INSIGHT NEWSLETTER SPRING SUMMER 2004 A Seamless Process: IMS Schedules: The Retreat Center 2004 Practice On and Off the Cushion An Interview with Kamala Masters & Steve Armstrong The Forest Refuge 2004/05 Kamala Masters and Steve Armstrong have been teaching mindfulness retreats BCBS 2004/05 together, both at IMS and worldwide, for more than ten years. They live on Maui, Course Schedule Outline where they are developing a Dharma sanctuary and hermitage Ho’omalamalama (the ground for awakening). In talking with Insight Newsletter, they offer their Teacher Interview perspective on the relationship between intensive practice and householder life. IMS News Over the last decade, you’ve of mind such as generosity, offered introductory courses for renunciation, effort, truthfulness, and Developments those new to the practice, as lovingkindness and balance of mind. well as longer retreats for advancing students. How do These are the forces which, through you meet the needs of students various Dharma practices, can become in different stages of meditation our default setting – our first response experience? to situations – rather than emotional reactivity, resulting in less harm and Steve: Kamala and I respect and teach suffering. In Burma, householders from a Burmese model of understanding practice the paramis in their everyday how students progress in their Dharma life, raising children, on the job and practice. The distinguished Burmese among their neighbors and friends. meditation master Mahasi Sayadaw, As these qualities ripen through ordinary a pioneer in teaching meditation to those daily activities, the ground is prepared in a lay or householder life, outlined this for the deeply liberating insight that model about 55 years ago. Prior to that, arises through sustained vipassana meditation instruction was not easily retreat practice. available to those outside the ordained community of monks and nuns. Kamala: So we encourage the He taught that householders can develop cultivation of the paramis at home, the essential practice of the paramis, at work and in our social and civic those positive forces or skillful qualities interactions. While one or more paramis (continued on page 2) THE NEWSLETTER OF THE INSIGHT MEDITATION SOCIETY CHRISTINE PICHLKOSTNER of their liberating insight, but also in their skillful application of Dharma understanding in daily life. Kamala, can you say a little about the impact of your practice in Burma? Kamala: Over the last two years, I’ve traveled to Burma three times – twice to undertake some months of intensive practice with my teacher and meditation master, Sayadaw U Pandita. The third trip involved sutta and Pali study at Sitagu Monastery. For a long time prior to that, as I Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters are practiced, other virtuous qualities reflected on and practiced the paramis, are simultaneously nurtured. For example, the quality of renunciation resonated whenever we remind ourselves to prac- deeply in my heart. As I gave this more tice patience – the parami the Buddha energy and attention, the wish to ordain called “the supreme virtue” – we not arose – to shave my head, don the nun’s only create harmony in the outer condi- robes and utterly simplify my life. I was tions of our lives, but in addition support interested to see if outer renunciation INSIGHT the growing inner presence of loving- would help the inner renunciation of NEWSLETTER kindness, equanimity and renunciation. abandoning greed, hatred and delusion. So, I traveled to Burma in 2001 and A twice yearly publication of the Insight We also encourage students to sit a ordained for two months with Sayadaw Meditation Society, a tax-exempt nonprofit silent vipassana retreat every year, U Pandita. I did this again early this organization whose purpose is to foster whether it’s for nine days, or a month, year. These two times have been amongst the practice of vipassana (insight) and or longer. When we take the time to the happiest of my life; the simplification metta (lovingkindness) meditation, and to temporarily disengage from household of my activities together with his preserve the essential Buddhist teachings of liberation. activities and move into a semi-monastic monastery’s clearly defined practice environment, the momentum towards regimen allowed the constrictions of The goal of the practice is the awakening progressively deeper levels of freedom heart and mind to easily let go. of wisdom and compassion through right in the mind joins forces with the action and cultivating mindful awareness in all aspects of life. momentum gained from strengthening While in Burma I realized how supportive the paramis in our heart. and strengthening it is for me, as one Editor: Gyano Gibson who guides others, to have my own guide. Production: Eowyn Ahlstrom Steve: The Dharma lifestyle of Of course, the bottom line is that the Cover photo: Libby Vigeon IMS Buddha Photo: Dawn Close householder parami practice combined Dharma is our truest guide. There is, Design: Lux Productions with intensive meditation retreats is a however, immense value in turning to middle path between a full monastic someone much wiser who can, with Please address any way of life, and a full householder life fierce compassion, tell me where to refine correspondence to IMS, 1230 Pleasant St. without any spiritual practice. It is a the practice; a teacher who can direct Barre, MA 01005, USA form that seems to suit Western lay and help me reach new horizons Phone: (978) 355-4378 people. We have noticed significant without embellishment or coddling. Fax: (978) 355-6398 maturation in our students who sit Two important things Sayadaw U Email: [email protected] Website: www.dharma.org annual retreats, not only in the depth Pandita said to me were, “You must PRINTED IN CANADA Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks Spring • Summer 2004 be willing to be admonished,” and Another simple yet profound practice volume work called Practicing Vipassana; “You must be willing to invest everything that helps create a seamless process a definitive book from the Buddhist you have in the practice.” between householder life and retreat teachings on how to practice vipassana, life is known as ‘Mindfulness of the and much of its content is generally Is it possible to undertake Four Postures’ – sitting, walking, lying unavailable to Western students. intensive mindfulness practice down and standing. Munindraji, In it, Mahasi Sayadaw discusses the while in a household situation, my other teacher, who passed away in preparatory practices that householders fulfilling parent, partner and October last year, often reminded me can develop and experience both in their financial responsibilities? to practice a general awareness of the everyday lives and on retreat. entire body as it sits, walks, bends or Kamala: Being a mother and respecting turns throughout everyday activities. We have undertaken subsidy of the family needs are primal forces within me. I have found this technique brings about book’s translation and publication. Nevertheless, while raising my children a significant continuity of mindfulness. In January, Kamala asked Sayadaw U I also honored a deep need to take time Pandita what he thought about out now and then for intensive retreat. Steve, you were a monk in making it available in the West. Sometimes, I had to plan for this up to Burma for many years. He responded, in English, “The sooner, three years in advance. I didn’t shirk that How did this prepare you for the better.” Not only will it provide inner responsibility. So, yes, with careful developing a new sanctuary a valuable resource for Dharma preparation it is possible to fulfill on Maui? students and teachers alike, it will also both worldly obligations and intensive establish a baseline in the West for practice needs. Steve: I spent five years in robes, reviewing our own practice and doing intensive practices with Sayadaw gauging its authenticity. Recently, on the way to Burma, I visited U Pandita in Yangon. This was while India, and had the opportunity to talk Kamala was raising her family. How relevant is the Buddhist with Dipa, the daughter of an extraor- Now, while she is undertaking understanding of mind today? dinary and wonderful Indian woman, intensive practice, I find myself much Dipa Ma, whose teachings and practice more involved in householder activities. Steve: In our view, its relevance have contributed greatly to my own Our roles have reversed. is just beginning to be appreciated, development. I asked Dipa what was at least here in the West. Last September, the most awesome thing that she remem- We are in the process of building Kamala and I attended the Mind and bered about her mother. She told me that a Dharma sanctuary on Maui, Life Conference with the Dalai Lama when she was a child she and her mother which requires a lot of raising money, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where were at the Mahasi meditation center managing finances, and communicating Western scientists of psychology spoke in Burma. Her mother’s teacher, with supporters, neighbors, contractors with the Dalai Lama and senior Munindraji, instructed her mother to and the local government. The practices Tibetan and Theravada monks and practice for three days, while Dipa I did in Asia provide essential tools scholars about the nature of the mind. was being cared for by friends there. for skillful interaction in these often It was a fascinating dialogue to witness This was not a weekend retreat of sitting challenging situations. My household – Western scientists are just starting and walking, with breaks in between; work is the test of my Dharma practice. to document, through their scientific it meant Dipa Ma sat down for three method and machinery, what Buddhists days solid, without moving. Dipa said Do you see the teachings of have been experiencing for millennia, “She didn’t even get up to go to the Burmese masters continuing to through their meditation.