INSIGHT NEWSLETTER FALL WINTER 2002/2003 Welcome Welcome to the first issue of the newly formatted Insight Newsletter. It contains IMS 2003 Schedules: schedules and all necessary course information for the Insight Meditation Society’s The Retreat Center two facilities – the Retreat Center and The Forest Refuge – as well as an overview of the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. The Forest Refuge In addition to bringing you the latest information about our programs, this BCBS 2002/2003 newsletter is intended to keep you informed of current developments at IMS - Course Schedule Outline what is happening, where we are going and what you can expect in the future. We hope you enjoy our new look. Any feedback you may have is appreciated. Teacher Interview May all beings be happy. IMS News and Developments Edwin Kelley Executive Director, IMS In this Issue Interview with Sharon Salzberg . .2 News Worth Noting – IMS Developments . .4 An Expression of Gratitude - A Donor’s Story . .7 Forest Refuge Update and 2003 Teacher Schedule . .8 The Retreat Center - 2003 Schedule and Information . .10 BCBS Information and 2002/2003 Course Schedule . .16 Book Reviews . .18 - Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience - Knee Deep in Grace: The Extraordinary Life and Teaching of Dipa Ma THE NEWSLETTER OF THE INSIGHT MEDITATION SOCIETY MARCIA LIPPMAN What is Faith? An Interview with Sharon Salzberg Sharon Salzberg, IMS co-founder and guiding teacher, talks with Insight Newsletter about her latest book Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience. A review of the book is on page 18. Sharon, from a Buddhist again, to love again. Even in times of perspective, what does the immense suffering, it is faith that helps word ‘faith’ mean? Why is us to relate to the present moment in it important? such a way that we can go on, we can move forward, instead of becoming lost In Pali, the language of the original in resignation or despair. The capacity Buddhist texts, the word usually trans- for this type of faith is inherent in every lated as faith is saddha, which literally human being. We might not recognize means “to place the heart upon.” To it, or know how to nurture it, but we have faith is to offer one’s heart. In Pali can learn to do both. faith is a verb, an action, as it is also in Latin and Hebrew. It is not a singular How can we practice faith - INSIGHT state that we either have or don’t have, can we learn to incline the NEWSLETTER but is something that we do. mind towards its possibilities? We “faithe.” What is the relationship A twice-yearly publication of the Insight between faith and wisdom? Meditation Society, a tax-exempt nonprofit organization whose purpose is to foster Once, when I was with Sayadaw U the practice of vipassana (insight) and Pandita in Burma, he asked us which We can practice faith in many ways, metta (lovingkindness) meditation, and to of the five spiritual powers – faith, though its appearance is often like a preserve the essential Buddhist teachings energy or effort, concentration, mind- gift. We can certainly practice seeing of liberation. fulness and wisdom – was the most the world in a clearer way, with more The goal of the practice is the awakening important. Since he frequently wisdom, which inclines the mind of wisdom and compassion through right demanded so much courageous effort towards faith. If we see, for example, action and cultivating mindful awareness in all aspects of life. from his students, I responded “Effort.” how much everything and everyone is He replied, “No.” As we were in the constantly changing, we see that in the Editor: Gyano Gibson heartland of mindfulness, that was my midst of change there is always a sense Cover photo: Libby Vigeon IMS Buddha Photo: Dawn Close next reply. Again, he said, “No.” He of possibility – this realization ignites Design: Lux Productions then answered his own question: “Faith faith. If, in the midst of suffering, we is the most important quality, because can still recognize the ties we have to Please address any correspondence to IMS, without it we wouldn’t be moved to others — that all are vulnerable to pain 1230 Pleasant St. cultivate any of the others.” and loss, whatever our present circum- Barre, MA 01005, USA stances are, that we are still held by the Phone: (978) 355-4378 Fax: (978) 355-6398 The Buddha said, “Faith is the begin- boundlessness of life itself even in our Email: [email protected] ning of all good things.” No matter unhappiness, that in truth we are not Website: www.dharma.org what we encounter in life, it is faith cut off and alone, however tempting the PRINTED IN CANADA that enables us to try again, to trust call of despair – that power of Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks Fall • Winter 2002 / 2003 INSIGHT connection awakens our faith. In many capacity that many of us don’t often a faith that is verified through our ways faith is about connection – a tap into. sincere efforts. Then, as we come to deep connection to our own inherent deeply know the underlying truths capacity for wisdom and love no matter Doubt is usually considered of who we are and what our lives are what, a connection to a bigger picture the force that opposes faith. about, abiding faith, or unwavering of life. Wisdom brings us to connection, Do you agree? faith as it is traditionally called, arises. which is the core of faith. This abiding faith in ourselves is differ- There are several kinds of doubt. ent from “conceit”. Conceit lays claim to There are also traditional faith prac- The most helpful is exemplified by the specialness - whereas our fundamental tices, for example taking refuge in the Buddha when he said, in the Kalama nature is not personal, it’s universal and Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, which Sutta, “Don’t believe anything, just shared. When we look at the Buddha remind us that we are part of a larger because I say it. Put it into practice and or a great teacher, we can see our own community, and have immense poten- see for yourself if it is true.” We must potential for happiness and sustained tial for living lives not bound to the ask of any belief system: Can it trans- compassion. This is a potential that all past, or to our habitual sense of limita- form our minds? Can it help reshape beings everywhere share. However, if tion. These practices bring us in touch our pain into wisdom and love? we stop at faith in another, admiring with great joy and love, which is the the other and overlooking ourselves, landscape of faith. This kind of skillful doubt – a sincere our faith remains incomplete. and critical questioning – actually What inspired you to write serves to deepen faith. It is based on a How can an understanding about a topic that is often confidence in our own right, and ability of faith help us face current decried in our culture? to know the truth for ourselves. world events? I wanted to help redeem the word. Another kind of doubt is known in the Over the last year, I’ve heard many In the summer of 2001, I was part of teachings as skeptical doubt, where we people speak about finding something Tricycle Magazine’s conference on neither honestly question, nor put inside them that they didn’t know they Buddhism in the West (which something into practice in order to see had. To be at all able to move forward poignantly took place in the Marriott what it has to teach us. With skeptical in times of great difficulty or pain Hotel at the World Trade Center in doubt we stand at a distance - we’re means drawing on one’s own deepest New York). I was in dialogue with cynical and remote. It is a stance of experience, in fact relying on the kind Stephen Batchelor, and he asked why isolation, and often rooted in fear. of faith I’m talking about. It is my wish didn’t I use a more palatable word, So, for me, the right kind of doubt is that we can remember to stay more like “trust”. I responded that the word an intrinsic part of the unfolding of connected to our deepest values, to the “faith” often elicits a strong reaction, genuine faith. I think that the state immediacy of love, and to the need to and that there is something valuable in of mind that is truly the opposite of live a meaningful life. our looking at that reaction. People faith is despair. carry different associations with the On a more personal level, word “faith” - perhaps it connotes Can you say a few words is it true that it took you adherence to a belief system, blind about this unfolding of five years to write this book? surrender, unthinking devotion, or a genuine faith? lack of questioning. But, more uncom- My earliest notes were from five years monly, it also implies the power to The offering of one’s heart happens in ago. Now I look at the book, and while place our hearts, with intelligence and stages. Faith evolves from an initial I’m very happy with how it turned out, discernment, upon that which is wise bright faith – a falling in love with a I sometimes think, “After five years of and compassionate. Faith is a liberating teaching, a teacher, a way of life – to work, it should be bigger!” Fall • Winter 2002 / 2003 Page 3 IMS News Worth Noting Young Adult Retreat Retreat Center Schedule reopen in February, 2004 with a full, The Young Adult retreat, especially Developments year-long program.