| | If you're into Dharma in my town you've got two choices: Shambhala and Korean Zen. I've tried both and, while they each have merit, neither one is my thing. Vipassana is what has always produced the most tangible benefits for me. Since there aren't any vipassana or Theravada groups here, I've decided to just go ahead and start one. My vipassana practice originated with Bhante G's Mindfulness In Plain English. That style of gentle samatha and polite attention to whatever arises was my main focus for years. Recently my practice has become much more informed by the Mahasi Sayadaw style of noting, as well as the teachings of Daniel Ingram, Kenneth Folk, and Vincent Horn.
I'm not a teacher; my goal with this group is to provide a place for people interested in insight meditation practices to sit together. It will be 40 minutes of meditation followed by a discussion or listening to a downloaded dharma talk. I've been assisted by an extremely kind benefactor who owns a holistic studio that offers Zen, yoga, dance, MBSR, and various other practices. He's offered me the space for free, as well as use of all the cushions. The group will be advertised and promoted on his website, newsletter, and in the local paper so hopefully it will turn into a real community of practitioners.
I'm in Lexington, KY and have decided to call the group "Bluegrass Dharma". I was originally going to subtitle it "An Insight Meditation Community," but am rethinking it. "Insight Meditation" as a phrase generally makes people think of the Spirit Rock/IMS group of centers. I'm not affiliated with them in any way and I don't want to misrepresent the group or mislead anyone at all. Also, I'd like the name to be open enough to reflect my newer influences whose practices may not strictly lie within the insight traditions.
What do you think? I'm considering substituting "practical" for insight, as in Bluegrass Dharma: A Practical Meditation Community. Ideas? Suggestions?
Thanks, all.
Purple |