New Code of Ethics and HEAR Council
We have included a suggestion on the website for many years that people try to observe some basic ethical practices suggested for the community of practitioners. Those suggestions, a Community Code of Ethics, are now more visible on the website. Following the practice of other Insight Meditation groups, we’ve also installed a more specific code of ethics called the Teacher Code of Ethics that is expected of those who hold a position of trust and responsibility in the community, including teachers, those who host meditation sessions, and those who host our outreach sessions at the Cancer Center and Coyote Ridge Correctional Center. You can find both of those codes of ethics described on our website Here: Code of Ethics
We have also installed a Healing, Ethics and Reconciliation (HEAR) Council that can respond to ethical concerns that might arise within our community. There are a set of Guidelines that describe how that process works, with an informal mediation process for resolving minor conflicts and complaints, as well as a formal grievance process to address more serious complaints. You can find more information on the HEAR Guidelines and Council here: HEAR Guidelines
These changes were made to enhance the level of safety felt by members of the community and to provide an avenue for discussion and resolution of ethical concerns that might arise. The changes reflect common practices in other Insight Meditation communities.
Changes on IMMC Board of Directors
We are very grateful for the many years of service by Mike Barnes on our board of directors. Mike decided this summer that he needed to step away from the position. We welcome Beth Clark as a new member of the board. Beth is a longtime meditator and participant in the IMMC community both in person and online. You can find more information about Beth and other members of the board of directors on our website: People
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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, October 9, Chris will give a talk on uncertainty and groundlessness, which can arise in our experience due to the profound impermanence of everything in life. We’ll explore ways of working with uncertainty that can help us relate with more ease to the fundamental uncertainty that we experience in life. The following Thursday, October 16, we’ll have an open discussion after meditation of our experience of uncertainty and impermanence in meditation and in our daily lives. You can find resources with more information about uncertainty and groundlessness below.
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Tri-Cities Cancer Center Meditation Support Group Meets Oct. 16th
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,10/16/2025. 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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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. Registration for the retreat will open in mid-October and will be conducted by the Walla Walla Dharma Sangha. More information about the retreat and the registration process will be provided in the next newsletter, and will be posted on our website once it’s available.
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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.
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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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.
Warm regards,
Insight Meditation of the Mid-Columbia