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Greetings to the Valley Insight Community!
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In this newsletter
• 2nd Sunday Sit Feb 12th
• Daylong Retreat March 2012
• A Monastic Update * February
• Weekly/Monthly Schedule
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W I N T E R / S P R I N G
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Reminder ~ this Sunday ~ 2nd Sunday Sit
February 12 @ the AVA Gallery: the *Second Sunday of each Month*
Sit and Dhamma Discussion
led by Doreen Schweizer
9:45 am – 12:00 pm
AVA Gallery
11 Bank Street
Lebanon, NH
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Awakening Within Your Relationships
Daylong Retreat March 24
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Please join us for a daylong retreat with Chas DiCapua, Resident
Teacher at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, MA.
Saturday, March 24
9am – 4pm
Friends Meeting House, Hanover, NH
Chas has trained with Burmese meditation masters, western monastics of
the Thai Forest tradition and senior western Vipassana teachers. He
is the Resident Teacher at the Insight Meditation Society and a
graduate of the four year Insight Meditation Society / Spirit Rock
Teacher Training Program led by Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein and
others. Chas is interested in how the basic material of our everyday
lives, including relationships, can be used as a vehicle for
awakening. He teaches retreats at IMS, at various centers and sanghas
throughout the country, and offers Spiritual Counseling for
individuals.
To register for the retreat, or to find directions and other details,
please go to
http://valleyinsight.org/retreats.html
You can also email Peg Meyer with any questions, or to pre-register.
Peg’s email: meymrgrt@gmail.com
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A Monastic Update * February
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As we mentioned last month, Valley Insight has had the good fortune of
having two nuns from the Western Order of Achaan Chah visit with us
and teach. In January we printed the Youtube link to a slideshow of
ordination. One of our readers reminded us there is an entire web
site for the two bhikkhunis in San Francisco (Sr Metta is not there
anymore, but Ayya Santacitta is). You can link to it if you like –
there are Dhamma talks on the site as well as a chanting book,
chanting workshop, and more photos of ordination: www.saranaloka.org
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Valley Insight
W E E K L Y S C H E D U L E
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*Monday Evenings in Hanover*
Sit and Dharma Discussion
Hanover Friends Society
Next to Hanover High School
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Contact dag@valley.net for more information.
We sit together half an hour, followed by discussion, tea and light
refreshment. On the fourth Monday of the month, Doreen Schweizer,
Valley Insight Guiding Teacher, joins us (2/27, this month).
Newcomers are always welcome.
This year the Monday group will be choosing a variety of subjects to
focus on each month through dhamma talks, readings, and discussion.
When possible topics for specific dates will be available in the
newsletter or on the web site.
Join us – all are welcome.
T H I S M O N T H ~
* Feb 27 • Doreen Schweizer, Valley Insight guiding teacher, joins us.
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*WEDNESDAY Afternoon Sit and Dhamma discussion in Lebanon*
“The Barn with the Orange Door”
14 Green Street
4:30 pm – 5:45 pm
Contact ruth.whybrow@valley.net for more information.
*The group now meets at 4:30 each week.* We sit for 45 minutes,
followed by discussion. On the *first Wednesday* of the month VIMS
guiding teacher Doreen Schweizer joins the group. All are welcome.
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*THURSDAY Mornings in Lebanon*
“The Barn with the Orange Door”
14 Green Street, Lebanon, NH
10:30 – Noon
Sit and Dhamma Discussion
led by Doreen Schweizer
Contact SusanKahn@aol.com
for more information
T H I S M O N T H the Thursday group is reading *The Wise Heart*
by Jack Kornfield. All are welcome – even if you haven’t had a chance
to do the reading, the discussions are free flowing and accessible to
all.
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SUNDAYS @ the AVA Gallery: the *Second Sunday of each Month*
Sunday, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Sit and Dhamma Discussion
led by Doreen Schweizer
9:45 am – 12:00 pm
AVA Gallery
11 Bank Street
Lebanon, NH
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*SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS and other links:*
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Buddhist Movie Night
The Maine Buddhist Gathering presents
TEN QUESTIONS FOR THE DALAI LAMA
Against the backdrop of an exotic land, a lone filmmaker is granted
one hour to ask ten questions of the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
Saturday, February 25th, 7pm at the Guild Hall of the Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception, 301 Congress Street, Portland, Maine.
Free of charge, but a donation of a dessert or snack to share is
greatly appreciated.
The doors will open at 6:30 so, please come early to connect and
socialize before the film begins.
Please feel free to invite friends and family who would like to
connect to others who practice in the Buddhist tradition. Those new to
practice or those interested in learning more about practice are
warmly welcome, and encouraged to attend.
Free off-street parking available. For additional information please
email mainebuddhist@gmail.com or call 207-671-7714.
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FROM VERMONT INSIGHT
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An Overview of Winter Courses and Daylongs
Please see the entire course schedule and descriptions at this link
http://vermontinsight.org/programs/courses.html
Register on the web site via Paypal, or simply email
information@vermontinsight or call 254-7077.
Daylongs in February:
- February 18th, Introduction to Meditation, 8:30 – 12:30, Jack Millett.
- February 26th, daylong with Manny Mansbach.
What Would the Buddha Say?
Wise Speech in Challenging Conversations
With Manny Mansbach
Sunday, February 26th from 10 am – 4pm
Vermont Insight Meditation Center
Solar Hill, 229 Western Avenue, Brattleboro
Neighbors’ Hall
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. Open to beginners and experienced meditators.
The day consists of meditation practice, presentations, discussions
and practical exercises involving wise speech. Chairs and cushions
are available or bring your own.
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.
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Links to Retreat Centers, Insight Groups, and other Resources:
http://www.valleyinsight.org/links.php VIMS, links
http://www.dharma.org/ Insight Meditation Center, Barre, MA
http://www.dharma.org/bcbs/index.html Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
JUNE 2011 NEWSLETTER
Upcoming Special Event in the Upper Valley:
Daylong Retreat with Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia
Saturday, June 11
Valley Insight will sponsor a day-long retreat on Saturday, June 11th, from 9am until 4pm. Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia, Advisory Teacher for VIMS, will lead the retreat. This day-long retreat fits well as part of the Buddhist Course of Study, but is of course open to all.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
9:00am -4:00pm
West Lebanon Congregational Church, West Lebanon, NH (map).
Park in the back of the church
The Teacher: Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia is a Core Faculty member at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies where she does much of her teaching. She is a student of the Western forest sangha, the disciples of Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho. She is a Lay Buddhist Minister in association with Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in California. She served as resident teacher of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts from 1996 through 1999.
Retreat Theme: During this retreat, we shall closely examine the Buddha’s teaching on the fourth foundation of mindfulness. Our aim is to make the fruits of practice more and more accessible through understanding.
Pre-registration is appreciated! Please email Maureen at tom.hughes@valley.net to register or if you have questions.
Retreat Cost:
Valley Insight Members: $25
Non-Members: $30
WEEKLY SCHEDULES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Monday Evening Sit and Dhamma Discussion
Time: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Place: Friends Meeting House, Hanover
Directly adjacent to Hanover High School
Contact Dorothy.Gannon@valley.net for more information.
This is a peer-led group where we sit together for half hour, followed by book and Dhamma discussion. Tea and light refreshments follow the meeting. For three weeks of the month, our discussion centers on our current read; on the fourth Monday of the month, Doreen joins us (June 27 this month), and we take a break from our book-centered topics.
The next book – probably starting July 11 – will be The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World by Donald Rothberg. The author is a teacher at Spirit Rock and the book has a series of exercises which the group might do each week as a group.
“This is the authoritative map describing the connection between wisdom and social action, and it does so clearly, simply, nonacademically, and entertainingly. The specific practices it offers inspire confidence that transforming ourselves and the world is a possibility-which is the best message in the world in times like these.”
—Sylvia Boorstein, author of It’s Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness
I’s not necessary to be reading the book to participate. Discussions are free flowing and open to all. Bring your questions and insights. All are welcome to attend!
Wednesday Afternoon Sit and Dhamma Discussion
Time: please see below
Place: 14 Green Street, “The Barn”, Lebanon, NH
Contact ruth.whybrow@valley.net for more information.
This group meets at 4:30 pm, except on the first Wednesday of the month when Doreen joins us, and we meet at 5:00 pm. All are welcome.
Thursday Midday Sit and Dhamma Discussion with Doreen
Time: 10:30 am – 12:00 noon
Place: 14 Green Street, “The Barn”, Lebanon, NH
Sit and dhamma discussion led by Doreen Schweizer
Contact SusanKahn@aol.com for more information.
This month the Thursday group continues to read Silvia Boorstein’s Pay Attention, for Goodness’ Sake. All are welcome – even if you haven’t had a chance to do the reading, the discussions are free flowing and accessible to all.
Sundays @ the AVA Gallery: the Second Sunday of each Month
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sit and Dhamma Discussion led by Doreen Schweizer
9:45 am – 12:00 pm
AVA Gallery, 11 Bank Street, Lebanon, NH
NEW ITEM:
Film at the Upper Valley Zen Center
• Thanks to Brenda Pierson, Upper Valley Zen Center in White River Junction will host a MOVIE NIGHT, Sunday June 12th, 7:30 pm.
The film will be “Amongst the White Clouds”, documenting the life of hermit monks in China. Those of you who attended Red Pine’s talks at the Zen Center two years ago will recall his engaging account of the year he spent visiting mountain hermits. His book, “Road to Heaven”, was the inspiration for this film.
Join us. Donation of $5 requested.
allyn.field@gmail.com
The Buddhist Course of Study
The Course is in its second quarter. Suggested readings (any of the following) are:
Mindfulness in Plain English
The Experience of Insight
Satipathana: The Direct Path to Realization
The Miracle of Mindfulness
Sutta: The Greater Discourse on Mindfulness (translation by Maurice Walsh or Bhikku Bodhi recommended)
Students in the course are invited to:
- Sit daily
- Continue to go for refuge and take the precepts daily
- Use the Google chat group for the course to share (if helpful)
- Notice mindfulness and how it feels (on and off the cushion)
- Memorize verses 21 and 22 in the Dhammapada
Meditation Study, Volunteers Needed
Dr. Judson Brewer at Yale University has an ongoing study that is looking at what happens in the brain when someone meditates. He uses fMRI (like MRI, but more of a movie than still pictures) to scan a person’s brain while they mediate. And he’s looking for volunteers who are experienced meditators.
Jud’s a long time practitioner with a deep dharma understanding as well as being a top notch scientist -
Contact Judson Brewer at judson.brewer@yale.edu if you are interested.
The more experienced meditators he can get for this study, the bigger the impact of any papers he writes based on what he finds.
Links to other organizations in New England
Links to Retreat Centers, Insight Groups, and other Resources:
http://www.valleyinsight.org/links.php VIMS, links
http://www.dharma.org/ Insight Meditation Center, Barre, MA
http://www.dharma.org/bcbs/index.html Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
Sky Meadow Retreat Center in the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont
http://www.skymeadowretreat.com/
Please direct all inquiries and questions about Valley Insight Meditation Society to info@valleyinsight.org