October Sangha News
9-26-2024
October at IWM
We’re excited to welcome Devin Berry and Tara Mulay for an evening benefit in-person/hybrid at the Florence Civic Center on Wednesday October 16. ‘On the Path Together: Ethics and Community Building in Challenging Times, An Evening of Question & Response’ will support IWM’s Sustainability Campaign. Please register and donate if you are willing and able! In-person registration here; Zoom/recording/donation registration here. When you register, you will have the opportunity to submit a question for Tara and Devin to consider – please see below for more details.
This month, we’re looking forward to Bernadine Mellis’ 5-week course for beginners and returners, which begins on October 10. Our weekly Dharma Talks and Discussions continue with Michael Grady, JD Doyle, Aishah Shahidah Simmons, and Yenkuei Chuang. Please see below for more information on these and all of our regular offerings, including Saturday Sangha, Affinity Groups, and Open Community Practice sessions (including Factors of Awakening topics for Monday nights in October). Thank you for being part of our sangha. We hope to see you soon!
Residential Retreat Interest Form
IWM is researching the potential of a residential retreat (long weekend) in January 2025. Interested? Have questions? We want to hear from you! Please fill out this short survey.
Community Service Project Update
There has been great interest in the community outreach opportunity. A survey will be sent out the first week of October to collect additional information (best time available, interests, etc). If you are interested in participating, and haven't filled out the initial interest form yet, you can still do so here. Thank you and metta.
Queer & Trans Affinity Group Update
The Queer & Trans Affinity Group, which re-started over a year ago, welcomes all who identify as LGBTQIA2S+ to practice together on the fourth Thursdays. Bernadine, Casper, and Vaughn were instrumental in holding the space for many months – sometimes in-person, sometimes on Zoom or hybrid, and a handful of sangha members gathered each month. In recent months we’ve been consistently meeting in person/hybrid and, lately, 10-15 folks have been joining in each time, some coming to the center for the first time. We generally open by going around the room with everyone sharing their name/pronouns followed by 25-30 minutes of practice. After that, there's a sharing circle (opportunity to speak, with no pressure to do so). Some nights there’s an audible buzz in the air before and after -- and there always seems to be a sense of appreciation for the opportunity to practice together and to connect. Cheryl K, who anchored the gathering in July and will do so again tonight (9/26), had this to say:
We’re excited to welcome Devin Berry and Tara Mulay for an evening benefit in-person/hybrid at the Florence Civic Center on Wednesday October 16. ‘On the Path Together: Ethics and Community Building in Challenging Times, An Evening of Question & Response’ will support IWM’s Sustainability Campaign. Please register and donate if you are willing and able! In-person registration here; Zoom/recording/donation registration here. When you register, you will have the opportunity to submit a question for Tara and Devin to consider – please see below for more details.
This month, we’re looking forward to Bernadine Mellis’ 5-week course for beginners and returners, which begins on October 10. Our weekly Dharma Talks and Discussions continue with Michael Grady, JD Doyle, Aishah Shahidah Simmons, and Yenkuei Chuang. Please see below for more information on these and all of our regular offerings, including Saturday Sangha, Affinity Groups, and Open Community Practice sessions (including Factors of Awakening topics for Monday nights in October). Thank you for being part of our sangha. We hope to see you soon!
Residential Retreat Interest Form
IWM is researching the potential of a residential retreat (long weekend) in January 2025. Interested? Have questions? We want to hear from you! Please fill out this short survey.
Community Service Project Update
There has been great interest in the community outreach opportunity. A survey will be sent out the first week of October to collect additional information (best time available, interests, etc). If you are interested in participating, and haven't filled out the initial interest form yet, you can still do so here. Thank you and metta.
Queer & Trans Affinity Group Update
The Queer & Trans Affinity Group, which re-started over a year ago, welcomes all who identify as LGBTQIA2S+ to practice together on the fourth Thursdays. Bernadine, Casper, and Vaughn were instrumental in holding the space for many months – sometimes in-person, sometimes on Zoom or hybrid, and a handful of sangha members gathered each month. In recent months we’ve been consistently meeting in person/hybrid and, lately, 10-15 folks have been joining in each time, some coming to the center for the first time. We generally open by going around the room with everyone sharing their name/pronouns followed by 25-30 minutes of practice. After that, there's a sharing circle (opportunity to speak, with no pressure to do so). Some nights there’s an audible buzz in the air before and after -- and there always seems to be a sense of appreciation for the opportunity to practice together and to connect. Cheryl K, who anchored the gathering in July and will do so again tonight (9/26), had this to say:
- "It’s really wonderful to be in community and practice together. The energy is both gentle and powerful. I was a bit nervous to lead the group then I looked up and saw all of you and thought, “how sweet!” and my heart popped open!!!"
Deep Bow to Sangha Stewards
We deeply appreciate all who shared the Dharma with us and those who volunteered their time and care to the sangha from April through September. Thank you to everyone who showed up and helped us out in countless ways, including: Cleaning the Center, Green Metta, The IWM Library, 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, facilitating Kalyana Mitta Groups, Saturday Sangha, White & Awakening in the Dhamma, Peer-led Practice, and Affinity Groups. A special shout-out to Smith College summer intern, Lila, who helped IWM run smoothly with everything from hybrid hosting to data gathering to designing social media posts! Our volunteers keep us going. Heartfelt gratitude for your generosity!
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, White & Awakening in the Dhamma): Suzanne A, Holly B, Jennifer D, Lore D, Ruth F, Bernadine M, Sarah M, Melissa T.
Finance Committee: Lucy B, Jen G (staffed by Kara S).
Green Metta: Betsy H, Diana R, Andrea Z.
Library: Candace C.
Peer-led practice: Thanks to all who hold the space on Tuesdays and Fridays and to those who facilitate/lead IWM Affinity Groups.
Programming Committee: Michael G, Hal F, Suzanne A (staffed by Karen C & Mara P).
Guiding Teachers Council: Candace Cassin, Jean Esther, Michael Grady, Manny Mansbach.
Teachers Council: Adi Bemak, Devin Berry, Rebecca Bradshaw, Nick Boutros, Peggy Gillespie, Bernadine Mellis, Tara Mulay.
Zoom, In-Person, Hybrid Hosts/Schleppers: Catalina A, Suzanne A, Lucy B, Holly B, Adam C, Karen C, Lore D, Eliana F, Hal F, Doug K, Brian K, Lila M, Cathy R, Rachel R, Sarah S, Sue W.
We deeply appreciate all who shared the Dharma with us and those who volunteered their time and care to the sangha from April through September. Thank you to everyone who showed up and helped us out in countless ways, including: Cleaning the Center, Green Metta, The IWM Library, 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, facilitating Kalyana Mitta Groups, Saturday Sangha, White & Awakening in the Dhamma, Peer-led Practice, and Affinity Groups. A special shout-out to Smith College summer intern, Lila, who helped IWM run smoothly with everything from hybrid hosting to data gathering to designing social media posts! Our volunteers keep us going. Heartfelt gratitude for your generosity!
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, White & Awakening in the Dhamma): Suzanne A, Holly B, Jennifer D, Lore D, Ruth F, Bernadine M, Sarah M, Melissa T.
Finance Committee: Lucy B, Jen G (staffed by Kara S).
Green Metta: Betsy H, Diana R, Andrea Z.
Library: Candace C.
Peer-led practice: Thanks to all who hold the space on Tuesdays and Fridays and to those who facilitate/lead IWM Affinity Groups.
Programming Committee: Michael G, Hal F, Suzanne A (staffed by Karen C & Mara P).
Guiding Teachers Council: Candace Cassin, Jean Esther, Michael Grady, Manny Mansbach.
Teachers Council: Adi Bemak, Devin Berry, Rebecca Bradshaw, Nick Boutros, Peggy Gillespie, Bernadine Mellis, Tara Mulay.
Zoom, In-Person, Hybrid Hosts/Schleppers: Catalina A, Suzanne A, Lucy B, Holly B, Adam C, Karen C, Lore D, Eliana F, Hal F, Doug K, Brian K, Lila M, Cathy R, Rachel R, Sarah S, Sue W.
Dharma Dialogue
“Angst, Anxiety Attack, Panic Attack, etc.”
It’s not that I don’t trust my browser, but when I looked at all the definitions for each of the words above, their synonyms, and other words which are “connected,” I began to trust my own instinct more than I trust dictionary definitions. Some examples: Angst: “a feeling of deep anxiety or dread.” Anxiety was defined as: “a feeling of worry, nervousness or dis-ease about an imminent event with an uncertain outcome.” Anxiety attack is “a sudden episode which is based on a perceived threat other than imminent danger.” Whose perception are they talking about anyway? And who is the “they” that seems to understand what people must be going through with all of these? One more, then I will stop trusting my browser altogether. A panic attack was defined word for word as an anxiety attack.
At this point, I need your forgiveness. In no way do I mean to negate those who have had/are having/will continue to have these debilitating experiences which touch every level of their psyche.
Someone I know well takes prescription medications to attempt to ease mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual “angst” in her life. And it works for her, most of the time.
I was going to say that many of us – but this is only based on my life past and present – have experienced the suffering that accompanies all these situations. As a Buddhist practitioner, the most important aspect of this is the suffering. For me suffering is the heart and soul of the matter, no matter how many definitions are offered from other sources.
I currently feel angst, which comes from anxiety, dread and worry, because a dear family member just had a heart attack. There is always the uncertainty of what the outcome may be. He is fortunate because he has a partner who loves and cares for him and he returns that love and care. I have the same good fortune as well.
But there are many people in the world who aren’t so fortunate. Some due to age, some due to poverty and war, some due to what seems to me to be cruelty and hatred on many levels. And I suspect that angst is experienced in all those situations.
Offered by Jennifer D.
Community Dharma Steward
If you would like to submit an offering for Dharma Dialogue, feel free to do so. You can also do it anonymously as well. Just send an email to [email protected].
Downloadable Flyers
Feedback
If you have comments, questions, or ideas you’d like to share, please contact us: [email protected].
With much care and metta,
IWM Board
“Angst, Anxiety Attack, Panic Attack, etc.”
It’s not that I don’t trust my browser, but when I looked at all the definitions for each of the words above, their synonyms, and other words which are “connected,” I began to trust my own instinct more than I trust dictionary definitions. Some examples: Angst: “a feeling of deep anxiety or dread.” Anxiety was defined as: “a feeling of worry, nervousness or dis-ease about an imminent event with an uncertain outcome.” Anxiety attack is “a sudden episode which is based on a perceived threat other than imminent danger.” Whose perception are they talking about anyway? And who is the “they” that seems to understand what people must be going through with all of these? One more, then I will stop trusting my browser altogether. A panic attack was defined word for word as an anxiety attack.
At this point, I need your forgiveness. In no way do I mean to negate those who have had/are having/will continue to have these debilitating experiences which touch every level of their psyche.
Someone I know well takes prescription medications to attempt to ease mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual “angst” in her life. And it works for her, most of the time.
I was going to say that many of us – but this is only based on my life past and present – have experienced the suffering that accompanies all these situations. As a Buddhist practitioner, the most important aspect of this is the suffering. For me suffering is the heart and soul of the matter, no matter how many definitions are offered from other sources.
I currently feel angst, which comes from anxiety, dread and worry, because a dear family member just had a heart attack. There is always the uncertainty of what the outcome may be. He is fortunate because he has a partner who loves and cares for him and he returns that love and care. I have the same good fortune as well.
But there are many people in the world who aren’t so fortunate. Some due to age, some due to poverty and war, some due to what seems to me to be cruelty and hatred on many levels. And I suspect that angst is experienced in all those situations.
Offered by Jennifer D.
Community Dharma Steward
If you would like to submit an offering for Dharma Dialogue, feel free to do so. You can also do it anonymously as well. Just send an email to [email protected].
Downloadable Flyers
- October Offerings
- Benefit with Tara Mulay and Devin Berry, Oct 16
- Bernadine Mellis Fall Course - Establishing Mindfulness
- Affinity Groups
Feedback
If you have comments, questions, or ideas you’d like to share, please contact us: [email protected].
With much care and metta,
IWM Board