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Insight News 4/05 October 2013 Insight Retreat Center NEWSLETTER Greening of IRC Practice Discussions with Retreat Teachers When we bought the nursing home by Gil Fronsdal that would become IRC we began the Going on an insight meditation retreat is tice, a wide range of topics may be discussed. process of lowering the environmental like traveling with a guide into unknown terri- For example, conversations might focus on impact of our new center. Before starting tory. On a retreat, the guides are the teachers, clarifying the instructions or teachings. Or the remodel we focused on water conserva- and the unknown territory is the depth of one’s practitioners might report particular medita- tion, transforming the existing landscaping own heart and mind. The teachers provide tion experiences and challenges, or they may with its high water needs into a low-water guidance in a number of ways—through want to explore personal life issues through the garden. During the renovation we used as instruction, teachings, exemplifying the prac- perspective of mindfulness practice. much green building material and insula- tice, and in their individual discussions with In most cases, retreatants initiate the topic tion as we could. We reduced our energy retreatants. for these discussions. Teachers will respond in consumption by installing occupancy sen- During most retreats participants meet a wide variety of ways, depending on their indi- sors and LED lighting, high-energy efficient with the teachers in order to discuss their vidual teaching styles, the kind of practice appliances, low-flow toilets and showers, retreat practice. These meetings are referred being taught on the retreat, and their best judg- and clotheslines. We purchase recy- to as “practice discussions” or “interviews,” and ment about what would be most helpful. cled/recyclable unbleached paper goods they provide practitioners with important Depending on what the student presents, the and trash bags. opportunities to explore themselves, the teacher might simply listen deeply, offer under- For our retreats we buy organic pro- Dharma, and where these two meet. They’re standing and encouragement, ask questions, duce as much as possible. Our food waste also occasions when retreatants can receive probe into the issue that’s been raised, give gets composted. We also encourage the instruction and teachings specific to their indi- instruction and guidance, challenge, or simply use of the carpool board on our website. vidual circumstances. affirm the experience or wisdom of the practi- As our funds allow we will continue our Individual meetings with teachers usually tioner. green efforts by installing energy efficient run just shy of fifteen minutes; a lot can happen Sometimes these meetings with teachers washing machines and dryers, converting in that short time, especially if the conversation stir up anticipatory thinking, feelings, or anxi- parts of the building that were not renovat- is focused and explanations are honed to what ety. I’ve had people tell me they spent hours ed to LED lighting, and switching to a is most essential. If students make the most of thinking about their interview. These thoughts more energy efficient stove. Our biggest their time by being succinct, this leaves the and feelings can be seen as an integral part of wish at present is to convert our water heat- teacher more time to respond, offering one’s Dharma practice. Rather than consider- ing to a solar system, with large solar water thoughts and suggestions. Some people find it ing them distractions from meditation, they collectors on the roof. This would signifi- helpful to prepare for the meetings by writing can be treated respectfully as something to be cantly reduce both our propane usage and down the main points they want to address. mindful of. These are areas of the inner life in our operating costs. If more than one teacher is leading a which to discover freedom and peace. It can —Gil Fronsdal retreat, retreatants will have meetings with two be useful to tell the teacher when there is a lot of the teachers over the course of the retreat, of thinking, planning, and anxiety prior to the Solar Water Heater Fundraising Drive alternating between them. There are a couple meeting. He or she may simply acknowledge We are currently fundraising with a of reasons for this. First, meeting with different the information and let the conversation move goal of $15,000 to install a solar water teachers allows retreatants to benefit from on to something else, or might choose to stay heater. The sooner we can raise this more than one perspective and approach. with the issue for further discussion or guid- money, the sooner we can lower our While all teachers have a deep understanding ance. This is useful, because by bringing mind- propane usage and our expenses. Helping of the Dharma, each one’s style and personality fulness to their relationship to a teacher, practi- us install a solar water heater is a way to are unique. In addition, meeting with different tioners can learn how to practice with other support IRC well into the future. teachers allows participants to focus more on interpersonal issues in their lives. If you are interested in supporting our developing their meditation practice and per- Now and then, a teacher will give particular drive, either send a check payable to sonal relationship to the Dharma than on their instructions for how practice discussions are “Insight Retreat Center” and mail to personal relationship with a particular teacher. conducted, but if no instructions are provided, Insight Retreat Center, 108 Birch St., Many factors influence the discussions that retreatants are free to bring up any topic they Redwood City, CA 94062, or make an take place between teachers and retreatants, think will support their meditation practice or online donation at and there’s no “set way” for these meetings to any issue they wish to explore from a Dharma insightretreatcenter.org/donations go. While the primary purpose of these conver- perspective. A meditation retreat is usually not sations is to support people’s meditation prac- Continued inside Introducing Kamala Masters Schedule of Retreats 2013–2014 We are very pleased that Kamala Masters, a senior teacher in the Insight community, will be coming to IRC Insight Retreats are opportunities to engage in full-time mindfulness training. in March 2014 to teach a retreat with Andrea Fella. A daily retreat schedule involves periods of sitting and walking meditation, Kamala is one of the founding teachers of the Vipassana instructions, dharma talks, work meditation, and practice discussion with Metta Foundation on Maui, where she is currently teachers. Silence is maintained throughout most of the retreat, except for dis- developing a Dhamma Sanctuary with her husband cussions with the teachers and communication needed for work meditation. Steve Armstrong. She teaches retreats in the Theravada • November 17–24, 2013 Insight Retreat with Gil Fronsdal & Paul Haller. tradition at venues worldwide, including as a Core Teacher at the Insight Meditation Society at Barre, • December 8–15, 2013 Insight Retreat with Gil Fronsdal & Andrea Fella. Massachusetts. Kamala has a commitment to carrying • January 26–February 2, 2014 Insight Retreat with Gil Fronsdal & Leigh and offering the purity of the teachings of the Buddha in Brasington. a way that touches our common sense and compassion • February 18–22, 2014 Insight Retreat with Gil Fronsdal and John Travis. as human beings, and allows the natural inner growth of Registration opens October 18. wisdom. Kamala lives on Maui where she raised four children • March 13–20, 2014 Insight Retreat with Andrea Fella & Kamala Masters. and is now blessed with five grandchildren. She has Registration opens November 13. practiced since 1975 primarily in the Theravada lineages • April 5–11, 2014 Study Retreat with Gil Fronsdal and Andrea Fella. of Burma as taught by Mahasi Sayadaw, Sayadaw U Registration opens December 5. Pandita, Anagarika Munindra, Shwe Oo Min Sayadaw, Sayadaw U Tejaniya, and Dipa Ma. She has practiced • May 4–11, 2014 Insight Retreat with Gil Fronsdal, MelWeitsman, & both insight and loving kindness meditation intensively Max Erdstein. Registration opens January 4. in Burma, Australia and the USA as a lay woman and as a • May 30–June 8, 2014 Insight Retreat with Gil Fronsdal and Adrianne Ross. nun under the guidance of Sayadaw U Pandita. Registration opens January 30. • June 26–29, 2014 Insight Retreat in Spanish with Rebecca Bradshaw and Registering and Managing Retreats Andrea Castillo. Registration opens February 26. by Bruni Dávila To register or for more information visit: Registering and managing retreats at IRC, especially insightretreatcenter.org/retreats/ doing both for one retreat, bore fruit I could not have or email [email protected] imagined. Motivated by the vision of the center, I decid- ed it was time to engage more and take responsibility for my contribution to what this retreat center can be. I chose retreats whose dates aligned with other commit- ments in my daily life, but guess what--I signed up to be both registrar and manager for the same retreat, without opened, the identity of yogi appeared, too. I was holding all these different identities and noticing until the retreat date approached! could choose which to take up as needed. As the retreat progressed, the identities of regis- Engaging in the responsibilities, I was having fun trar, co-manager, and yogi starting flowing together, and sometimes they disappeared. All learning, and was curious about the teachings that would was just practice. show up for me. Fear of making mistakes turned into a Co-managing was a kind way to learn to do things differently. Used to doing things strong desire to benefit the yogis registering for the on my own, it was refreshing to feel supported by another person, and to support my co- retreat.
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