Through the simple and direct practice of Insight Meditation, attention is given to our moment to moment experience in a caring and focused way. We learn to touch and connect with ourselves and life with an open, non-judgemental awareness. The practice nurtures calmness of mind and body, and enables us to see our experience more clearly. This clarity frees the mind from negativity, confusion and self- centredness, and leads to wisdom, ease and kindness.
With an enhanced awareness, limiting habits of thinking and acting lose their power, enabling us to participate and respond fully in our lives.
Seeing life as a constantly changing process, we can begin to accept pleasure and pain, fear and joy, and all aspects of life with increasing equanimity and balance. We learn to live with more harmony within the currents of life, reducing tension and anxiety, and allowing freedom and peace to emerge.
This practice originates in the teachings of the Buddha and is non-sectarian, open to all, of any religion or none. No acceptance of any belief system is required. Rather the practice emphasizes learning through our own direct experience.
Dana
Dana is a Pali word meaning gift or generosity (Pali is the language that the Buddha's teachings were originally recorded in). In the tradition of Insight Meditation, teachings are offered freely, the teachers receiving only voluntary donations from people who receive instruction. This continues an Eastern tradition established in the days of the Buddha where the monks and nuns received no payment for their guidance and depended solely upon donations of food, clothing, shelter and medicine. Similarly donations made to teachers allow them to continue making teachings of wisdom and compassion available.
Dana is a very beautiful and precious aspect of the dharma (teachings and practice). It supports the teachings being available to as many people as possible, and is born of a belief that they are in fact priceless, and no monetary value can be placed on them. If dharma practice is to take root and flower in the west then the culture of dana also needs to grow.