This Week's Events

Classes

Retreats

Welcome to Bellingham Insight

Bellingham Insight Meditation Society (BIMS) supports meditation and practice in the Buddhist Theravada tradition. We are a growing community and welcome guests, drop-ins, and visitors.

Insight meditation is a simple and direct practice, the moment-to-moment investigation of the mind/body process through calm and focused awareness. Learning to observe experience from a place of stillness enables one to relate to life with less fear and clinging. Seeing life as a constantly changing process, one begins to accept pleasure, pain, fear, joy and all aspects of life with increasing equanimity and balance. As insight deepens, wisdom and compassion arise. This practice is sometimes called "vipassana", which is a Pali word for insight.

News

July 24-26 Meditation Weekend with Heather Martin

During this weekend retreat at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall we will focus on the support of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha in aging, sickness and dying. Heather will discuss attitudes in support of living these experiences. The attitudes will include honesty, denial, positive thinking, fear, fearlessness, control, & trust. We will look at liberation, by the fire of these truths. There will be time for each participant to reflect on how they would like to be supported by their friends (in and out of the sangha) during times of illness or dying. We will explore some ritual and chants that may be helpful. Basic instruction will be given in sitting and walking meditation and there will be periods of silence. However, this weekend will have more reflection and discussion periods than many of our weekend retreats.

The weekeend begins with a dharma talk on Friday July 24 from 7-9 PM.The retreat will continue on Saturday and Sunday, July 25th & 26 from 9 AM –4 PM each day.

Cost: $25 for the weekend for BIMS pledge members, plus dana (donation) for the teacher.

$35 for non-members, plus dana for the teacher

Scholarships are available (contact the registrar).

Questions: Prentiss, the registrar, at 756-1359 or prentc@comcast.net

Directions: Directions and additional info will be emailed (or mailed) to you upon receipt of registration form & check

6/30/09

Sunday Afternoon June 28th with Ajahn Jayasaro

On Sunday, June 28th BIMS will be hosting an afternoon visit from Ajahn Jayasaro. Ajahn Jayasaro was abbot for many years at Wat Pa Nana Chat (Ajahn Chah"s monastery) in Northeast Thailand. This a rare opportunity and we are pleased that Ajahn Jayasaro will be able to be with us.

His dharma talk is titled "The Brahma Viharas: cultivating loving kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimiity in our practice."

No pre-registration is required. The talk will be at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall, 1021 N. Forest. Please come in time to seated in the Hall by 1 PM.

$5.00 per person is asked to cover the use of the meditation hall. There will also be an opportunity to offer dana for Ajahn Jayasaro.

6/16/09

Weekend Meditation June 13 & 14

The Bellingham Insight Meditation Society will host a Meditation Weekend on June 13 & 14.

Saturday, June 13, will be a full day of meditation from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with practice periods from 8-12, 1-4, and 5-8.

Sunday, June 14, will be a half day of meditation from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

All are welcome. We hope to see you there.

Please check the BIMS website calendar or the bulletin board in the Hall foyer for more details.

6/4/09

Prayer Wheel Art Benefit with Jeni Cottrell

SUNDAY JUNE 07, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Learn how to make a prayer wheel using copper wire and sheet metal.

This original design was created by Jeni Cottrell, who has been teaching wire work since 1993 and sitting with Bellingham Insight Meditation Society for many years.

$6 materials fee includes wire to finish project at home.

Suggested donation of $30-$60 will benefit the Red Cedar Dharma Hall.

Class is limited to 8 students.

Register with Jeni by calling 752-1904. You may make your donation and pay the materials fee on arrival.

5/30/09

Beginning Again: Introduction to Insight Meditation

Why do we meditate? What are the benefits? How do we do it? These are common questions that anyone curious about meditation may ask. And for those with a regular meditation practice, these questions are good to ask from time to time to freshen-up our intention. Several times a year BIMS offers an Introduction to Insight (vipassana) meditation class where meditation instruction is given and these questions are discussed. This is an opportune time for new and experienced practitioners to explore how meditation may fit into their life. Please consider joining us on Sunday Feb 22, 9 AM-3 at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall. Cost is by voluntary donation to the BIMS scholarship fund. Registration is recommended by contacting John at 360-758-7260 or e-mail John john@treefrogfarm.com

To see a class flyer: flyer

2/22/09

Residential Retreat with Heather Martin & Andrea Fella

Heather and Andrea will lead a residential retreat April 1-12 at Camp Samish,a rural retreat center south of Bellingham, WA. April 1-5 is suitable for all students. On Sunday April 5th, "experienced" students may continue on if they wish. "Experienced" means you have had some retreat experience, ideally several week-long retreats. From April 5-12 students will be expected to be more independent in their practice. There will be less structure in the schedule and less contact with the teacher. If you have any questions about your "experience", please contact the registrar.

Cost: $205.00 for 5-day;$560.00 for 12-day plus Dana to Teachers

For more information, contact the registrar Rem Ryals email: remthefem@yahoo.com

Phone (message) 360-647-3353

To see a flyer and registration form: flyer

2/21/09

The Saturday Sit-in - Beginning February 14th

The Saturday Sit-In is a full day (12 hours) of mindfulness at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall held one Saturday a month from 8:50 a.m. to 8:50 p.m. The schedule consists of morning, afternoon, and evening Practice Periods: alternating sitting meditation (45 minutes) and walking meditation (15 minutes). Each Practice Period begins with a short Dhamma reading.

It is our hope that these Saturdays will provide participants with a retreat-like experience. With this in mind, we would encourage you to spend the full day with. If full-day attendance is not possible, however, you are welcome to join the group for just one or two Practice Periods. We ask that you arrive only at the start of a Practice Period and remain until its end. Noble silence will be observed throughout the day.

There is no charge for this event and no pre-registration is required. It is led by the sangha of the Bellingham Insight Meditation Society, but we welcome members of any of the Buddhist practice groups as well as others from the community.

The hall will be open at 8:30 AM. Please plan for enough time so that we can get started at 8:50 AM.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact John Fries at jnfries@yahoo.com

1/28/09

January 9-11: Insight Dialogue Retreat with Gregory Kramer

Bellingham Insight Meditation Society invites new and experienced meditators to share a non-residential weekend retreat of Insight Dialogue. Insight Dialogue is a meditation practice that takes our practice of the Dharma into our relationships with other human beings. Gregory has dedicated himself to developing meditation practices that bring us into relation with each other while maintaining the awareness and stability of mindfulness. This gives us the opportunity to practice together in a way that can begin to free us from the suffering that we experience interacting with others. He has also developed a relational understanding of the Dhamma that keeps these practices grounded in the wisdom tradition.

Gregory Kramer is a meditation teacher, author, director of the Metta Foundation, and a visiting faculty member of the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Massachusetts. He has been teaching Vipassana and loving-kindness meditation since 1980. He is the co-creator and developer of Insight Dialogue and teaches the practice worldwide. He holds a PhD in ‘Learning and Change in Human Systems.

Schedule:

Friday Evening, 7-9 p.m. - Gregory"s talk is open to all. However, if you intend to come to the weekend retreat, the Friday evening talk is a pre-requisite, as Gregory will introduce the practice that evening, and build from there.

Saturday, 9-5 p.m. and Sunday, 9-4 p.m. – We will continue to practice Insight Dialogue interwoven with traditional, silent vipassana.

Retreat Cost: $25 BIMS dues-paying members, $35 non-members.

For information and to register, contact John Fries, email:

jnfries@yahoo.com phone: (360)325-8977.

To see and/or print a copy of the flyer and registration form:

flyer

12/9/08

BIMS board report and cookie eating - Tuesday Dec 2

The BIMS Board invites you to a meeting following our regular meditation on Tuesday, Dec 2nd. We"d like to tell you what we"ve accomplished this year as well as what we are working on for next year"s activities You may have heard that our rent has suddenly doubled and we"ll be discussing how this will affect our upcoming budget. We"re looking forward to hearing your ideas and will try to answer all your questions. We"ll also give you an update on which teachers might be able to lead retreats for us in the coming year.

As if this weren"t enough, GREAT Cookies and GREAT appetizers will be provided.

Best regards from the BIMS board,

Jean La Valley

Steve Hansen

Linda Booth

Caroline Kingsbury

Cindy Madigan (about to retire)

Gretchen Harsch and Karen Sheldon (about to join the board)

12/2/08

Bellingham Dharma Association Annual Meeting & Potluck

The Bellingham Dharma Association is the umbrella organization for 4 Buddhist meditation groups – Insight, Mindfulness, Shambhala, Zen.The potluck/meeting is a great place to talk with friends from all the traditions. All are welcome! Please bring food to share. Drinks, plates and silverware provided.

Saturday, November 15, 6 - 9 p.m. at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall, 1021 N. Forest St.

6:00 Potluck – Mingle & Munch

7:00 Meeting

Update on the status of the Bellingham Dharma Association

Hear what the local Sanghas are up to

New Association mission statement

Board of Directors nominations and election

Ideas for future projects

8:00 Sharing & Song

Music, poetry, inspiring quotes and readings – Bring what you’d like to share

11/15/08

Buddhism in Bellingham 2008

The Bellingham Dharma Association presents a series of 4 lectures by local Buddhist teachers focused on practical teachings from the Buddhist tradition. Talks will include a short guided meditation and a question and answer period. Everyone is warmly invited.

All talks will be held at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall, 1021 N. Forest Street, in Bellingham. A $5-$10 donations is suggested.

Family friendly: a quality children's program is available with Children's Art teacher Shelby Sneva. Suggested $5/child donation for the children's program. Please come early (doors open at 9:30am) to settle your child into the program.

Saturday October 11, 10:00am - 11:30am

Zoketsu Norman Fischer: "A Life Beyond Thinking, on Zen Meditation"

Saturday October 18, 10:00am - 11:30am

Paul Warwick, Bellingham Shambhala Center, "Buddha's Smile: the Battle Beneath the Bo Tree"

Sunday October 26, 10:00am - 11:30am (Note: this lecture is on Sunday.)

Nomon Tim Burnett, Red Cedar Zen Community, "The Practice of Serenity"

Saturday November 01, 10:00am - 11:30am

John Robinson, Bellingham Insight Meditation Society, "Happiness is Not What You Think"

For more information: www.BellinghamDharma.org or (360) 398-7008

10/23/08

Metta Meditation Retreat with Heather Martin October 22-26

Heather Martin will lead a residential retreat at Camp Samish from October 22-26. The focus of the retreat will be on Metta. Metta or Loving Kindness meditation attunes us to our natural and great capacity for connecting with and caring for ourselves and others. It is true friendliness. As we practice, we deliberately nurture our heart's spontaneous affinity for peacefulness and kindness, acceptance and forgiveness. Detailed instructions in various aspects of Metta (Loving Kindness) will be given, and the intertwining of the practices of Vipassana (Clear Seeing) and Metta will be explored.

This retreat is suitable for both new and experienced practitioners.

Cost: $195.00, plus Dana to Teacher

For more information or to get a flyer and registration form, contact the registrar Rem Ryals.

Email: remthefem@yahoo.com

Phone (leave message): 360-647-3353

10/22/08

Beginning Again: A day-long introduction to Insight Meditation - Saturday October 4th, 9AM- 3 PM

Vipassana meditation practice originates in the Theravadan tradition of the teachings of the Buddha, but anyone can gain benefit from the meditation practice, whether they are familiar with Buddhism or not.

This day-long class will include both discussion and practice. Four meditation objects will be taught: sitting, walking, eating and metta (kind-heartedness). Ideas on developing a home practice as well as ways of cultivating awareness in our daily activities will be included in the class. Time will be allotted for questions and discussion.

Location: Red Cedar Dharma Hall, 1021 N. Forest, Bellingham WA

Cost: voluntary donation to benefit BIMS

Lunch: tea provided; bring a simple lunch (or eat out in a nearby restaurant)

The class will be taught by John Robinson & Jean La Valley. John has been practicing Insight meditation since 1974 and teaching since 1989. He brings a deep reverence to the interconnectedness of all life to his practice. Jean has been practicing since 1980 and is part of the Community Dharma Leadership program through Spirit Rock Center- Insight Meditation West. She is interested in applying the dharma to the pleasures and dilemmas of daily life.

Pre-Registration Requested

Contact Jean La Valley, ajeanlavalley@yahoo.com or 676-9971

10/4/08

Dependent Co-Arising: a weekend of meditation and study with Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Thanssaro Bhikku (Ajaan Geoff) is returning to Bellingham the weekend of September 6-7 to lead a weekend of study and meditation. During this course we will explore dependent co-arising, an essential teaching of the Buddha’s, on the moment-to-moment process of the origin, sustaining and passing away of phenomena through the interdependent processes of cause-and-effect.

The course will be held at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall in Bellingham. The cost is $30 (BIMS pledge members) or $40 (non-members). For more information and a registration form, contact Caroline the registrar at 734-9903. Email: caroline@affoinfo.com

9/6/08

The Second Messenger: Dharma of Illness & Pain, a retreat on June 14th at Red Cedar Dharma

In traditional Buddhist teachings, the young Siddhartha met 3 messengers who inspired his spiritual journey: an old person, a sick person and a person who had died. All of us meet these messengers in one way or another. In this gentle one day retreat we will explore the second messenger: illness and physical pain. Is it possible to turn our physical difficulties into the ground of our awakening? How can we take care of our bodies and offer compassion for ourselves in meditation practice? What hard won wisdom can we offer each other?

This daylong retreat is offered to anyone with some Buddhist practice and grounding who has at least occasionally wondered if the dharma was failing them or they were failing the dharma as they lived with illness or pain. The day will include meditation, personal reflection, small and large group sharing and dharma talks.

The retreat will be led by Florence Caplow & Jean La Valley.

To see and/or print a copy of the flyer and registration form: flyer

Paper copies are available at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall in Bellingham. Contact the registrar Jean at jeanlavalley@comcast.net if you would like a paper copy mailed to you.

5/6/08

Residential retreat with Heather Martin & Mark Coleman

Heather Martin and Mark Coleman will be teaching at Camp Samish from May 17-24; both beginning and experienced students are invited to attend. Heather Martin will stay to lead the retreat from May 24-29 for those experienced students who wish to continue. "Experience" is defined as 50 retreat days or 5 one-week retreats in the vipassana tradition, and the approval of Heather Martin.

If you are interested but don't have enough experience on retreat, please contact Heather at hmartin@saltspringwireless.com to discuss your attendance.

Feel free to contact the retreat registrar with any questions: Eileen Andersen: eileen.andersen@gmail

To see and/or print a copy of the flyer and registration form: flyer

Paper copies are available at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall in Bellingham and on Samish Island. Contact the registrar Eileen at eileen.andersen@gmail.com if you would like a paper copy mailed to you.

3/26/08

Thursday noon meditation

Bellingham Insight is now hosting a Thursday noon meditation period at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall. Meditation begins at 12:10 PM and ends at 12:55 PM. All are welcome.

As a reminder: Everyone is invited to morning meditation: Monday-Friday mornings from 6:30-7:15 AM. Additionally, the Zen group hosts noon meditation on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:10-12:55. All are welcome.

3/18/08

Talk by Zoketsu Norman Fischer on Saturday March 1st

Zoketsu Norman Fischer will give a public talk entitled American Mystical Poetry. From ts eliot to his own work, with stops in between, Norman will read and discuss poetry that attempts to access the unspeakable words of the heart.

Norman's talk will be at 7:30pm at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1708 "I" Street, just up from Dupont St.

3/1/08

Feb 24th Half day retreat with Theravadan nuns

Saranaloka Foundation supports the siladhara (10-precept nuns) in the Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho on their teaching tours in the United States. Two of the nuns will lead a retreat on Sunday, February 24th from 1:30-6:00 pm at the Lakewood/Seward Park Community Club, 4916 South Angeline St, Seattle. The retreat will include guided sitting and walking meditation Dhamma dialogue, and informal tea with discussion on the subject of the possibility of a nuns'community in North America. The details can be found at saranaloka.org website under teachings: January-March and scroll down to the date.

2/19/08

Opening Ceremony: Red Cedar Dharma Hall this Wednesday January 23, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

All members, family and friends of the Bellingham Insight sangha are invited to join the Red Cedar Zen sangha for the "Grand Opening" of Red Cedar Dharma Hall. The Zen group's guiding teacher, Zoketsu Norman Fischer, will be in Bellingham for this event.The ceremony will be fairly short (30 - 40 minutes) and include processions, offerings, Dharma statements & thank yous. There will be a reception and social time after the ceremony.

1/20/08

"The big push" work weekend at Red Cedar Dharma Hall

Everyone is invited to work on our new dharma space this weekend. If you've been there on Tuesday evening or if you meditate in the morning, you already know what a lovely space this is. Imagine how nice it will be when the painting is finished and there are doors on the bathroom!

Come for the day or come for an hour; all effort is needed and appreciated.

Saturday Jan 12 10am - 4pm & Sunday Jan 13 10am - 2pm

Lunch provided on Saturday. Brown bag it on Sundays.

1/9/08

Work weekends at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall

Everyone is invited to work parties this weekend and next to work on our new dharma space. Come for the day or come for an hour; all effort is needed and appreciated.

Saturday, Jan 5 10am - 4pm & Sunday Jan 6 10am - 2pm

Saturday Jan 12 10am - 4pm & Sunday Jan 13 10am - 2pm

As we did in October the larger work party will be on the Saturdays. Sundays are quieter but offered for those who can't make the Saturday time. Projects will be painting newly sheet rocked walls, cleaning, trim carpentry, window washing.

Lunch provided on Saturday. Brown bag it on Sundays.

1/2/08

Moving Ceremony on Tuesday Jan 1st

New Year 5 Precept & Protection Cord Ceremony and Meditation: Moving into the Red Cedar Dharma Hall

On Tuesday, January 1 we will meet at 7 PM at the Shambhala Center (1101 State St.) to say our goodbyes to the old, then transport our belongings 1 block to RCDH, and join together in celebration for a New Year and new era for Bellingham Insight. Once we are welcomed into our new Hall, we will recite the 5 Buddhist precepts together through ceremony and meditation. Social and refreshments to follow.

to understand more about the ceremony you can check out www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/budethics.htm.

12/5/07

Social and Business Meeting

You are invited to the Annual Sangha Business Meeting and Social on Tuesday December 4th after meditation.

We will look at what's planned for the coming year AND how it will happen

**retreats and events for 2008

**discuss the proposed budget (how much will it cost to do what we want to do?)

**review what kind of help is needed to keep our programs going (committees, volunteers, etc)

**compare the various cookie delights that will be served

and?

We look forward to sharing our work and vision with you

Bellingham Insight Meditation Society board

Jean La Valley, Steve Hansen, Linda Booth, Caroline Kingsbury, Cindy Madigan

12/4/07

Morning meditation has moved

Morning meditation now meets at the Red Cedar Dharma Hall (the place we will be moving to in January). It's at 1021 N. Forest. Come in the front door and go down the stairs, which are on your left towards the back.

Time is unchanged: 6:30 - 7:15 AM

Our Tuesday meditation will continue to meet in the State Street building through December.

11/21/07

Regular Activities

-Tuesday Night Group Meditation

-Tuesday Night Programs

-Social Hour

-Book Club

-Dharma Talk

-Sutta Study

-Morning Meditation

-Thursday Lunchtime Meditation

-Weekend Meditation

-Orientation to Meditation