Welcome to Insight Western Mass (IWM)
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.
A new group is forming in May 2024, facilitated by Suzanne Artemieff, Community Dharma Steward, and will meet every other Sunday online (see below for more information). Registration for this 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:
More about the 2024 Kalyana Mitta group:
A new Kalyana Mitta (spiritual friendship) group for people with some meditation experience and a regular practice will be starting May 26. It will be facilitated by Suzanne Artemieff, Community Dharma Steward, and will meet every other Sunday 5-6:30 online. We will focus on how we apply in our everyday lives the core Buddhist teachings of:
• The Four Noble Truths
• The Three Parts of the path (Generosity, Ethical Integrity, Cultivation of the Mind/Heart)
• The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
• The Three Characteristics (Impermanence, Dukha, Not-self)
• The Eightfold Path
• The Four Brahma Viharas
• The Ten Paramis
• The Seven Factors of Awakening
The group will be limited to 12 participants, and registration is now closed. If you completed the registration form, you will be notified by May 10 if you have secured a place in the group. Please contact Suzanne at [email protected] if you have any questions.
A new group is forming in May 2024, facilitated by Suzanne Artemieff, Community Dharma Steward, and will meet every other Sunday online (see below for more information). Registration for this 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:
- 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.
More about the 2024 Kalyana Mitta group:
A new Kalyana Mitta (spiritual friendship) group for people with some meditation experience and a regular practice will be starting May 26. It will be facilitated by Suzanne Artemieff, Community Dharma Steward, and will meet every other Sunday 5-6:30 online. We will focus on how we apply in our everyday lives the core Buddhist teachings of:
• The Four Noble Truths
• The Three Parts of the path (Generosity, Ethical Integrity, Cultivation of the Mind/Heart)
• The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
• The Three Characteristics (Impermanence, Dukha, Not-self)
• The Eightfold Path
• The Four Brahma Viharas
• The Ten Paramis
• The Seven Factors of Awakening
The group will be limited to 12 participants, and registration is now closed. If you completed the registration form, you will be notified by May 10 if you have secured a place in the group. Please contact Suzanne at [email protected] if you have any questions.
White & Awakening in the Dhamma: Creating Antiracist Sanghas
IWM is currently offering White and Awakening in the Dhamma (WAD), a six-month, 12-session study and practice program for white-identified practitioners. WAD is designed to afford the opportunity to turn with mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion towards the manifestations of racism, white supremacy culture, and privilege in our society and in ourselves. Registration has already closed, but we intend to offer more programs like this in the future.