Insight Meditation Society
Encyclopedia
The Insight Meditation Society (IMS, formerly Insight Meditation Center) is a non-profit organization
for study of Buddhism located in Barre, Massachusetts
. It was founded in 1975, by Jack Kornfield
, Sharon Salzberg
, and Joseph Goldstein
, and is rooted in the Theravada
tradition. IMS meditation practices are based on the teachings of the late Burmese monk Mahasi Sayadaw
. Followers of Mahasi Sayadaw also have an insight meditation center in nearby Shelburne, Massachusetts. Its first retreat center in an old mansion in Barre, Massachusetts was opened on February 14, 1976.
It offers a full yearly schedule of more than 25 meditation courses, ranging in duration from a weekend to three months. Most retreats run for 7–9 days.
"Rains Retreat," or "Vassa," "Varshyana," is a basic practice for Buddhist monks. During the three-month retreat, monks seclude themselves and follow a tight regimen of meditation and dharma study.
Every year, the Insight Meditation Society runs a three-month course that has been called the "marathon of meditation". Save for triweekly interviews with instructors and nightly lessons, the retreatants observe full silence. In Theravada tradition, after lunch, they do not eat another meal, but are allowed snacks and drink tea (which is not accepted by many Buddhists as pure). The center's courses provide instruction and practice in insight (vipassana
) and/or lovingkindness (metta
) meditations. This practice is common to all Theravadin Buddhist centers, and is referred to as 'rains retreat' or Vassa (Varshana - 'rainy season' Sanskrit).
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
for study of Buddhism located in Barre, Massachusetts
Barre, Massachusetts
Barre is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,398 at the 2010 census.-History:Originally called the Northwest District of Rutland, it was first settled in 1720. The town was incorporated on June 17, 1774, as Hutchinson after Thomas Hutchinson, colonial...
. It was founded in 1975, by Jack Kornfield
Jack Kornfield
Jack Kornfield is a teacher in the vipassana movement of American Theravada Buddhism. He trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, Burma and India, including as a student of the Thai monk Ajahn Chah...
, Sharon Salzberg
Sharon Salzberg
Sharon Salzberg is a New York Times Best selling author and influential teacher of Buddhist meditation practices in West. She co-founded the Insight Meditation Society at Barre, Massachusetts with Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein, in 1974...
, and Joseph Goldstein
Joseph Goldstein
Joseph Goldstein is one of the first American vipassana teachers , co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society with Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg, contemporary author of numerous popular books on Buddhism , resident guiding teacher at IMS, and leader of retreats worldwide on insight and...
, and is rooted in the Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
tradition. IMS meditation practices are based on the teachings of the late Burmese monk Mahasi Sayadaw
Mahasi Sayadaw
The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw U Sobhana was a Burmese Theravada Buddhist monk and meditation master who had a significant impact on the teaching of Vipassana meditation in the West and throughout Asia...
. Followers of Mahasi Sayadaw also have an insight meditation center in nearby Shelburne, Massachusetts. Its first retreat center in an old mansion in Barre, Massachusetts was opened on February 14, 1976.
Overview
IMS offers Buddhist meditation retreats at two facilities – the Retreat Center and The Forest Refuge – in rural central Massachusetts. The Retreat Center is one of the two IMS centers in the United States. However, all Buddhist centers teach vipassana/vispashyana.It offers a full yearly schedule of more than 25 meditation courses, ranging in duration from a weekend to three months. Most retreats run for 7–9 days.
"Rains Retreat," or "Vassa," "Varshyana," is a basic practice for Buddhist monks. During the three-month retreat, monks seclude themselves and follow a tight regimen of meditation and dharma study.
Every year, the Insight Meditation Society runs a three-month course that has been called the "marathon of meditation". Save for triweekly interviews with instructors and nightly lessons, the retreatants observe full silence. In Theravada tradition, after lunch, they do not eat another meal, but are allowed snacks and drink tea (which is not accepted by many Buddhists as pure). The center's courses provide instruction and practice in insight (vipassana
Vipassana
Vipassanā or vipaśyanā in the Buddhist tradition means insight into the true nature of reality. A regular practitioner of Vipassana is known as a Vipassi . Vipassana is one of the world's most ancient techniques of meditation, the inception of which is attributed to Gautama Buddha...
) and/or lovingkindness (metta
Metta
Mettā or maitrī is loving-kindness, friendliness, benevolence, amity, friendship, good will, kindness, love, sympathy, close mental union , and active interest in others. It is one of the ten pāramīs of the Theravāda school of Buddhism, and the first of the four sublime states...
) meditations. This practice is common to all Theravadin Buddhist centers, and is referred to as 'rains retreat' or Vassa (Varshana - 'rainy season' Sanskrit).
External links
- Insight Meditation Society—Official website
- Audio talks from IMC—Dharma talks by Gil Fronsdal, Andrea Fella and other teachers at Redwood City, California
- Spirit Rock—Meditation center founded by Jack Kornfield and others in Marin County, California