Thursday evening Info:
Over the next couple of months we’ll explore the Buddha’s teachings on the Eightfold path that leads to the end of stress and suffering. A resource that we’ll draw on for the talks and discussion is the book Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness by Bhante Gunaratna. We’ll also provide links to resources available on the internet (see Updated Resources).
This week, after the 7:00 pm online meditation on Thursday, 2/20/2025, there will be a discussion of wise effort as an aspect of the spiritual path. The following Thursday, 2/27/25, there will be a brief open discussion after meditation.
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Meditation Retreat on Saturday, March 15, 2024
Chris Murray will lead an Insight Meditation retreat on Saturday, March 15, 2024, from 9:00 am until 4:30 pm. Registration is now open for the retreat.
The retreat will be conducted at Shalom UCC, 505 McMurray Street, Richland, in the Fellowship Hall. Chris is the Guiding Teacher of Insight Meditation of the Mid-Columbia.
The topic for the retreat is “Exploring the Relationship Between Calming Meditation and Insight Meditation”. This in-person retreat will explore several forms of meditation that contribute to calming the body, heart, and mind. We will then explore the way in which calmness supports the practice of insight meditation, with the goal of seeing clearly into the nature of our hearts and minds and finding relief from stress and suffering.
The retreat will consist of a mix of stationary meditation and movement meditation with instruction and a Dharma talk and will be suitable for beginners and experienced meditators. To register for the retreat, please send an email to Tim Barbour at [email protected].
Fee for the retreat will be $10. Please use our online donation form to pay the retreat fee (https://donorbox.org/support-insight-meditation-society-mid-columbia) and leave a comment indicating that the donation is for the retreat on March 15. The fee will be waived for those who can’t afford it, please send an email to Tim Barbour if you’d like to request a scholarship. Those who are registered for the retreat will receive an email the week of the retreat with additional information.
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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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Tri-Cities Cancer Center Meditation Support Group Meets Feb. 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, 2/20/2025. 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 on 6/20 by email at [email protected] 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.
Warm regards,
Insight Meditation of the Mid-Columbia