Thursday evening Info:
The Thursday night talks over the next couple of months will explore the Buddha’s first and most important teachings, on stress and suffering, the causes of stress and suffering, and the path that can lead to relief from them. A resource that we’ll draw on for the talks and discussion is Phillip Moffitt’s book Dancing with Life. We’ll also provide links to resources available on the internet. Go to Updated Resources on the website to access those links.
After the 7:00 pm online meditation on Thursday, 8/22/24, there will be a discussion of the ways in which we can practice letting go of the causes of stress and discomfort in meditation and in our daily lives. The following Thursday, 8/29, Chris will give a talk looking at the Buddha’s teaching that release from stress and suffering is possible by letting go of the causes of it (the third noble truth).
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Meditation Retreat on Saturday, August 24, 2024
Chris Murray will lead an Insight Meditation retreat on Saturday, August 24, 2024, from 9:00 am until 4:30 pm. The retreat will be conducted at All Saints Episcopal Church, 1322 Kimball Avenue, Richland, in the Parish Hall. Registration is now open for the retreat. Chris is the Guiding Teacher of Insight Meditation of the Mid-Columbia.
The topic for the retreat is “Exploring Four Boundless Qualities of the Heart“. This in-person retreat will explore lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, four qualities of the heart that we can learn to open to in meditation and daily life. These qualities are closely allied with mindfulness and support us in bringing awareness to whatever arises with an open heart.
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.
Fee for the retreat will be $10. Please use our online donation form to pay the retreat fee and leave a comment indicating that the donation is for the retreat on March 23. 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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Meditation Group Picnic on September 11th
We’ll hold a picnic for the meditation group on Wednesday, September 11, at Leslie Groves Park in Richland, from 5:30 pm till 7:00 pm. We’ll be in Shelter #1, the one closest to the river and volleyball courts, where we’ve held our picnics before (several years ago now!). We will provide: Table cloths, utensils (forks, knives, spoons), plates, napkins, cups, a big water jug, iced tea, lemonade, and a cooler with ice. Please bring a potluck dish to share and any utensils needed to serve it. You may also want to bring a folding chair. There is seating on benches in the picnic shelter, but additional seating may be needed. All participants in the meditation group are welcome to attend, even if you’re new or if you haven’t been participating in the last few years. Spouses, family, and significant others are also welcome. If you’re planning to attend, please RSVP to this email: [email protected].
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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 are held in the Parish Hall at the rear of the church.
Those who regularly attend the in-person meetings have developed a masking policy for when we meet indoors. When community levels of Covid 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.
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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Meditation Support Group Meets at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center
We’ll continue our monthly mindfulness meditation support group meeting at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, 7350 West Deschutes Avenue, Kennewick. The meeting will be on Thursday, 8/15/2024. 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 Wellness Center. 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.
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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