Description

Insight meditation, also known as mindfulness or Vipassana meditation, comes from the Buddhist tradition. It aims to free the mind from the distortions of self-centeredness, negativity, and confusion. Seeing life as a constantly changing process, one begins to accept pleasure and pain, fear and joy, and all aspects of life with increasing balance and equanimity. This balanced awareness, grounded in the present moment, leads to stillness and a growing understanding of the nature of life. Out of this seeing emerges wisdom and compassion.It is a moment-to-moment investigation of the mind and body process. Our experience is explored from a balanced and spacious awareness which allows the heart to flower in love. During these six weeks there will be meditation instructions, talks about the philosophy of the practice, homework assignments, and time for discussion and questions.This is a series of 6 classes meant to introduce the basics of Insight Meditation to beginners.  In each session Rodney Smith provides guided meditation instruction, homework to be done daily for a week, answers questions from students and introduces new concepts and techniques that build from previous sessions.Rodney Smith spent eight years in Buddhist monastic settings, both at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Massachusetts and during several years as a Buddhist monk in Asia. He ordained with Mahasi Sayadaw in Burma, then practiced for three years with Ajahn Buddhadassa in Thailand. He disrobed as a monk in 1983 and, after returning to the West, started working in hospice care and teaching Vipassana throughout the United States.More information here: http://seattleinsight.org