Mindfulness, Insight, and Compassion

‘Mindfulness’ is becoming such a commonly used term that its depth and liberating potential may be underestimated or misunderstood. The Buddha’s teaching on establishing mindfulness (the Satipatthana Sutta) invites us to cultivate mindfulness both ‘internally’ – a deep awareness of our inner experience, in order to cultivate liberating insight – and ‘externally’ – an open-hearted awareness of others, in order to cultivate an ethical and compassionate response. We will explore how together these can support our mindfulness practice so that it becomes, as the Buddha described it, a ‘direct path to awakening’.

• March 29 – Mindfulness Internally: Insight and Freedom
• April 5 – Mindfulness Externally: Compassion in Action

IMSB is privileged to host special guest speaker Jenny Wilks for a brief residency during which time she’ll be offering teachings on both Tuesday’s in Mountain View and Thursdays in Saratoga. She lives and teaches in England. You’ll find her biography on our Teacher’s Page.

Insight Meditation South Bay offers two weekly meditation groups—Tuesdays in Mountain View, and Thursdays in Saratoga.

This group meets every Tuesday evening for a sitting and Dhamma talk in Mountain View. 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.