When she stepped down as Guiding Teacher in 2017, Doreen Schweizer established Valley Insight’s Dharma Study Fund. It was renamed in 2024 in recognition of Doreen’s many contributions to the deepening of the study and practice of the Dharma in the Upper Valley.

 

The Fund is intended to affirm and nurture our sangha’s ongoing connection to the Buddhadharma as understood in the Insight and Early Buddhist traditions. Anyone who is part of the Valley Insight sangha can request financial support to attend study and practice programs in the Insight or Early Buddhist traditions, including residential, online, or self-study programs. Since Valley Insight already offers full financial support for attendance of the programs we sponsor, this Scholarship Fund is not used for that purpose.

A committee consisting of Doreen Schweizer (Senior Teacher); the Guiding Teacher of Valley Insight (currently, Karen Summer); and the Valley Insight Board President (currently Michael Stoner) will review applications and make decisions about awarding scholarship.

How to Apply

Applicants should send an initial email to one or more of the Review Committee describing the program they are interested in attending and the teacher(s) involved. We’ll respond to your request in a timely manner. Here are the relevant email addresses: ">Doreen Schweizer; Karen Summer; Michael Stoner.

The scholarship is intended to be used for expenses such as cost of retreat attendance, tuition, books, travel, etc., but not for teacher dana. We believe that the dana practice is one that is between the student and the teacher; it is based, not on a specific required amount, but more on a heart-felt relationship informed and balanced by the student’s own financial situation.

Anonymity

The committee members will not disclose the names of scholarship recipients. However, unless the recipient objects, Valley Insight reserves the right to publish the names of the programs, their teachers, and the hosting institutions that scholarship funds have been used to support.

Responsibilities of Scholarship Recipients

Recipients first and foremost are encouraged to attend and participate in the program as described. If they are unable to attend or have to drop out for any reason, Valley Insight asks that any refunded monies be returned to the Scholarship Fund, except for non-refunded amounts, which we will cover.

Although Valley Insight will not identify scholarship recipients by name, they are free to identify themselves. And, if so moved, we would appreciate that recipients share their experience and learning with the Valley Insight Sangha in some way – perhaps in a talk and discussion with one or more of our practice groups or in a short article for our monthly newsletter.