until your participation is confirmed before making a contribution.
- Do you want to deepen your understanding of Buddhist teachings on suffering, oppression and liberation?
- Do you want to gain insight into the suffering and harm that arise from our racial conditioning as white people in this society?
- Would you like to become part of a supportive learning community of white practitioners exploring racism in the context of Buddha Dharma and looking for ways to transform our white racial conditioning and white supremacist systems?
IWM previously offered White and Awakening in the Dharma, a 6-month, 12-session study and practice program for white-identified practitioners to respond to these needs. WAD Graduates are currently meeting every other month from 9:30am-12pm ET, online, on the following Saturdays in 2021-2022: July 31, Sept 25, Nov 20, Jan 29, Mar 26, May 21. Dharma practice affords practitioners the opportunity to turn with mindfulness, kindness, and compassion towards the manifestations of racial suffering and privilege in our society and in ourselves. The aim of this course is to provide a guided, community exploration, drawing on Buddha Dharma and historical teachings, of our racial conditioning as white people. Our intention is to support white practitioners in developing the awareness, knowledge, and compassion needed to awaken individually, to collaborate in creating an equitable sangha, and to act effectively as allies in our larger society.
Participants’ Commitment to 12 Meetings and Study:
- The program includes 6 monthly small group sessions of at most 12 participants led by two co-facilitators meeting together by Zoom, and 6 monthly large group sessions facilitated by JD Doyle and others. Study materials are provided and are to be studied before each session.
- When you express your interest and commitment to this program by filling out the google form below, you can choose one of two small groups.
- Facilitators are Jen Cannon, Lore Detenber, Hal Fales, and Bernadine Mellis.
Participants will be admitted to the program on a first-come, first-serve basis. In order to ensure that all people who wish to benefit from the program can be admitted, please reflect and resolve at the time of applying to commit to completion of the entire course.
Dana
Suggested optional contribution for 6-Month Program: $25-$250. There will be opportunities to give dana (donations) to the facilitators. Registration is currently closed. Click here to contribute to this program. Please note that participation in this program is on a first-come, first-served basis. You may wish to wait until your participation is confirmed before making a contribution.