As a practicing Western Theravāda Buddhist, I strive to follow the Buddha’s path to liberation and awakening.  I see validity in, and place emphasis on the Four Noble Truths.  Although human and quite fallible, I work diligently to develop the Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

If we look at the Noble Eightfold Path, the path which the Buddha assured us will lead to the cessation of dukkha, we will note that it is comprised of three divisions:  sīla, samādhi, and paññā.  Virtue or ethics; meditation, mindfulness, concentration; and wisdom.  We could say virtue, mind training, and insight.

Right speech, right action, and right livelihood comprise the division of sīla, ethics.  An intention towards skillful living must be in place if we are to reap any true benefit from meditation.  It can be a very difficult task to train the mind “on the cushion” - nearly impossible if we are plagued by recurrent thoughts of misdeeds in our daily lives while “off the cushion”.  When we can live ethically, free from regret in regard to our speech, action, and livelihood, we are embracing and developing sīla. Aligning our moral behavior with the precepts is imperative to progress on this path and a true gift to ourselves and all those with whom we come in contact.

Once our ethical groundwork has been laid, we can then begin to realize the benefit of time spent in meditation.  If we put forth the right degree of effort, our ability to practice mindfulness will flourish to the degree that we are able to enter refined and highly subtle states of concentration - samādhi.  These refined and sublime states of concentration will then offer us glimpses into the true nature of existence through insight.  It is through our insight, our wisdom, that we realize liberation from the pervading sense of unsatisfactoriness in life.  Through insight we can come to know true contentment.

But before contentment, before insight, before right concentration, comes virtue - sīla.

Every year around the New Year at Insight Meditation Fort Wayne, we offer an opportunity to participate in a tradition where we state our intentions to live skillfully and foster that ethical groundwork so important to the rest of the path.  Our annual precepts event gives us that opportunity to state our intentions to live by the Five Precepts for lay practitioners:

1. To refrain from harming living beings
2. To not steal – to refrain from taking that which is not given
3. To refrain from sexual misconduct
4. To refrain from unskillful speech
5. To refrain from the misuse of intoxicants which cause heedlessness.

We will hold our annual Precepts and Refuges gathering beginning at 6:00pm on Tuesday, January 9^th, 2024, at Insight Meditation Fort Wayne.

I invite you to come and participate in this lovely gift.  The gift of affirming our intention to develop and maintain sīla, virtue in our lives.  The gift of preventing conflict.

I invite you to come cultivate the preliminary ethical groundwork for a beneficial meditation practice.

May All Beings Be Well and Happy,

drew

"There's nothing more whole than a broken heart."  — Rabbi Menachen Mendel

We invite you to join us for our regular opportunities to sit during the month of December, Tuesday nights at 6pm and Sundays at 10am.  We offer a way to put a moment of quiet mindfulness into your week.

Tea is the second Tuesday, Dec 12^th, immediately following the dharma talk.

Book Group meets on the third Tuesday, Dec 19^th, also immediately following the dharma talk.

Opportunities to practice in the New Year

Our Annual Precepts Ceremony will be on Tuesday, January 9^th at our regularly scheduled Tuesday night sit.  Please join us for this evening as we recommit to our vows of practice.  Join us immediately after the ceremony for a Potluck dinner.

Pam and John Steinbach are offering an open retreat January 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20^th at IMFW.  They welcome your participation on half days (mornings 9 am – noon), or full days in any combination of days that works for you.  These daylong retreats are a wonderful opportunity to start your new year off with a deepened practice and mindful awareness. Sign up here.

An Introduction to Buddhism class is being offered every Monday evening at 6pm, during the month of February.  Pam and John Steinbach are teaching this class which is designed to allow plenty of discussion and exploration. Sign up here.

We are always eager to welcome volunteers at IMFW.  If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity, please contact a board member or email us at Insightmeditationfw@gmail.com.

Please join us in welcoming two new board members: Dora Rogers and Monica Cardenas.

Our mission is to provide for the study and practice of Insight (Vipassanā) Meditation according to the Theravāda Buddhist religious tradition and to support and encourage the development of community based upon Buddhist ideals, teachings and practices.

“What is it you plan to do with this one wild and precious life?”  -Mary Oliver
 
Open Retreat Offered January 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20^th – 2024
 
An Open Retreat will be available at IMFW (in person only) led by John and Pamela Steinbach on January 16 – 20^th, Tuesday, through Saturday. You are welcome to come for half a day or full days, all or any combination on any of these dates. Please bring a journal or paper to briefly note insights and questions, and a lunch if staying for the full day. The retreats are offered on a Dana basis, the practice of generosity: giving what you are able, out of gratitude, for IMFW and the teachers. 
 
Almost all schools of Buddhism include meditation practices to directly experience the workings of the mind. Retreats are an opportunity to devote a period of quiet focus committed to introspective awareness and mindful attention.  If you decide you want to bring serious Buddhist practice into your life, two things seem necessary; a daily practice of meditation and periods of more prolonged practice to gain deeper insights into the workings of the mind. In the midst of our busy lives of gaining insights and performing outer responsibilities, a half day or full day or a short stretch of days is an opportunity to examine what this life is.  IMFW is pleased to be able to offer some intensive opportunities for inquiry.  This doesn’t mean that study of the dharma, listening to talks, and being a member of a sangha without a meditation practice is not valuable; they can all be of benefit to generate generosity, virtue, patience, meditation, and wisdom.  Occasional retreats offer deeper pondering of the teachings, observing the nature of mind, and reflecting on the activities of body, speech and mind.  Interspersed with periods of 30 minute seated meditation, these retreats include walking meditation, teachings, discussion, and yoga. 
 
Click here to sign up for any retreat/day that you are interested in.

An Introduction to Buddhism will be offered this February at IMFW, taught by IMFW teachers Pam and John Steinbach.  Class will meet on the four consecutive Monday evenings in February at IMFW (in person only). The intent is for all who participate to have a better understanding of Buddhism and gain some insight into how these teachings apply to daily life.  John and Pam look forward to seeing where the discussions take us and are planning to allow plenty of time for conversation.

The class will address the Four Noble Truths including the Noble Eightfold Path, the Three Marks of Existence, lists of the virtuous qualities, the Hindrances, and the different schools of Buddhism.  Introductory classes will be offered quarterly at IMFW with this class alternating with the Introduction to Insight Meditation taught by Tammy Dyer and Barb Lahman in the spring and Drew Consalvo in the fall.

Classes will be held from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm on Mondays, February 5, 12, 19 and 26. The classes are freely given. Dana (donation of generosity as you are able) is welcome and encouraged.  Click here to sign up.