July Sangha News
6-26-2025
Summer brings bountiful offerings to our sangha.🌸
- We’re excited to host Wednesday night dharma talks with Jill Shepherd, Rae Houseman, Michael Grady, Manny Mansbach, and Jean Esther.
- Newcomers are always welcome at Open Community Practice sessions and Affinity Groups. Please note: the BIPOC Affinity Group will host a picnic on July 4 instead of its regular meeting, and Saturday Sangha continues its summer break until September. The newly-formed Social Justice Practice Group meets on last Saturdays monthly.
- Looking ahead to August, please join us for our annual potluck picnic and appreciation event on August 3 from 1-4pm at Nonotuck Park!
- Coming up in the fall, we have a slew of incredible courses and retreats, and we’re also gearing up for an afternoon with Jon Kabat-Zinn in October to benefit IWM.
Thank You Sangha Stewards!
We deeply appreciate all who shared the Dharma with us, and those who volunteered their time and care to the sangha this year thus far. Thank you to everyone who showed up in countless ways, including: Cleaning the Center, Green Metta, Zoom/In-Person/Hybrid Hosts and Schleppers, the Teachers Council and Guiding Teachers Council, the Board, Community Dharma Stewards, the Finance and Programming Committees, Day-to-Day Operations, Administrative support, facilitating Kalyana Mitta Groups, Saturday Sangha, Peer-led Practice, and Affinity Groups. Our volunteers keep us going. Heartfelt gratitude for your generosity!
Administrative: Ilene R.
Board: Suzanne A, Lucy B, Holly B, Hal F, Doug K (staffed by Karen C & Mara P).
Cleaning: Peggy & Doyne L
Community Dharma Stewards: Suzanne A, Holly B, Jennifer D, Hal F, Jaya K.
Day-to-Day Operations: Lucy B, Anne F, Adam C, Cathy R.
Facilitators (KM groups, Saturday Sangha): Suzanne A, Holly B, Ruth F, Jaya K, Bernadine M, Sarah M, Diana R, Melissa T.
Finance Committee: Lucy B, Jen G (staffed by Kara S).
Green Metta: Betsy H, Diana R, Andrea Z.
Peer-led practice: Thanks to all who hold the space on Tuesdays and to those who facilitate/lead IWM Affinity Groups.
Programming Committee: Suzanne A, Hal F, Michael G, Brian K (staffed by Karen C & Mara P).
Guiding Teachers Council: Candace Cassin, Jean Esther, Michael Grady, Manny Mansbach, Bernadine Mellis.
Teachers Council: Adi Bemak, Devin Berry, Rebecca Bradshaw, Nick Boutros, Peggy Gillespie, Tara Mulay.
Zoom, In-Person, Hybrid Hosts/Schleppers: Catalina A, Suzanne A, Lucy B, Holly B, Maryellen B-G, Adam C, Karen C, Lore D, Eliana F, Hal F, Jason G, Doug K, Brian K, Cheryl K, Lesley M, Cathy R, Rachel R, Leya S, Sarah S, Wenwen T, Rebecca T-R, Sue W.
WM Volunteer Opportunities: Support our Sangha
IWM depends on the generosity of time in order to offer the many dharma talks, events, and opportunities to gather. If you are interested in volunteering to keep our sangha going, we will share a comprehensive volunteer form soon for numerous upcoming opportunities. Until then, stay tuned for volunteer needs for the Picnic on August 3, and the Benefit with Jon Kabat-Zinn on October 4. Thank you for your support!
Administrative: Ilene R.
Board: Suzanne A, Lucy B, Holly B, Hal F, Doug K (staffed by Karen C & Mara P).
Cleaning: Peggy & Doyne L
Community Dharma Stewards: Suzanne A, Holly B, Jennifer D, Hal F, Jaya K.
Day-to-Day Operations: Lucy B, Anne F, Adam C, Cathy R.
Facilitators (KM groups, Saturday Sangha): Suzanne A, Holly B, Ruth F, Jaya K, Bernadine M, Sarah M, Diana R, Melissa T.
Finance Committee: Lucy B, Jen G (staffed by Kara S).
Green Metta: Betsy H, Diana R, Andrea Z.
Peer-led practice: Thanks to all who hold the space on Tuesdays and to those who facilitate/lead IWM Affinity Groups.
Programming Committee: Suzanne A, Hal F, Michael G, Brian K (staffed by Karen C & Mara P).
Guiding Teachers Council: Candace Cassin, Jean Esther, Michael Grady, Manny Mansbach, Bernadine Mellis.
Teachers Council: Adi Bemak, Devin Berry, Rebecca Bradshaw, Nick Boutros, Peggy Gillespie, Tara Mulay.
Zoom, In-Person, Hybrid Hosts/Schleppers: Catalina A, Suzanne A, Lucy B, Holly B, Maryellen B-G, Adam C, Karen C, Lore D, Eliana F, Hal F, Jason G, Doug K, Brian K, Cheryl K, Lesley M, Cathy R, Rachel R, Leya S, Sarah S, Wenwen T, Rebecca T-R, Sue W.
WM Volunteer Opportunities: Support our Sangha
IWM depends on the generosity of time in order to offer the many dharma talks, events, and opportunities to gather. If you are interested in volunteering to keep our sangha going, we will share a comprehensive volunteer form soon for numerous upcoming opportunities. Until then, stay tuned for volunteer needs for the Picnic on August 3, and the Benefit with Jon Kabat-Zinn on October 4. Thank you for your support!
July Dharma Dialogue
Cultivating the Garden of Buddha Dharma
Cultivating the heart and mind – abundantly plant the seeds of Goodwill. As they grow, they will crowd out the weeds of ill will and greed.
Cultivating many fields of Discernment will crowd out the weeds of harmful action and wrong view.
Deeply nurture these with the waters of Kindness, Compassion and Equanimity.
Through this cultivation, the garden of Buddha Dharma will come to fruition.
Harvest with Joy!
-Jaya
From Where I Am Now
I am offering this writing for Dharma Dialogue as a member of the Sangha who is interested in sharing musings, thoughts and perspectives about meditation practice that we do in community together. Thank you for reading. With lovingkindness,
-Jennifer D.
Within the last year, my life has included some life-changing health challenges that have affected my meditation practice. The challenges seemed to come out of nowhere and present themselves suddenly; I suspect I was still in the baby-steps phases of paying attention for some of the time. No guilt or blame intended. I would like to share my experiences of a few of the challenges although the content is not as important as how they impacted the process of my life. In the summer of 2024, I had two major falls in one week. Fortunately, I did not hit my head either time, but my entire body was deeply affected. It was only the beginning of a series of events that challenged me to the depths of my spiritual practice. [cut here with link to read more] Having fallen was a huge wake-up call in many ways. The ground was literally pulled out from under me, and I realized in a big way, once again, that I had once again been living within the illusion of being in control. For me, being in the moment became more urgent than ever before. Fear of falling came to the forefront of my thinking and for months I felt stuck and fairly emotionally paralyzed by the aftermath. My balance was askew. I began to use a cane around the house and walking sticks to do exercise on the level streets in my neighborhood. I started a Balance class at a local Council on Aging, which seemed to help steady my balance.
After the falls, I also began to experience headaches; mild to major, up and down the pain scale, with no rhyme or reason that I could tell. My primary doctor referred me to a neurologist who specializes in the treatment of headaches. The headaches are migraine-like but don’t have all the characteristics of a migraine. This new physical challenge seemed to come at an opportune time, as my meditation practice is heavily focused on “getting out of my head” and being more down into my body. A year later, the headaches are still a part of my practice, using medication that I am comfortable taking with no side effects. Yet unanswered questions remain. I trust that I will be able to continue to see this issue more clearly the more I pursue it from a medical perspective and as long as I have the willingness to continue to bring it to the forefront of my meditation practice trying, sometimes desperately, not to push it away or get rid of it. It is not easy.
My primary was also concerned that I had moderate sleep apnea. Another referral marked the beginning of my relationship with CPAP, a sleep apnea monitoring system which encourages me to breathe in and breathe out through my nose while asleep. “Encourages” is a generous term in this instance. The apparatus partially consists of tubing and a face mask through which air is guided into my nostrils. Breathe in, breathe out. The goal is to use CPAP at least four hours per night. What came up for me when I first started using CPAP was that I couldn’t breathe very well when the mask was on. Practicing meditation during those moments was and is critical to calm the part of me who is desperate for freedom from the CPAP device. Enough of CPAP for now, but I’m not quite ready to leave the process of inhaling and exhaling. For me, a mostly able-bodied woman in her early 70’s, allowing the body to breathe has become synonymous with life, being alive and living life to the fullest. In compassionate harmony with all that is. Relaxing into letting go and letting be. There are many words and phrases we use in our practice to point to this experience. I sometimes find it not so easy.
Within the last month or so, arthritis has resurfaced big time in my right thumb. I use ice and wear a thumb-brace. I was sitting on the couch one day squeezing one of those rubber-handled squeezing devices to strengthen fingers, wrist and forearm. I went beyond the repetitions that I thought I could comfortably do and ended up in a lot of pain. Hindsight: I saw that my attention had wandered into thought, probably thrilled how much stronger I would be in a year if only I could keep it up. I made an appointment to see my primary and asked for a referral for a cortisone shot and/or something else that they thought might help. Practice opportunities abound. I am, fortunately, continuing to learn, moment-by-moment, how to be present. Meanwhile, I attempt to honor the capabilities I have and be gentle with the changes that also are occurring in this aging body and mind. Being willing to see over and over again how I can assist in ending suffering that my body experiences.
The falls last year also brought to the surface the necessity of seeing back pain in a new way. When I refer to it as “mine”, which I can easily do, I end up attaching myself to the pain and forgetting to bring lovingkindness and compassion to my body. But as I get older, I see that there aren’t that many options if I want to end the suffering of the parts of me that are hurting.
For as long as I can remember, this standing-straight-up-body has incorporated what I have been told by doctors is a structural posture that is not conducive to filling the body with breath or reaching to the heavens to get some relief. Raising my arms above my shoulders sets off a period of time of intense pain which medication hasn’t been able to touch. I am fortunate enough to be able to have a wonderful Physical Therapist to assist me.
All this being offered, I want to be clear that I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be able to share this writing at all. I feel supported by our Sangha/community, the Dharma/the Buddha’s teachings, and others in my life – friends and family and strangers. I also don’t forget how privileged I am to be able to have comprehensive health insurance.
To finish, I am left with many questions about this process called life and how it all comes together – body, mind and heart - which all yearn for freedom from suffering. I feel blessed to have meditation practice available to me, and the Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path as beacons of guidance to end suffering. May the merit for all our good acts of heart and mind be freely offered to ourselves and to all beings. Again and yet again may it be so.
If you would like to write an offering for Dharma Dialogue, it would be most welcomed. It is an opportunity to share your experiences in your meditation practice. It could be included in the newsletter in October 2025.
You can also submit something anonymously. Send your offering to [email protected].
Downloadable Flyers
Cultivating the Garden of Buddha Dharma
Cultivating the heart and mind – abundantly plant the seeds of Goodwill. As they grow, they will crowd out the weeds of ill will and greed.
Cultivating many fields of Discernment will crowd out the weeds of harmful action and wrong view.
Deeply nurture these with the waters of Kindness, Compassion and Equanimity.
Through this cultivation, the garden of Buddha Dharma will come to fruition.
Harvest with Joy!
-Jaya
From Where I Am Now
I am offering this writing for Dharma Dialogue as a member of the Sangha who is interested in sharing musings, thoughts and perspectives about meditation practice that we do in community together. Thank you for reading. With lovingkindness,
-Jennifer D.
Within the last year, my life has included some life-changing health challenges that have affected my meditation practice. The challenges seemed to come out of nowhere and present themselves suddenly; I suspect I was still in the baby-steps phases of paying attention for some of the time. No guilt or blame intended. I would like to share my experiences of a few of the challenges although the content is not as important as how they impacted the process of my life. In the summer of 2024, I had two major falls in one week. Fortunately, I did not hit my head either time, but my entire body was deeply affected. It was only the beginning of a series of events that challenged me to the depths of my spiritual practice. [cut here with link to read more] Having fallen was a huge wake-up call in many ways. The ground was literally pulled out from under me, and I realized in a big way, once again, that I had once again been living within the illusion of being in control. For me, being in the moment became more urgent than ever before. Fear of falling came to the forefront of my thinking and for months I felt stuck and fairly emotionally paralyzed by the aftermath. My balance was askew. I began to use a cane around the house and walking sticks to do exercise on the level streets in my neighborhood. I started a Balance class at a local Council on Aging, which seemed to help steady my balance.
After the falls, I also began to experience headaches; mild to major, up and down the pain scale, with no rhyme or reason that I could tell. My primary doctor referred me to a neurologist who specializes in the treatment of headaches. The headaches are migraine-like but don’t have all the characteristics of a migraine. This new physical challenge seemed to come at an opportune time, as my meditation practice is heavily focused on “getting out of my head” and being more down into my body. A year later, the headaches are still a part of my practice, using medication that I am comfortable taking with no side effects. Yet unanswered questions remain. I trust that I will be able to continue to see this issue more clearly the more I pursue it from a medical perspective and as long as I have the willingness to continue to bring it to the forefront of my meditation practice trying, sometimes desperately, not to push it away or get rid of it. It is not easy.
My primary was also concerned that I had moderate sleep apnea. Another referral marked the beginning of my relationship with CPAP, a sleep apnea monitoring system which encourages me to breathe in and breathe out through my nose while asleep. “Encourages” is a generous term in this instance. The apparatus partially consists of tubing and a face mask through which air is guided into my nostrils. Breathe in, breathe out. The goal is to use CPAP at least four hours per night. What came up for me when I first started using CPAP was that I couldn’t breathe very well when the mask was on. Practicing meditation during those moments was and is critical to calm the part of me who is desperate for freedom from the CPAP device. Enough of CPAP for now, but I’m not quite ready to leave the process of inhaling and exhaling. For me, a mostly able-bodied woman in her early 70’s, allowing the body to breathe has become synonymous with life, being alive and living life to the fullest. In compassionate harmony with all that is. Relaxing into letting go and letting be. There are many words and phrases we use in our practice to point to this experience. I sometimes find it not so easy.
Within the last month or so, arthritis has resurfaced big time in my right thumb. I use ice and wear a thumb-brace. I was sitting on the couch one day squeezing one of those rubber-handled squeezing devices to strengthen fingers, wrist and forearm. I went beyond the repetitions that I thought I could comfortably do and ended up in a lot of pain. Hindsight: I saw that my attention had wandered into thought, probably thrilled how much stronger I would be in a year if only I could keep it up. I made an appointment to see my primary and asked for a referral for a cortisone shot and/or something else that they thought might help. Practice opportunities abound. I am, fortunately, continuing to learn, moment-by-moment, how to be present. Meanwhile, I attempt to honor the capabilities I have and be gentle with the changes that also are occurring in this aging body and mind. Being willing to see over and over again how I can assist in ending suffering that my body experiences.
The falls last year also brought to the surface the necessity of seeing back pain in a new way. When I refer to it as “mine”, which I can easily do, I end up attaching myself to the pain and forgetting to bring lovingkindness and compassion to my body. But as I get older, I see that there aren’t that many options if I want to end the suffering of the parts of me that are hurting.
For as long as I can remember, this standing-straight-up-body has incorporated what I have been told by doctors is a structural posture that is not conducive to filling the body with breath or reaching to the heavens to get some relief. Raising my arms above my shoulders sets off a period of time of intense pain which medication hasn’t been able to touch. I am fortunate enough to be able to have a wonderful Physical Therapist to assist me.
All this being offered, I want to be clear that I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be able to share this writing at all. I feel supported by our Sangha/community, the Dharma/the Buddha’s teachings, and others in my life – friends and family and strangers. I also don’t forget how privileged I am to be able to have comprehensive health insurance.
To finish, I am left with many questions about this process called life and how it all comes together – body, mind and heart - which all yearn for freedom from suffering. I feel blessed to have meditation practice available to me, and the Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path as beacons of guidance to end suffering. May the merit for all our good acts of heart and mind be freely offered to ourselves and to all beings. Again and yet again may it be so.
If you would like to write an offering for Dharma Dialogue, it would be most welcomed. It is an opportunity to share your experiences in your meditation practice. It could be included in the newsletter in October 2025.
You can also submit something anonymously. Send your offering to [email protected].
Downloadable Flyers