Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley

EASTWORKS Building 116 Pleasant Street, Suite 242 Easthampton, MA 01027 (413) 527-0388 www.insightpv.org general@insightpv.org

Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley

www.insightpv.org

Guiding Teacher: Rebecca Bradshaw Board of Directors

Barbara Quinn Rebecca Bradshaw Candace Cassin Tomasin Seabright Kim Weeber

Winter/Spring 2012

Director Assistant Director Tomasin Seabright Ann Lewis

Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley is a non-residential urban center. Its mission is to offer the Buddhas teachings of liberation to all who are interested, to nurture the development of generosity, and to bring compassion and wisdom into our daily lives. Insight PV welcomes all people regardless of cultural or religious background, race, socio-economic class, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, education, or physical ability.

Classes, Retreats & Events

Registration: Please register in person for classes and retreats by arriving 15 minutes early. Pre-registration is not needed except where specified. Teacher Dana: Teachers and community dharma leaders at our Center are not paid for leading classes and retreats. The suggested contributions for classes help us pay the Centers rent, phone, and administrative expenses. At the end of classes and retreats, you are invited to practice generosity (Dana) by making a gift in support of the teachers livelihood.

Sittings Evening Classes Retreats Study Groups Special Events

For more information and details on our offerings, please visit our website at www.insightpv.org.

Sittings are appropriate for all levels. There is no set fee, but an opportunity to contribute Dana to the Center.

Sittings

See www.insightpv.org for full details

Special Events
Heather Maloney

Weekly Open Sittings

Mondays 5:30 - 6:45 pm Wednesdays 7:15 - 8:45 pm Sit together with other sangha members in a relaxed atmosphere. A silent meditation period of 45 minutes is followed by an optional discussion facilitated by a teacher or practice leader. Meditation guidance available upon request. Cushions, chairs and benches provided.

SOLSTICE GATHERING AND CONCERT

Wednesday, December 21, 7 - 9 pm Join us for a sangha gathering including sitting, snacks and a concert with singer/songwriter Heather Maloney.

NEW YEARS DAY RETREAT & POTLUCK

Sunday, January 1, 2012 10:30 am 3:30 pm Suggested contribution: $10 25 plus Teacher Dana Morning silent sitting and walking meditation, a community lunch, and an exploration of mindfulness in our lives. Please bring a dish to share, and bring a friend!

Rebecca Bradshaw

2nd Thursdays, 7 - 8:30 pm January 12, February 9, March 8 April 12, May 10, June 14 & July 12 Guided practice followed by group discussion is led by fellow young adults. No experience necessary, all are welcome! For a schedule or a ride, or with any questions, contact Hanuman Goleman at Bornlaughing@gmail.com.

Young Adult* Sittings

NON-RESIDENTIAL WEEKEND RETREAT

Friday, March 2 to Sunday, March 4 Fri 7 - 9 pm, Sat 9 am - 8 pm, Sun 9 am - 1 pm Pioneer Valley Co-Housing Community, Amherst Suggested contribution: $50 - 100 plus Teacher Dana Share time with the community in this annual retreat which provides a chance to dedicate ourselves to developing mindfulness, wisdom and lovingkindness in our hearts and minds. We will practice with sitting and walking meditation, dharma talks, discussion periods, and small-group interviews. Register online at www.insightpv.org or send your name, address, email and phone plus a deposit of $20 to Insight PV. (Deposits are non-refundable and will go toward Teacher Dana). We will respond with confirmation and directions. Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch provided.

Rebecca Bradshaw & Jean Esther

* (for those 18 years old to mid 30s)

Half-Day Open Sittings

Monthly on Saturday mornings, 8:30 am - noon January 14, February 4, March 17 April 21, May 12 & June 2 Half-day open sittings led by practice leaders provide an opportunity for more intensive practice without committing to an entire day. All levels of experience welcome; you may drop in at any time during the morning. Sittings may include meditation instructions and a taped talk.

No set fee; opportunity for Dana.

Teacher Dana (Generosity) In the Insight Meditation tradition, teachers offer their time and wisdom at no fee for the benefit of all who seek the teachings of the Dharma. As you are able, please enter the circle of generosity by offering teachers a contribution to make their ongoing teaching possible, and to support their livelihoods.

AN EVENING WITH SPRING WASHAM

Wednesday, August 1, 7 - 9 pm Mindfulness teacher Spring Washam is a founding teacher and core leader of the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, California: www.eastbaymeditation.org. She is a pioneer in bringing mindfulness into diverse communities. ~2~

~1~

9:30 am - 4:30 pm unless otherwise noted

MEDITATION AND YOGA FOR EVERYONE
Sunday, January 29, 10 am - 5 pm Suggested contribution: $20 - 35 plus Teacher Dana Please join us for a restorative day of mindfulness meditation practice and yin yoga for men and women. This day, primarily held in silence, will include guided meditation and yoga practice, integrated within a sharing of Buddhist teachings. Please pre-register at 413-586-3383,

One Day Retreats

TRANSFORMING OUR DAILY LIVES

Sunday, March 25 Suggested contribution: $20 - 35 plus Teacher Dana We will practice cultivating a mental capacity of general comprehension, an aspect of mindfulness, to inquire into and understand the purpose of our actions to open into the sacred.

Arinna Weisman

Jean Esther and Lynn Kingston

RETREAT FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY

Sunday, April 1, 10 am - 5 pm Suggested contribution: $20 35 plus Teacher Dana Join us for a day of meditation and contemplation in our LGBTQ community as we open to the hearts capacity to experience freedom no matter what the circumstances.

Jean Esther and Nick Boutros

as class size is limited. Bring a yoga mat if you have one.

THE JEWEL OF MINDFULNESS

Saturday, February 11 Suggested contribution: $20 - 35 plus Teacher Dana We will practice mindfulness and how to hold it steady and central, beyond judgment, clinging and distraction.

Kate Lila Wheeler

MINDFULNESS IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

Sunday, April 15 Suggested contribution: $20 $35 plus Teacher Dana We will use silent and walking meditation, and exercises in pairs and small groups, to cultivate mindfulness and explore our experience when interacting with others.

Chas DiCapua

HALF-DAY INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION

Saturday, February 25, 9:30 am - 1:30 pm Suggested contribution: $10 - 15 plus Teacher Dana This half-day retreat is a gentle and welcoming introduction, or refresher, to Insight Meditation. There will be talks, meditation, movement and assistance with practice.

Peggy Gillespie and Manny Mansbach

ACTING WITH KINDNESS AND COMPASSION

Saturday, May 19 Suggested contribution: $20 - 35 plus Teacher Dana We will practice meditations that cultivate our natural capacity for an open and loving heart and develop concentration, happiness and greater acceptance.

Kim Weeber

BUILDING COMMUNITY ACROSS RACE

Saturday, March 24 Suggested contribution: $20 - 35 plus Teacher Dana This retreat is a rare opportunity to explore in a loving and non-blaming environment the ways we feel isolated and separate as white people, and to strengthen our ability to build authentic relationships across race. Limited to

Arinna Weisman

SEEING HOW IT IS
Sunday, June 10 Suggested contribution: $20 35 plus Teacher Dana We will spend the day hiking up Roaring Mountain and Mt. Toby in Leverett, MA, and sitting, to tune into the wisdom that nature embodies. Please pre-register by contacting Rachel at rarahn@comcast.net or 413-328-8372. ~4 ~

Chas DiCapua

18 - 20 participants. Pre-registration is required. Please reserve a place by emailing: registration@insightpv.org

~3 ~

CULTIVATING WISE INTENTION

Sunday, June 24, 10 am - 4 pm Suggested contribution: $20 35 plus Teacher Dana A daylong study retreat, exploring the unconscious and conscious levels of intention and their impact on the quality of our thoughts.

Claire Stanley

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

Mondays, January 30, February 6 & February 13 Suggested contribution: $21 - 30 plus Teacher Dana In this three-session class, we will study the words and teachings of the Buddha, and apply them directly to contemporary, practical situations we face as householders, exploring the relevance of these ancient teachings for life in the 21st century.

Manny Mansbach

THE PRACTICE OF PRESENCE

Saturday, July 21 Suggested contribution: $20 - 35 plus Teacher Dana A day of meditation where we will try our best to find security amidst the unstable, beauty in the unknown and unexpected, and peace within the undependable.

Jesse Maceo Vega-Frey

MINDFULNESS PRACTICE AND RELATIONSHIPS

Mondays, February 27 - March 26 Suggested contribution: $35 - 50 plus Teacher Dana This class explores the Buddhas teachings on relational topics such as ethics, skillful speech, and compassion. We will investigate these topics in daily life through practice suggestions, and support each other in our explorations.

Rebecca Bradshaw

7:15 - 9 pm unless otherwise noted

COMING HOME TO THE BODY: MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & YIN YOGA FOR WOMEN
Mondays, January 2 - January 23 Suggested contribution: $28 - 40 plus Teacher Dana In our culture the mind and body are often experienced as split. This class brings mind and body practices together, with sitting meditation, guided yoga practice, Buddhist teachings, and group discussion. No previous expe-

Evening Classes

BEGINNING MEDITATION
Mondays, April 2 - May 7 Suggested contribution: $42 - 60 plus Teacher Dana This six-week class will present an overview of the Buddha's teachings on meditation and mindfulness in daily life. There will be guided meditations, discussions, recommended reading and suggestions for home practice.

Kim Weeber

Jean Esther and Lynn Kingston

rience necessary. Class size is limited, pre-register at 413586-3383. If you have one, please bring a yoga mat.

Adi Bemak and Peggy Gillespie

Tuesdays, April 24 - May 15 7 - 8:30 pm Suggested contribution: $28 - 40 plus Teacher Dana

AWAKENING JOY

ANGER AND FORGIVENESS

Tuesdays, January 3 & January 10 Suggested contribution: $14 - 20 plus Teacher Dana This two-week class will explore the energy of anger and the process of forgiveness. Well investigate our own experience of how the heart/mind releases resentment and opens to understanding. ~5~

Rebecca Bradshaw

This four-week class will include mindfulness meditation, inquiry, and discussion about how to recognize and deepen the joy in our daily lives no matter what is happening in our outer lives.

~6~