ABOUT OUR RETREATS:

To register or for more information about any daylong retreats call (802) 254-7077 or email us at information@vermontinsight.org. You can also register through PayPal above.  The registration fee to cover expenses to Vermont Insight is $15, with a dana offering to the teachers. Chairs and cushions are provided or you may bring your own.  Bring your own lunch.  Tea is provided.

RETREATS and SPECIAL EVENTS OFFERED IN 2012:

Dharma as Nature
With Chas DiCapua
Sunday, April 29th, 10am – 4pm

One of the various translations of the Sanskrit word Dharma is nature. This use of the word Dharma simply means the way things are. There aren’t judgments or evaluations about how things are in nature. Things just are. They follow certain patterns or laws. Deepening our Dharma practice is supported by our ability to connect with and understand how things are. In this day-long retreat we’ll explore the simplicity of stopping and looking We’ll also explore the unique ways that being out in nature can help us come to understand the nature of things, or how things are.

Open to beginners and experienced meditators, this silent retreat day consists of sitting and walking meditation, and includes meditation instructions. There will also be talks and discussions about the meditation practice.

Chas DiCapua started practicing meditation in the Soto Zen tradition in 1989. He sat his first Vipassana retreat at IMS in 1995. Since then he has practiced in the US and Asia, both in the Mahasi and Thai Forest traditions. Chas is currently the Resident Teacher at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts.

Busy-ness, Patience and Stillness
A Day of Study and Practice
Sunday, March 25th, 10am - 4pm

Just beneath the surface of busy-ness lies the spaciousness of stillness. It is possible to move from the subjective feeling of busy-ness to one of stillness right in the midst of your life. With the support of patience and several skillful mindfulness techniques, you can learn to be with everyday life in a way that brings greater ease, clarity, and compassion to the heart and mind. Ease, clarity and compassion of the heart-mind is a gift to yourself, your community and to all beings.

Open to beginners and experienced meditators. The day consists of meditation practice, presentations and discussions. Reflective exercises and study of both ancient and modern Buddhist texts complete this day of study and practice. Chairs and cushions are available or bring your own.

Jack Millett and Claire Stanley are co-founders of Vermont Insight Meditation Center.  Claire and Jack have both studied Buddhist thought and practiced insight meditation for over 26 years. They have been teaching since 1995.

What Would the Buddha Say?
Wise Speech in Challenging Conversations
Sunday, February 26th, 10am – 4pm

From a foundation of mindful attention, we will use this day of practice to strengthen our capacity to attune to what’s true now and to gain confidence in translating this knowing into skillful, compassionate speech. Together we will explore the power of assertive nonviolence, a way of communicating that is based in empathy and respect for all beings, and is consistent with our highest aspirations and the teachings of the Buddha.

Manny Mansbach has been practicing and studying Vipassana Meditation since 1980. He has been a social activist, a mindfulness-based psychotherapist working primarily with couples, and a teacher of therapists in training. Manny is a graduate both of Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s Dedicated Practitioner Program and its Community Dharma Leader Program. He currently lives and teaches in New England. Manny is passionately interested in wise speech as a crucial skill in promoting harmony and empowerment.

Introduction to Insight Meditation
Saturday, February 18th, 8:30am – 12:30pm

Insight Meditation is a direct and simple form of practice that allows one to move towards a more peaceful and awakened state of mind. This practice helps to free the mind and emotions from reactivity, fear and stress, leading to steadiness, wisdom and compassion in everyday life and relationships. The morning session focuses on a series of meditations with detailed instructions followed by a time for questions and reflections. Brief presentations of the key principles of Insight Meditation are included at different points throughout the day. Chairs and cushions are available or bring your own. Tea is provided.

Jack Millett, a co-founder of Vermont Insight who has practiced Insight Meditation since 1990 and has been teaching meditation since 2004.

Metta and Yoga
Sunday, January 29th, 10am – 4pm

Metta, or Lovingkindness meditation practice, opens the heart and mind in both subtle and powerful ways. Gentle Restorative Yoga opens the body and mind in equally subtle and powerful ways. This guided daylong is a rare opportunity to bring both practices together in a silent retreat environment. By alternating sessions of metta and yoga, we release long-held mental and physical tensions and expand our awareness toward our own welfare and benefit and that of all beings everywhere.

Cheryl Wilfong attended her first 10-day retreat at Insight Meditation Society in 1977. She has a degree in Counseling Psychology from Antioch New England University with a concentration in Mindfulness. Cheryl is a co-founder of Vermont Insight and teaches regular classes and daylong retreats at VIMC.

Éowyn Ahlstrom is a long time student of yoga and meditation. She is a certified yoga teacher through Karuna Center in Northampton, MA where she teaches two weekly classes. Éowyn also leads yoga sessions at retreats at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA. She loves to share the synergy of Buddhist meditation and yoga. For more information about Éowyn, visit www.yogawitheowyn.net.

RETREATS and SPECIAL EVENTS OFFERED IN 2011:

“Right View” with Mu Soeng
Sunday November 20th from 10am to 4pm

“Right View” is the first and, arguably, the most critical factor in the noble eightfold path taught by the Buddha. But what exactly does it mean? Generations of practitioners have provided their own insights and interpretations in trying to understand how this crucial understanding determines not only the path of practice but also their own lives. This study retreat day offers both a cognitive and an experiential integration of this core teaching. Please join us – open to all.

Mu Soeng is the program director and a resident scholar at Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Barre, Mass. He trained in the Korean Zen tradition and was a monk for eleven years. He is a well-known author of a number of books on Buddhist thought and practice, including Trust in Mind and The Heart of the Universe: A Commentary on the Heart Sutra.

“Befriending Ourselves” with James Baraz
Sunday October 16th from 10am to 4pm

When we develop a basic kindness towards ourselves we not only learn to accept the difficult parts, but in the process embrace our humanity and see more clearly.  As we do that we allow our goodness and true nature to shine through.  This becomes a gift to every person and situation we encounter, a healing energy that awakens the goodness in life around us.

James Baraz has practiced vipassana meditation since 1974 and taught since 1980.  He is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center.  James is the teacher-advisor to the Spirit Rock Family and Teen program.  In addition, he is on the International Advisory Board of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.  He is the author of Awakening Joy, and teaches vipassana meditation and the path of joy worldwide.

“Protections for the Heart or The Greatest Disappointment Leading to Peace” with Rebecca Bradshaw
Sunday September 25th from 10am to 4pm

We can see the practice as a change in strategy in how we protect the heart and mind. Living in this world of constant change, what sane ways does the practice offer to protect the heart? This daylong retreat will explore a kindness-infused awareness of our experience that leads to protection for the heart and mind. Guidance will be offered in how to meet challenging experiences of body, thought, and emotions with compassionate presence.

Open to beginners and experienced meditators, this silent retreat day consists of sitting and walking meditation, and includes meditation instructions. There will also be talks and discussions about the meditation practice.

Rebecca Bradshaw has been practicing Vipassana meditation since 1983 and teaching since 1993 in the United States and Myanmar (Burma). She teaches frequently at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, where she teaches teen and young adult retreats and is a member of the annual Three Month Retreat team. She also teaches at other locations in the United States, at Kyaswa Monastery in Burma and in Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Rebecca is the Guiding Teacher of Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley in Easthampton, MA. She holds a degree in counseling psychology and has a psychotherapy practice for meditators. Her teaching invites an exploration of the convergence of love and wisdom.

“With Our Thoughts We Create Our World” with Sandra Weinberg
Sunday July 24th from 10am to 4pm

With our thoughts, we create our world – this is what the Buddha taught. How powerful! If we really take this in, we become motivated to understand this phenomenon of thinking. We may have heard this teaching many times, but do we fully pay attention? This daylong offers the opportunity to examine both the fleeting and tenacious thought process and hopefully find some freedom within it.

Sandra Weinberg is a co-founder, member of the Teachers Council, and serves on the Board of Directors of New York Insight Meditation Center. She has studied and practiced mindfulness meditation for 30 years. Sandra has taught Insight meditation at NYI, the New York Open Center, City University of New York and elsewhere. She also teaches addiction and recovery from the perspective of the Buddha’s teachings. Sandra is a psychotherapist in private practice in New York City.

“Finding True Happiness” with Kim Weeber
Sunday June 26th from 10am to 4pm

We spend much of our life trying to create pleasant or avoid unpleasant circumstances. But if we stop to ask ourselves honestly, we discover that these pleasant circumstances do not lead to true happiness. During this daylong, we explore the Buddha’s teaching on finding deep and lasting happiness. We will explore practices that help lighten the mind and heart.

Kim Weeber began as a student of Zen in 1987, studying with Robert Aitken and other Zen teachers. In 1997, she began Vipassana practice with Bhante Gunaratana. While living in Ohio, she also studied with Jacqueline Mandell, and taught meditation to prisoners for 2 years. Kim is a graduate of the Community Dharma Leader training program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, in California. She currently teaches classes and leads sittings at Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley along with Rebecca Bradshaw.

“How Did I Get Here?” with Taraniya Ambrosia
Sunday May 22 from 10am to 4pm

Sometimes we find ourselves lost in a memory or fantasy, a worry or concern, a sensation, a mood or mind state of one kind or another – painful or pleasant. We may be lost for some time but then, as meditators, we manage to snap out of it and realize we have been spinning in a vortex. It’s often the case that when we snap out of it, we scramble to recover some semblance of presence of mind. Then we might ask ourselves: “How did I get here?” “What is this state I find myself in . . . and how did I get here?”

During this one-day program, we will uncover the many levels of response to this simple question — examining our history . . . our psychology . . . and our subtle attachment to sensation, feeling and thought. Through this analysis we come to understand what non-attachment involves and how it is developed. During this program, we also have ample time to meditate and examine this teaching through our own experience.

Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia has been teaching since 1990. She is a student of the Western Forest Sangha, the monks and nuns who are the disciples of Ajahn Chah and is a lay Buddhist Minister in association with Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in California. She served as Resident Teacher of IMS in Barre, MA from 1996 through 1999 and now teaches worldwide. Taraniya is now one of the three core faculty at Barre Center for Buddhist Studies where she does most of her teaching.

“Habits: Forming them and Changing them” with Kate Wylie
Sunday, March 27 from 10 to 4pm

We can be quite unaware of the ways habits are constructed.  Buddhist thought offers a clear model of the formation of our habits, and useful pointers for freeing ourselves from them.  In the process we can experience a sense of liberation from enslavement to the past and from actions that may cause harm.  This day of meditation will focus on this theme through practice, a talk and discussion.

Kate Wylie has practiced meditation since 1975 at Insight Meditation Society, Cambridge Insight Meditation Center, and with her current teacher, the Venerable Tsoknyi Rinpoche.  She has taught Insight meditation throughout New England for 10 years.  Kate trained with Jon Kabat-Zinn in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction.  She is also a graduate of the Social Justice Issues Training Project at UMass.

“Firing Up Interest in the Workings of the Mind” with Cheryl Wilfong
Sunday, February 27 from 10 to 4pm

The Buddha taught numerous kinds of meditation practice, according the mind of the listener.  Western meditation teachers offer a wide variety of practices, leaving the choice to the practitioner.  This daylong introduces participants to a style of practice that can be useful for many people because it enlivens, refines and clarifies the meditative mind.  The day consists of alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation.

Cheryl Wilfong attended her first meditation retreat in 1977.   She has a degree in Counseling Psychology from Antioch New England University with a concentration in Mindfulness and completed the Community Dharma Leader training program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in 2008.  A co-founder of Vermont Insight, Cheryl has been teaching in southern Vermont since 2001.  Cheryl has been working with this style of practice taught by Vipassana teacher, Shinzen Young, for several years now and is enthusiastic about her experience.

Special Guest — Ajahn Metta
Sunday, February 20 from 9 to 12pm

Ajahn Metta lead the meditation and gave a Dharma talk on The Dance of Feelings and Emotions. Sister Metta upholds the 10 precepts for monastics, so she cannot eat after 12:00 noon. The community served food to Sister Metta at 11am and ate with her.

Ajahn Metta was born in 1953 in Germany.  She has lived at Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist Monasteries since 1993 and took higher ordination as a siladhara with Ajahn Sumedho in 1996. During her monastic life, she has been involved in many areas of the community and has been one of the sisters to lead the nuns’ community at Amaravati.  She has taught many retreats in the UK and Europe and spent a year in Asia in 2008 on retreat and visiting holy sites in India and Sri Lanka. Currently, Ajahn Metta is spending time in the US. She will return to Amaravati in May 2011. During December and February, Upper Valley Insight Meditation Center (in Lebanon, NH) has been hosting Ajahn Metta.  We at Vermont Insight are very fortunate to have her visit us.

“Introduction to Insight Meditation” with Jack Millet
Saturday, February 19 from 1 to 5pm

Insight Meditation is a direct and simple form of practice that allows one to move towards a more peaceful and awakened state of mind. This practice helps to free the mind and emotions from reactivity, fear and stress, leading to steadiness, wisdom and compassion in everyday life and relationships.

This afternoon session focuses on a series of short meditations with instructions followed by time for questions and reflections. We begin with a correct posture for meditation – chairs and cushions are available or bring your own. We then move to establishing the breath as the primary object of meditation.  Hearing and walking meditation are also introduced. Brief presentations of key principles of Insight Meditation are included at different points throughout the session. Tea is available.  Cushions and chairs available or bring your own.  Open to all.

Jack Millett is a co-founder of Vermont Insight Meditation Center.  He has practiced this path for over 20 years and has been teaching since 1995.  Joseph Goldstein and Carol Wilson have been his primary teachers at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts.

Dharma Movie Night
Sunday, January 30 from 6 to 8:30pm

VIMC hosted our first movie night on Sunday January 30 at the Marlboro Graduate Center on Vernon Street in Brattleboro .  We watched and discussed “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter . . . and Spring,” a Korean movie with Buddhist themes.

“Equanimity and Yoga” with Claire Stanley and Eowyn Allstrom
Sunday January 23 from 10 to 4pm

Equanimity or uppekka meditation practice, steadies the heart and mind in both subtle and powerful ways.  Gentle Restorative Yoga opens the body and mind in equally profound ways.  This guided daylong is a rare opportunity to bring both practices together in a silent retreat environment.  By alternating sessions of equanimity and yoga, we release long-held mental and physical tensions and expand our awareness toward our own welfare and benefit and that of all beings everywhere.

Claire Stanley is Guiding Teacher and Co-Founder of Vermont Insight.  She has been a student of meditation since 1986 and has been teaching in the New York/New England area since 1995.  Recently, Claire has been turning towards compassion practice in the face of current circumstances in this world.

Éowyn Ahlstrom is a long time student of yoga and meditation.  She is a certified yoga teacher through Karuna Center in Northampton, MA.  Éowyn also leads yoga sessions at retreats at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA.  She loves to share the synergy of Buddhist meditation and yoga. For more information visit www.middlepath-healingarts.com.