Here we are in this season of many holidays and few hours of sunlight. A joyous time for some of us, a difficult time for others, and a mixed bag for many.

A few months ago, I gave myself a rather inadvertent gift that I would like to offer to you. I decided to give a series of talks on the Brahmaviharas and because there is a month between talks, that gave me about 120 days of deeper contemplation of these four Divine Abodes.

The ongoing familiarity with these teachings seemed to lift and open my heart. I was happier than normal, felt more compassion, had experiences of real joy in the happiness of others and found a greater sense of equanimity. These experiences should not have come as a surprise. Phrases like “incline the mind,” “hear, think and meditate” and “habituate,” all point to the powerful importance of familiarizing the mind with Dharma teachings. That means we take certain thoughts and ways of viewing the world into our daily practice. We work with these things every day in some form.

The simple teaching to repeat things over and over is basic, straightforward, effective, and common sense. The mind goes in the direction of repeated exposure.

To refresh your mind, here is a passage on Brahmaviharas from the Kalama Sutta as translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu:

"Now, Kalamas, one who is a disciple of the noble ones — thus devoid of greed, devoid of ill will, undeluded, alert, & resolute — keeps pervading the first direction [the east] — as well as the second direction, the third, & the fourth — with an awareness imbued with good will. Thus he keeps pervading above, below, & all around, everywhere & in every respect the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness imbued with good will: abundant, expansive,

"He keeps pervading the first direction — as well as the second direction, the third, & the fourth — with an awareness imbued with compassion. Thus he keeps pervading above, below, & all around, everywhere & in every respect the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness imbued with compassion: abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from
hostility, free from ill will.

"He keeps pervading the first direction — as well as the second direction, the third, & the fourth — with an awareness imbued with appreciation. Thus he keeps pervading above, below, & all around, everywhere & in every respect the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness imbued with appreciation: abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from
hostility, free from ill will.

"He keeps pervading the first direction — as well as the second direction, the third, & the fourth — with an awareness imbued with equanimity. Thus he keeps pervading above, below, & all around, everywhere & in every respect the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness imbued with equanimity: abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from
hostility, free from ill will.”

These four divine abodes are sometimes put into this short form that is recited by many every day and what I like to use in offering merit:

May all beings experience happiness and the causes of happiness.
May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.
May all beings never be separated from the joy that is beyond all sorrow.
May all beings rest in equanimity free from attachment and aversion.

So consider these four a seasonal gift from the Buddha to you. But you have to do something with the gift. It is not to be put in the drawer with ugly sweaters. You need to contemplate these four states of mind if you want the mind to incline in that direction. You need to meditate on the thoughts and feelings of these dwelling places to allow the mind to transform.

This is a daily practice. Find some time to contemplate these four. If you do, you will see them grow in your mind and spread in your life. The beauty of this gift is that it is really all about others and yourself. You wish these things
for all beings. You are one of these beings. But all of us have probably noticed that constantly wishing for our own happiness and dwelling on any lack we may feel causes misery. So try wishing deeply for all beings and you will be the first to benefit. Know this is not magic. It would be rare indeed for reading an article or considering something for a moment or two to cause a transformation. It is practice, my friends, practice that makes entering the divine abodes possible. With that in mind, we should all consider practices such as these something to be adopted for a lifetime where we find some way to get these thoughts into our daily mind stream.

I hope you give it a try for at least a few weeks of steady practice. Give the gift for all beings to abide in these abodes. Remember you are included. If you need more information, that Google thing is waiting for your Brahmaviharas search.

May you incline your mind in a divine direction this season.

Please join me in welcoming Katherine Wilkerson to the board.  Katherine teaches at IMFW as well as being a member of the board.

Also, join me in a deep bow of gratitude to Ellen England and Matt Katinsky who have worked so diligently to make the newsletter worthy of reading for over six years. Ellen is retiring.  Matt will remain in his role.  Dave Clough is taking over the task of compiling and editing the newsletter going forward as I hand over that role to him.

IMFW is adding a new section to our monthly newsletter.  This section, “Community News,” will highlight sangha members who want to share information with the sangha. This might be news that you would like the sangha to celebrate or it might be important events that you would like sangha members to be aware of about you and/or your family.  If you would like your news included in the monthly newsletter, please email the information to Dave Clough at clough.david@gmail.com.  If it is received by the 20th of the month, it will be included in the monthly newsletter.  If it is received after the 20th of the month, it will be included the following month.  You can also reach out to Dave with any questions about the "Community News."

The Steinbachs are offering a Day-Long Retreat with teachings on the Brahmaviharas, Saturday, January 17 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. You can sign up here.

An Introduction to Buddhism course is being taught every Monday evening in February at 6:30 pm.  The Steinbachs are teaching this four-week course that is designed for a lot of conversation and exploration. You can sign up here.

Tammy Dyer is teaching a seven-week course on the Anapanasati sutta, February 25 – April 8, 2026. Class meets four times, every other Wednesday from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at IMFW. Click here to sign up.

Susan Weir, founding teacher of Insight Meditation Ann Arbor, is offering a Day of Practice at IMFW, February 28, 2026. Join Susan as she explores The Map of Realization. Click here to sign up for this event.

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.

John and Pam Steinbach are facilitating a one-day retreat on Saturday, January 17 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. This retreat will be focused on love, compassion, joy, and equanimity practiced in meditation with calm and insight. Please arrive by 8:45 am so that you are ready to begin at 9:00 am. Bring a sack lunch. 
 
Please share your appreciation through dana, the practice of generosity to support the teachers.

Please sign up for the retreat on our website at https://www.imfw.org/retreats-day-long. 

This retreat is offered in person only at 2332 Sandpoint Road, Fort Wayne, IN.

An Introduction to Buddhism will be offered this February, taught by IMFW teachers Pam and John Steinbach. Class will meet at 6:30 pm till 8:00 pm 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. 

Classes will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm on Mondays, February 2, 9,16, and 23. The classes are freely given. Dana (donation of generosity as you are able) is welcome and encouraged. You can sign up here.

Introductory classes will be offered quarterly at IMFW. Introduction to Buddhism offered summer and winter and Introduction to Insight Meditation in spring and fall.

In difficult times, it’s even more important to call to mind the most fundamental teachings of the Buddha. Mindfulness of Breathing seems like a simple instruction that's easy to follow, but when reading the Sutta, one can become a bit confused by what can seem like obscure language that is no longer relevant for contemporary meditators.

The sixteen steps of the Ānāpānasati Sutta are a liberating practice that sometimes gets overlooked in its in-depth guide and precise instructions to calm the mind and realize the Buddha’s most profound insights. 

Tammy Dyer will lead a seven-week course that meets bi-weekly, based on Bhikkhu Anālayo’s book, Mindfulness of Breathing. The classes will meet every other Wednesday evening, from February 25, 2026 to April 8, starting at 6:00 pm to include time for instruction, meditation, and Q&A, wrapping at 7:30 pm.

To register click here. For more information contact Tammy at tamaradyer6@gmail.com.  It is recommended that students have completed an introductory course in The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, which includes the Introduction to Insight Meditation offered spring and fall at IMFW.