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Vipassana / Insight Meditation |
Insight or Vipassana meditation is the simple practice of
observing one’s direct experience in this very moment, with a gently
relaxed, open and careful awareness. By learning to be present
with this attitude, we are able to access our natural qualities –
a spacious calm clear mind; a warm and peaceful heart. Life is experienced as a constantly changing process, and all its aspect: pain, fear and joy, can be accepted with increasing balance.
As our
practice takes root, the fruit it bears is in finding that we respond
to the inevitable joys and sorrows
of life with increasing sensitivity, stability and kindness.
This central teaching of the Buddha has been practiced continuousy throughout South East Asia for over 2,500 years.
Metta or Loving Kindness meditation
cultivates connecting with and caring for ourselves and others.
It is true friendliness. We can deliberately nurture our heart's
natural capacity for peacefulness and kindness, acceptance and
forgiveness.
These practices intertwine and are mutually supportive.
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The Salt Spring Vipassana Community is dedicated to the teachings of the Buddha as presented in the Theravadan tradition, and is led by our resident
Dharma teacher, Heather Martin. We meet weekly on Wednesday evenings to
practice together at The Gatehouse 190 Reynolds Road, Salt Spring Island. We
host intensive
practice periods (retreats) from time to time. We are now offering three week-long retreats a year: one in August, one over New Year’s Eve , and one in the Spring Break for Experienced practitioners. We also host three residential weekend retreats a year, and some day longs (always a Sunday). |
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Wednesday night meditation at the Gatehouse |
We meet every Wednesday night from 7:30 to 9:00 pm at the Gatehouse, and invite you to join us.
Our understanding of the dharma, and of our practice is explored, either in the form of a dharma talk, questions and answers and/or discussion. We practice for a 45 minute period of silent meditation. Occasionally there are brief meditation instructions.
The group is led by local teacher Heather Martin, or by one of our sangha members when Heather is teaching a retreat elsewhere.
There is no charge for attending. However there is a basket for Stowel Lake Farm, and the requested contribution is $5:00 per MONTH. There is also a basket for your contributions to support the teacher. Please read the DANA section below. Thank you.
For those interested in combining yoga and meditation there is a
mindful yoga class before the sitting from 6:15 to 7:15 pm led by
Patricia Galaczy. This class is designed to prepare you for the
stillness of sitting practice and is by donation.
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Our retreats are spent in silent meditation practice, with alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation. Offered each day are instructions; either individual or small group discussions with the teacher, and a dharma talk. The combination of silence, support and assistance, provides an extremely beneficial environment for developing meditation practice. The momentum of hours of
quiet, without distractions or responsibilities, allows the heart to
release its guard and access levels of peace and tenderness not usually
accessible to us. As the busy mind calms down, it settles and becomes clearer and brighter,
revealing glimpses into the simple yet deep truths of all nature, and
our own hearts. When experienced for ourselves these insights are
transformative and liberating.
These retreats are generally suitable for both experienced and beginning meditators.
(See Retreats Page for more information.)
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Dana (generosity) is intrinsic to the 2,500 year old tradition of the Buddha Dhamma. We maintain the tradition's custom of not placing a monetary value on the teachings. Our teachers receive no compensation from any of your retreat fees - these cover retreat expenses and use of the Gatehouse and Stowel Lake Farm only. However, in order to maintain a livelihood from sharing the teachings of the Buddha, our teachers rely on your generosity.
Please consider the opportunity of being able to give, a blessing the
Buddha emphasized as the primary practice for cultivating a good
heart.
There is a Dana basket on Wednesday nights, and also on the last day of each retreat.
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