Thursday Evening Meditation & Talk:
Over the next couple of months we’ll explore several mental and emotional habits that can interfere with meditation and mindfulness in daily life. They include greed, aversion, sloth, anxiousness and worry, and doubt. These hindrances can make life and meditation difficult. We’ll take a look at ways to work with them, emphasizing compassion and kindness rather than attacking them as “bad” habits or states of mind. We’ll provide links to resources available on the internet for these topics.
After the 7:00 pm online meditation on Thursday, June 4, 2026, Chris will give a talk on anxiety, which is associated with the hindrance of restlessness and worry. We’ll look at the differences between worry and anxiety, how anxiety can become a habitual response to the uncertainty of life. We’ll talk about some approaches to loosening and unraveling our anxiety, including some of the approaches suggested by Dr. Jud Brewer, and also the practice of self-compassion for the anxiety. The following Thursday, June 11, we’ll have an open discussion of our exploration of anxiety. Please visit our Updated Resources page for more information about anxiety and ways in which mindfulness and related practices can help us let go of the habit of anxiety.
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IMMC Financial Report
12-1-2025 to 5-31-2026
The meditation group has been well supported over the last six months, with total expenses almost equal to donations to the meditation group over the period from December 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026. During that time we’ve received total donations (dana) of $2,356.09, and our total expenses have been $2,492.97, for a net difference of -$136.88. The Communications expenses of $920.39 include annual hosting and domain registration fees for our website and the fee for our Zoom licenses to host the online meditation sessions. The Miscellaneous expense was for the annual subscription to Quicken for the IMMC Treasurer. Our largest expense was for donations to All Saints’ Episcopal Church during the six-month period of $1,475. All Saints’ does not charge us rent for the use of their Church, but we make donations to them in lieu of rent.
Our expenses have risen over the last year, primarily due to increases in website hosting and Zoom license fees, but our donations have increased to nearly cover those expenses. We’re grateful to those that have contributed to the meditation group, whether online or in person at meditation classes or retreats. We’re especially grateful to those members who make monthly online contributions and those who have made significant donations from their retirement accounts. Insight Meditation of the Mid-Columbia is registered as a church with the IRS, so contributions to the meditation group are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. If you’d like more information on how to donate to the meditation group, please visit our Donations page.
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Beginning Meditation Classes Start July 12, 2026
We will begin a series of beginning meditation classes on July 12, 2026 that will run through August 9, 2026. The classes will be on Sunday afternoons from 1:30 pm until 3:00 pm in the Parish Hall of All Saints Episcopal Church, 1322 Kimball Avenue in Richland. There is no charge for the classes; donations are accepted. Registration for the classes is now open.
Please send an email to insightmeditation.midcol@gmail.com to register for the classes.
The five classes are intended to work together to provide an introduction to meditation for those new to meditation or serve as a useful “touchstone” for more experienced practitioners. You are welcome to attend any or all of the classes, especially if you’ve taken one or more of the classes before. Each class can be a stand alone class, and will focus on a different topic.
The classes will be taught by Chris Murray, guiding teacher of Insight Meditation of the Mid-Columbia, and Fabiola Robinson, a new meditation teacher with the IMMC.
The dates and topics for the class series are:
July 12 – Introduction to Mindfulness and Mindfulness of the Breath
July 19 — Mindfulness Meditation and the Body
July 26 — Mindfulness of Thoughts and Emotions in Meditation
August 2 — Compassion & Loving Kindness Meditation Practices
August 9 – Insight Meditation and Open Awareness
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Upcoming Meditation Retreats
Two meditation retreats and associated talks have been scheduled for this summer. All events will take place in Richland, in person.
Chris Murray, guiding teacher of IMMC, will offer a talk and meditation the evening of August 14, 2026, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm, and a meditation retreat on Saturday, August 15, from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. Registration for this retreat will open in mid-July.
Keri Pederson, Senior Teacher at Seattle Insight Meditation Society (SIMS), will offer a talk and meditation on Friday, September 11, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm. She will also offer a retreat the following day, September 12, from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Keri will be assisted by Temira Lital, a Local Dharma Leader with SIMS. The retreat will open for registration in mid-August.
More information, including topics and exact locations, will be provided later.
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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 9:00 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 June 18th
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,6/18/2026. 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