April Sangha News
3-25-2025
April is EcoDharma month at IWM, and we’re honored to host a multitude of dharma talks and retreats focused on the intersection of our practice and earth care. We hope that this EcoDharma month can build a sustainable way for the sangha to stay engaged around the climate crisis together.
Looking ahead:
Please see below to read this month's Dharma Dialogue, learn about the IWM Community Google Group, and read more about all our upcoming offerings. We look forward to seeing you soon!
P.S. Next time you're at the center, check out our beautiful new rug. A huge thank you to the generous sangha members who made this possible!
- EcoDharma month offerings include Wednesday night dharma talks with Kaira Jewel Lingo, Zac Ispa-Landa, Aravinda Ananda, Zeenat Potia, and Rebecca Bradshaw. Zen Buddhist priest and climate scientist Kritee will offer Islands of Belonging and "Reindigenizing" in a Sea of Trauma, a half-day retreat on April 13, and artist Gina Siepel will return for a Contemplative Forest Walk with Bernadine Mellis on April 27.
- On Tuesdays in April, Michael Grady will offer a course on Wise Effort in Working With Fear and Anxiety, open to meditators with at least one year of mindfulness/insight practice.
Looking ahead:
- Dawn Scott will offer a half-day retreat on May 11.
- IWM guiding teachers council members Jean Esther, Adi Bemak, Manny Mansbach, and Bernadine Mellis will host a Socially Engaged Buddhism Panel on May 5.
- Rebecca Bradshaw and Zeenat Potia will offer a Down to Earth Dharma, a residential retreat at Wonderwell Mountain Refuge June 19-22. Lottery for registration will open soon - details below.
- Save the date for a Benefit with Jon Kabat-Zinn on Saturday October 4 from 3-5pm!
Please see below to read this month's Dharma Dialogue, learn about the IWM Community Google Group, and read more about all our upcoming offerings. We look forward to seeing you soon!
P.S. Next time you're at the center, check out our beautiful new rug. A huge thank you to the generous sangha members who made this possible!
Dharma Dialogue
The Freedom in Pausing
Hover a moment.
Give a moment's pause for skillful appraisal - check in.
Put attitude on pause. Habitual on pause.
No push. No pull. A moment's freedom - greater choices.
Jaya
The Sacred Pause
A few months ago, a Dharma teacher shared with me the above words. I was simultaneously startled and thrilled at the notion that “pausing” in our daily lives could be considered sacred. My words from my almost-daily meditation practice: “I can take a deep breath and pause before reacting to someone or something. I can practice pausing by letting the reaction arise and pass away before I respond.” I find the action of carrying that out somewhat difficult, and yet I can see that the more I am aware of using it in my practice, the easier it becomes to manifest in the world.
Sometimes I suffer from back pain. And sometimes I just have back pain. I am not saying that it is easy not to suffer with body ailments and severe pain in such circumstances. And something I have discovered is that when I am in excruciating pain (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) and I can’t seem to “stop it,” I get grouchy with those around me, to put it mildly. I sometimes want to scream out loud, and I find myself practicing harmfulness in a number of ways. If I forget to pause, the reaction to the experience is wanting someone else to take care of my pain for me, and not accepting that the pain even exists. For me, without acceptance, there is no chance of breaking the cycle. This offering is written with complete respect for others who experience chronic pain. I am a participant in the Chronic Illness/Disability Affinity Group offered at IWM. I see so much courage in what group members share about our lives.
Another arena where I can see reactivity arising is in my varied relationships. Whether the relationships are long-term or short-term, however I might describe the difference, can I enter into them with lovingkindness and support for myself and others? For me, others are not to be taken lightly, whether we are considering what is happening in the world, country, city, neighborhood or family. To me, a lot of life is serious business. And may we dig deep to engage our playful self which we each have somewhere inside, and which helps keep hope alive.
Thank you for listening.
Gratefully,
Jennifer D.
Community Dharma Steward
If you would like to share an offering for the quarterly Dharma Dialogue column, please send it to [email protected] (upcoming deadline: June 15). You can offer it anonymously if you wish.
The Freedom in Pausing
Hover a moment.
Give a moment's pause for skillful appraisal - check in.
Put attitude on pause. Habitual on pause.
No push. No pull. A moment's freedom - greater choices.
Jaya
The Sacred Pause
A few months ago, a Dharma teacher shared with me the above words. I was simultaneously startled and thrilled at the notion that “pausing” in our daily lives could be considered sacred. My words from my almost-daily meditation practice: “I can take a deep breath and pause before reacting to someone or something. I can practice pausing by letting the reaction arise and pass away before I respond.” I find the action of carrying that out somewhat difficult, and yet I can see that the more I am aware of using it in my practice, the easier it becomes to manifest in the world.
Sometimes I suffer from back pain. And sometimes I just have back pain. I am not saying that it is easy not to suffer with body ailments and severe pain in such circumstances. And something I have discovered is that when I am in excruciating pain (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) and I can’t seem to “stop it,” I get grouchy with those around me, to put it mildly. I sometimes want to scream out loud, and I find myself practicing harmfulness in a number of ways. If I forget to pause, the reaction to the experience is wanting someone else to take care of my pain for me, and not accepting that the pain even exists. For me, without acceptance, there is no chance of breaking the cycle. This offering is written with complete respect for others who experience chronic pain. I am a participant in the Chronic Illness/Disability Affinity Group offered at IWM. I see so much courage in what group members share about our lives.
Another arena where I can see reactivity arising is in my varied relationships. Whether the relationships are long-term or short-term, however I might describe the difference, can I enter into them with lovingkindness and support for myself and others? For me, others are not to be taken lightly, whether we are considering what is happening in the world, country, city, neighborhood or family. To me, a lot of life is serious business. And may we dig deep to engage our playful self which we each have somewhere inside, and which helps keep hope alive.
Thank you for listening.
Gratefully,
Jennifer D.
Community Dharma Steward
If you would like to share an offering for the quarterly Dharma Dialogue column, please send it to [email protected] (upcoming deadline: June 15). You can offer it anonymously if you wish.
IWM Community Google Group
We're rekindling and updating our Insight Western Mass Google Group! This informal Google Group is intended for people to share news about events, meetings, books, opportunities, and anything else you think the IWM community would be interested in. It’s also a place where teachers can share information about their offerings outside of the center.
We transferred the listserv to a new email address; existing members have been added and can unsubscribe anytime. If you'd like to be added, please click here and ask to join. If you need help, contact sangha member Adam Cohen at [email protected].
We're rekindling and updating our Insight Western Mass Google Group! This informal Google Group is intended for people to share news about events, meetings, books, opportunities, and anything else you think the IWM community would be interested in. It’s also a place where teachers can share information about their offerings outside of the center.
We transferred the listserv to a new email address; existing members have been added and can unsubscribe anytime. If you'd like to be added, please click here and ask to join. If you need help, contact sangha member Adam Cohen at [email protected].