Insight Meditation in the Buddhist Tradition

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to this sitting group.  If we have not yet met, my name is Jonathan Reynolds.  This sitting group is composed of new and old students to meditation - each wishing to practice and embody the twin principles of wisdom and compassion in their life.  Whatever the reason for your curiosity, again, welcome.

The intention of this sitting meditation group is three-fold.  First, it is an introduction to the practice of insight (vipassana) meditation in the Buddhist tradition.  Second, this group acts as a place for practitioners with past meditation experience to sit regularly in mindful community - a group of ongoing friends and friendships have grown around this group's regularity.  Lastly, for all of us, these meditations are an opportunity to pause, reflect, and to notice the passing of our previous week's duties and concerns, and to skillfully recharge and prepare for the days and week to come.

Each evening will begin with a bit of instruction in the practice of seated meditation, and this instruction will help ground and inform our group's 40-minute silent seated meditation.  Following the meditation there will be an open forum for discussion, reflection, sharing, and questions.

Our time together will be guided primarily by Buddhism's Four Foundations of Mindfulness – body, sensations, thoughts/emotions, and dharmas.  At times our meditations will also be informed by Buddhism's Brahma Viharas (Heavenly Abodes) - loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity.  You need not be a Buddhist to attend, as these practices appear in one form or another in all great wisdom traditions.  Also, if you find it difficult to sit on the floor for any duration, please feel free to bring what you think you may need: meditation cushion (zafu), meditation bench, or chair.  If you enjoy physical yoga, vipassana meditation can be an excellent platform to deepen and mature our practice.

Let us sit for a bit.

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NOTE: Jack Kornfield has touched my practice and teaching more directly than perhaps any of the numerous teachers that I have studied with.  If you are familiar with Jack's teaching, I trust you will also find much that is familiar in my offerings - I've been told that both his words and voice are recognizable in my teaching, and I consider this an expression of my deepest gratitude for his wisdom and work.