Meditation in Hard Times

Dealing with stress, life transitions, traumas, and tragedies

A guest speaker series

Tuesdays July 16 – August 20, 2019

7:30 pm to 9:00 pm

No one’s life is free from difficulties. We may experience chronic pain, lose loved ones, change jobs or homes, survive a natural disaster, or suffer a physical attack. Events like these can be experienced as so traumatic that they challenge our ability to meet them with dignity.

This speaker series will explore perspectives and practices for dealing with the most difficult life experiences. The series is appropriate for people who are currently working through difficulties, as well as those who recognize the importance of preparing the mind to deal skillfully with potential future challenges.

• July 16 — Taking the Problem Out of Pain, with Shaila Catherine
• July 23 — Illness as a Doorway to Freedom, with Nikki Mirghafori
• July 30 — Realizing Resilience, with Diana Clark
• August 6 — Dukkha as a Chronic Illness, with Tony Bernhard
• August 13 — Every Day is a Gift, with Misha Merrill
• August 20 — Community Panel Discussion

This series is appropriate for newcomers as well as experienced practitioners. Each evening includes silent or guided meditation, a break, and teachings.

Please visit our Teachers Page for biographies and photos of our speakers.

Insight Meditation South Bay offers two weekly meditation programs. On Tuesdays, we meet in Mountain View for our drop-in weekly program of meditation and teachings.  On Thursdays, we meet in Saratoga for our Dhamma Classroom, which offer a series of structured courses with registration, and periodic drop-in practice events.

Our Tuesday evening program usually includes a sitting meditation and Dhamma talk. The principal teacher is Shaila Catherine and guest speakers are featured regularly. Thematic series are periodically presented, but whether or not a topic has been advertised in advance, Shaila or a guest teacher will lead the sitting and offer teachings. See also weekly sitting.

Newcomers are always welcome. To help newcomers get acquainted with mindfulness meditation and IMSB, a senior member or teacher offers a beginner’s orientation beginning at 6:30 on the first Tuesday of each month.

IMSB relies upon the generosity of participants to support our teachers and cover organizational expenses. Dana is a word in the ancient Pali language that describes donations, offerings and generosity. Two bowls will be available at an event to practice dana for the teacher and IMSB. We encourage you to give joyfully and generously, according to your resources and means. IMSB is a 501(c) (3) organization. All donations are tax deductible as permitted by law.