a
Spring Offerings 2008:
Walking the Path, Cultivating Happiness on Mondays from 6:30 to 8:00pm, April 14th to June 16th at Neighbors' Hall at Solar Hill
The Experience of Insight: A Beginners' Course on Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8:00pm, April 15th to June 17th at Neighbors’ Hall at Solar Hill
All You Need is Love: How Opening the Heart Concentrates the Mind on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:30pm, April 15th to May 20th at 167 Main Street, Rm 306, Brattleboro
Seeking the Heart of Wisdom on Thursdays from 6:30-8:00pm, April 17th to June 19th at Neighbors' Hall at Solar Hill
Walking the Path, Cultivating Happiness
To walk the path of the Middle Way, one investigates eight factors that lead to a life of cultivating happiness, wisdom and compassion. In this course, we investigate four of the eight factors: Right Understanding, Energy, Mindfulness and Concentration. These four are rooted in our meditation practice and when studied and practiced with like-minded friends, can open up new levels of insight and understanding. The core text is The Eight Mindful steps to Happiness by Bhante Gunaratana, supplemented by other readings. The Experience of Insight Introduction course or its equivalent is recommended.
Taught by Claire Stanley and Jack Millett
Mondays, 6:30-8:00pm, Neighbors' Hall
April 14th to June 16th (10 weeks)
The Experience of Insight: A Beginners' Course
A course for those who are new to meditation or who would like to begin again, Insight meditation leads to clear seeing into the nature of our hearts and minds, revealing an inherent clarity, openness and ease. Course sessions include meditation instructions, discussions and weekly assignments. Participants learn how to establish a daily meditation practice as well as how to maintain compassionate and mindful living. Insight Meditation by Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein is the core text with CDs.
Taught by Jack Millett
Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00pm, Neighbors’ Hall
April 15th – June 17th (10 weeks)
Lovingkindness concentrates the mind, increases mindfulness of the body, and opens the heart. In this course we will work with several different practices of loving-friendliness and discover what resonates with our true nature. We will learn about the benefits of lovingkindness and read the Metta sutta. We will practice walking with lovingkindness and find a way to sing our words of lovingkindness (at least to ourselves). Handouts will be provided at each session. This course is appropriate for both new and experienced students.
Taught by Cheryl Wilfong
Tuesdays, 6:00-7:30 at 167 Main Street, Rm 306, Brattleboro
April 15th to May 20th (6 weeks)
The core teachings of the Buddha can be seen as an integrated philosphy and psychology of the heart and mind. In this course, we examine these teachings as they apply to meditation practice and to our lives in the world. We undertake the three pathways to wisdom: study, meditation, and reflection in community. We train the heart and mind and grow in understanding and wisdom in all aspects of our lives. The core text is Seeking the Heart of Wisdom by Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield. This course is appropriate for both new and experienced students.
Taught by Claire Stanley and Jack Millett
Thursdays, 6:30-8:00pm, Neighbors' Hall
April 17th to June 19th (10 weeks)
Dana and Fees
For 2600 years, since the time of the Buddha, the teachings have been considered priceless and have been offered freely. Within the Theravadin Buddhist tradition, generosity or Dana is practiced by making an offering to the teachers. In Asian countries, this has meant offering food, clothing and shelter to the monks and nuns who teach in those countries. As Buddhism has come to the West, lay teachers have sought to preserve this tradition in a way that maintains the integrity of the tradition and yet makes sense and supports the continuation of the teachings. The teachers offer the Dana or generosity of their teaching and they are supported through the Dana of the students and the community. Weekly or bi-monthly sitting groups are offered entirely on a Dana basis.
For the ten-week courses, there is a registration fee to Vermont Insight of $50. The fee contributes to all expenses incurred to Vermont Insight in relation to the course offerings. Many students have asked what is appropriate to offer as Dana to the teachers for the ten-week courses. A donation of $150 is suggested. For the six-week Lovingkindness course on Tuesday evenings the registration fee is $30 and the suggested donation is $90.
Please call (802) 254-7077or email us at <vtimc@sover.net> for more information or to register for a course.