Thursday Evening Meditation & Talk:
Over the next month or so we’ll explore the Buddha’s teachings on four qualities of the heart that support us in our lives and practice, and can help us to cultivate an open heart. These four qualities, lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, are usually known as the Brahmaviharas or the four immeasurables. A resource that we’ll draw on for the talks and discussion is the book Boundless Heart: The Buddha’s Path of Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity by Christina Feldman.
After the 7:00 pm online meditation on Thursday, November 6, Chris will give a talk that will further explore the Buddha’s teachings on the nature of the self, including the way in which we identify with our roles to provide a sense of self, and also identify with several of the physical and mental processes that are fundamental in our experience of the world. The following Thursday, November 13, we’ll have an open discussion after meditation of our experience of the nature of the self in meditation and daily life. You can find resources with more information about the nature of the self HERE.
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Meditation Retreat with Debra Seido Martin on 11/8/2025
The Walla Walla Dharma Sangha will host a daylong Zen meditation retreat with Debra Seido Martin, Guiding Teacher of Zen West in Eugene, OR on Saturday, November 8, 2025. The retreat will be held at the Vista Hermosa retreat house, near Prescott, WA. Cost for the retreat is $ 25. This does not include dana (donation) for the teacher. Scholarships are available. This retreat will be appropriate for both beginning and more experienced meditators. It will include seated and walking meditation, dharma talk and sharing.
Online registration is open. The retreat is full, but you can ask to be added to the waitlist by contacting Ruth Russo:ruth4russo@gmail.com. She can take Venmo, checks, and cash. She will send a note back to those who register about payment and more details.
A carpool will leave for the retreat from the Tri-Cities. If you’re interested in the carpool, please send an email to insightmeditation.midcol@gmail.com
The title of the retreat is “Anchored in the Storm”
In the stable stillness of zazen, we put aside our ideas of how we think the world is supposed to be and meet the moment as it is, unvarnished and ungraspable. If we are attached to our fixed views, we are easily tossed about by life’s unpredictability. As we become more intimate with our experience, we discover a profound source of resilience, the ready energy of “yes” that moves from willfulness to willingness. It’s in that pivot where we leap beyond what blocks our full engagement and show up openhearted and empty handed ready to respond.
Seido Martin will also offer other events in Walla Walla, including:
On Friday, November 7th, Seido is offering an introductory class “Exploring the Path of Zen” 4:00-5:30 pm at Chris and Janaki’s house, 734 University Street, Walla Walla. For beginners, the curious, and anyone who would like some clarity on the practice they are currently doing. What is zazen and what is it pointing towards? All welcome and no charge. Please let Ruth know if you are interested: ruth4russo@gmail.com
There is also a talk by Seido planned for Sunday morning, 11/9, at Whitman College in Walla Walla, details will be provided in the next newsletter.
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Book Sale at All Saints Episcopal Church
All Saints Episcopal Church, where our in-person meditation sessions meet and where we hold meditation classes and retreats, is looking for donations for a book sale that will take place on November 7-8. Proceeds will benefit community organizations, including Grace Clinic and My Friends Place, as well as repairs and upgrades to the Church.
You can bring your donations to the church starting October 26th and leave them on the
long benches in the hallway by the entrance to the Parish Hall. The Church is located at 1322 Kimball Ave., Richland.
For the sale they are asking for:
- Books, hard cover and paperback, in good condition.
- Please, no text books, technical manuals, or encyclopedias.
- DVDs and CDs, but no video tapes.
- Jigsaw puzzles or board games in very good condition.
The book sale is Friday and Saturday, November 7th and 8th in the Parish Hall between 9:00 and 3:30 pm. All are welcome!
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Weekly Meditation Schedule:
In-Person Meetings:
Our in-person meetings take place at All Saints Episcopal Church, 1322 Kimball Avenue in Richland. Our in-person meditation meetings are offered on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. We meditate for half an hour, followed by an optional time for sharing and conversation after meditation. No problem if you just want to meditate and then leave.
The Wednesday morning in-person meditation on November 5 will be held in the Multipurpose Room of All Saints. See below.
Chairs are available in the meeting hall. However, if you prefer to use your own chair, blanket, cushion or bench, you are welcome to bring it. The meetings have recently moved indoors and meet in the Parish Hall at the rear of the church.
Those who regularly attend the in-person meetings have developed a masking policy for the times we meet indoors. The community levels of Covid will be checked each time we publish a newsletter. When community levels are low; masks will be optional. When community levels are medium or high, masks will be required. If there is any attending member that feels more comfortable with everyone masking, we will all mask in support of the most vulnerable among us.
Currently, the Covid community levels are low in Benton County; masks are optional on Saturday and Wednesday morning unless any participant feels more comfortable with everyone masking. Please bring a mask to all of the in-person sessions in case the meeting is moved indoors and there is an attending member with greater vulnerability.
We’re looking forward to welcoming some of you in person and being there online for others.
Online Meetings:
In addition to our in-person meetings we have three online meditations a week, on Wednesday morning, Thursday evening, and Saturday morning. The Zoom links for those meetings can be found on the Events Calendar. You’re welcome to join us online for any of the 3 meetings each week.
During the Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday online meetings, we “sit together” for meditation for half an hour. Meditations include guided meditations, meditations with some initial guidance and instruction, and silent meditations. The Wednesday morning meditation starts at 9:30 am, with half an hour of meditation, followed by half an hour of sharing. On Thursday evenings there is a talk or discussion and sharing following meditation. Meditation is from 7:30 until 8:00 pm, with the talk and discussion ending at about 9:00 pm. The Saturday morning meditation starts at 8:00 am, with half an hour of meditation followed by half an hour of sharing.
If you can’t or don’t wish to join the online sessions you can just meditate at the same time as we’re meeting and know that there are others from the group who are meditating with you.
We’re looking forward to welcoming some of you in person and being there online for others.
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Tri-Cities Cancer Center Meditation Support Group Meets Nov. 20th
We’ll continue our monthly mindfulness meditation support group meeting at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center in May. The Cancer Center is located at 7350 West Deschutes Avenue, Kennewick and the next meeting will be Thursday,11/20/2025. The sessions, which are held on the third Thursday of each month, are meant for cancer patients, cancer survivors, and their caregivers. The session will begin at 12:00 pm at the Cancer Center in the Fireside Room. If you have a serious illness other than cancer, or are a caregiver for someone who is ill, you’re welcome to attend the sessions. Each session includes a brief review of mindfulness and mindful self-compassion meditations and the role they can play in reducing the anxiety arising from diagnosis and treatment, an opportunity to ask questions, and the chance to practice meditation with others. Please contact Lorie MacIsaac to register for the support group session by email at Lorie.Macisaac@kadlec.org or call 509-737-3412.
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Volunteers at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center
The Insight Meditation group has supported Buddhist meditation groups at the state prison in Connell, WA since 2003. Those visits were on hold during the height of the pandemic but resumed last year. Currently we have two volunteers visiting the medium-security prison on Monday afternoons and we are seeking additional volunteers to support that effort, especially when our lead volunteer isn’t available.
There are several requirements for those volunteering at the prison. Orientation and training are required. Applicants also need to undergo a background investigation. Applicants with a criminal background need to be off of supervision or parole for a year before applying.
Those applying to volunteer should have a regular meditation practice and at least some knowledge of Buddhist teachings and be willing to learn more so that you can discuss Buddhist practice with the inmates. If you’re interested, please contact Chris Murray for more information about volunteering at Coyote Ridge.
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Online Donation Form for Insight Meditation of the Mid-Columbia
Please use our online donation form if you wish to contribute to the meditation group.
Warm regards and thank you for your support,
Insight Meditation of the Mid-Columbia