Monday Open Practice Period

Mon 12/03/18 - 10:00am to 1:00pm

This is an opportunity for experienced students to come and meditate with others in a relaxed and open way.  There are no teachers giving instructions and no bells are rung. A senior sangha member will be there to open and close the building. Participants are encouraged to do sitting meditation and/or walking meditation in an unstructured setting.  We request that this period be devoted to only meditation and ask that you not read or write during this time. There is no registration and no fee; Donations are always welcome.  Not suggested for new meditators.

Monday Evening Silent Meditation

Mon 12/03/18 - 7:00pm to 7:45pm

This drop-in sitting meditation is offered in the simplicity of silence without instruction. An ending bell will be rung by a practice leader. No registration.  No fee; donations are always welcome.  Not suggested for new meditators.

Tuesday Morning Silent Meditation

Tue 12/04/18 - 7:45am to 8:30am

This drop-in sitting meditation is offered in the simplicity of silence without instruction. An ending bell will be rung by a practice leader. No registration.  No fee; donations are always welcome.  Not suggested for new meditators.

Intermediate Drop-In Class - With Ted Jones

Tue 12/04/18 - 7:00pm to 8:30pm

This class is for those students who have completed the Beginner's Practice Group Level II course at IMCN or who have sat a full day retreat at IMCN or another Center. The class will include a 45 minute sitting and 15 minutes of walking meditation. This will be followed by the opportunity for questions and a facilitated peer discussion. For early arrivals, the meditation hall will be open for additional practice beginning at 6:30 pm. There is no registration or fee for this drop-in class, although donations are gratefully accepted.

Read About Ted Jones

Wednesday Open Practice Period

Wed 12/05/18 - 10:00am to 12:30pm

The Open Practice Period is available for experienced students who need no instruction.  IMCN is open to use for silent sitting and walking meditation practice and use of library.  You may arrive and leave at any time.  Total silence is kept in the building and on the grounds during this period.  No bells will be rung.  No fee; donations are always welcome.  This is not suitable for beginners.

Shamatha and Vipassana: Calm and Insight (13 weeks: 9/5-12/12)(registration closed) - With Matthew Daniell

Wed 12/05/18 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

In this 13 week course we will explore for ourselves the Buddha’s two-step approach to awakening known as Shamatha and Vipassana, or Calm and Insight.  We will be asked to experientially work with these questions: What meditation practices and other life skills do we use to cultivate a nourished, calm and steady heart and mind (Shamatha)? How does calm lead to clear seeing (Vipassana) and letting go?  Does clear seeing lead to calm?  When calm and insight are balanced do we find that they are naturally unified, and need not be separated? 

The goal of this practice group is to grow our ability to use these different attentional capacities based on learning what approach is most skillful in any given situation. This creates the condition where we may discover new and rewarding ways of being in the world and in ourselves, experiencing the transformative power that is at the heart of the Buddha’s approach to meditative living; Shamatha-Vipassana.

You must be pre-registered to attend.  This is a 13 week class that runs from 9/5-12/12 (no class on 10/17 & 11/21). There are no drop-in classes.

Thursday Morning Silent Meditation

Thu 12/06/18 - 7:45am to 8:30am

This drop-in sitting meditation is offered in the simplicity of silence without instruction. An ending bell will be rung by a practice leader. No registration.  No fee; donations are always welcome.  Not suggested for new meditators.

Introduction to Insight Meditation (7 week series - 10/25-12/13) (registration closed) - With Ted Jones

Thu 12/06/18 - 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Insight meditation is a time tested method of mind training that enables us to change our relationship to each moment’s experience, and thus our lives. In this seven week series we will systematically explore how to calm and steady the mind and see with more clarity into our lives.  As we strengthen this capacity we begin to move from suffering and reactivity to responsiveness, freshness and ease.  We learn to touch and live in the mindful moment.  Although this series is designed for beginners, all are welcome and students may choose to repeat this series as new material will be introduced each time.

This class series runs from 10/25-12/13 (no class on 11/22)

Loving Kindness for the Holidays (followed by optional Holiday Potluck Lunch) - With Matthew Daniell

Sat 12/08/18 - 9:30am to 12:30pm

The Dalai Lama said that “love is a not a luxury, but a necessity,” yet in our hearts, we often do not feel love for ourselves or others and we bear the painful consequences.  In this 1/2 day retreat, we will explore time tested Buddhist practices which tap the power of intention through offering phrases of loving kindness (Metta) to ourselves and others. When cultivated, loving kindness practice helps us to heal our own hearts by loving ourselves more deeply.  It can also help us touch those in our lives and the world with a deeper sense of love and connection.  Touching love for ourselves and others can be especially helpful during the holiday season with all of its inherent stresses. All are welcome.

NOTE:  Following this workshop IMCN will be having their annual Holiday Potluck Lunch at 12:30pm.  This is an optional lunch to be held after the workshop.  Please don't worry, if you don't like to cook you can bring something from the store!  Around 2:00pm we will move into the Meditation Hall for a reflections on compassion from Matthew Daniell, and community sharing of this past year.  

Join us for this wonderful December ritual!  All are welcome! There is no fee for the potluck and reflections (only the workshop itself has a registration fee), but kindly RSVP if you plan on attending at meditate@imcnewburyport.org

Holiday Potluck Lunch, Dharma Talk & Community Sharing

Sat 12/08/18 - 12:30pm to 3:00pm

IMCN enjoys an annual potluck every December, giving us a chance to visit with one another and make some new friends within our meditation community. At 12:30pm we will gather for a potluck lunch which was preceded by the half day retreat ‘Loving Kindness for the Holidays’.  Please don't worry, if you don't like to cook you can bring something from the store!  Around 2:00pm we will move into the Meditation Hall for reflections on compassion from Matthew Daniell, and community sharing of this past year.  

Join us for this wonderful December ritual.  All are welcome! There is no fee for the potluck and reflections, but kindly RSVP if you plan on attending at meditate@imcnewburyport.org, and also please let me know what you'll be bringing!