A Taste of Freedom
Jon Aaron and Upayadhi
a day of practice

In spiritual freedom, we do not become free from events, but we become free within events. Circumstances lose their power to lacerate our minds. - Gavin Harrison

The Buddha’s Third Noble Truth tells us: there is freedom from suffering. Certainly, there have been times in our lives when we have momentarily tasted at least a glimpse of this freedom. The Buddha prescribed a path for a more enduring, if not permanent, liberation. This path is a profound prescription for how to live and, in so doing, create a world where freedom becomes possible for all.

Through cultivating wise view and intention, ethical living, and wise effort, mindfulness and tranquility, we begin to see the fruits of our practice. On this day of practice, through meditation, chanting, silence and community, will co-create a compassionate spaciousness to remind ourselves of what is already here, to reconnect with a taste of freedom that does not rely on circumstance or worldly matters. We will also explore the Buddhist teachings of non-harm and non-violence.

Interestingly, an unconditioned and liberated mind does require some basic material conditions. We can’t cultivate an unobstructed heart without what the Buddha called “requisites for practice.” Traditionally these include shelter, clothing, and access to food, clean water and medicine. In this spirit, we will be donating 20% of our proceeds to organizations offering humanitarian relief and working for lasting peace in the Middle East and the Congo.

What? A day of practice, alternating between sitting meditation, walking meditation, dharma talks, gentle movement, chanting, extended periods of silence, and a listening meditation circle.

A Day of Silence and Reflection - Yom Kippur
In person or Online
co-led with Elaine Retholtz
10am-7pm

Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement, a day when, as a community, Jews are asked to reflect on their actions of the past year and to ask for atonement for any actions that were unskillful. In support of this day, NYI hosts a day of silence and reflection.

This year New York Insight will continue the annual Yom Kippur tradition and it will be offered as a hybrid event.

There will be meditations focused on the idea of right action, the difference between guilt and remorse, the laws of karma, forgiveness, and lovingkindness. There will also be an opportunity for mindful discussion on the Buddhist perspective on atonement. All are welcome to join us in this exploration. The day will end with a symbolic break-fast.

Doors open at 9:30am. If you are participating via zoom, you will be able to login at
9:50 AM.

Pre-registration is required. Please note the NY Insight COVID Protocol for In-Person Programs.

This daylong retreat is a dana (donation) based event, with donations being directed to New York Insight and the Buddhist Global Relief Fund.Thank you for your generosity!

Co-Taught with Amy Selzer and Nancy Glimm

Recollecting Our Good Qualities Before We Die

As a final daylong in this series on living with the nature to die, we will take the time to explore our best qualities. This reflection is so important though many of us need the reminder to do it.

We will spend time identifying and discovering the causes and conditions that support our good qualities. The Buddha spoke of two superheroes that protect the world. These are Hiri, conscience or postive shame, and Ottappa, concern for the results of our actions. Looking at these two qualities, we will observe our personal sense of integrity, and our understanding of what is wholesome and unwholesome.

We will look at other supports as well such as the refuges, precepts, fierce friendships and more. The day will include a writing exercise, movement, meditation both sitting and walking, break-out rooms, dharma talks and sharing.

All levels of practice are welcome. Why wait, let’s practice now!

This is an opportunity for a more extended practice to go deeper and explore what happens in a sustained setting with the support of the community.
There is a “breakfast practice” between 8:40 and 9:15am. 

No Registration required.
Join the Retreat by becoming a Supporting Member or sign up for a 30 Day Pass
Includes the Retreat and all other offerings!
Suggested donation for the Retreat: $15/$30/$45
No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

!

This is an opportunity for a more extended practice to go deeper and explore what happens in a sustained setting with the support of the community.
There is a “breakfast practice” between 8:40 and 9:15am. 

No Registration required.
Join the Retreat by becoming a Supporting Member or sign up for a 30 Day Pass
Includes the Retreat and all other offerings!
Suggested donation for the Retreat: $15/$30/$45
No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

!

This is an opportunity for a more extended practice to go deeper and explore what happens in a sustained setting with the support of the community.
There is a “breakfast practice” between 8:40 and 9:15am. 

No Registration required.
Join the Retreat by becoming a Supporting Member or sign up for a 30 Day Pass
Includes the Retreat and all other offerings!
Suggested donation for the Retreat: $15/$30/$45
No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

!

co-led with Elaine Retholtz

This year, New York Insight will continue the annual tradition of A Day of Silence and Reflection for Yom Kippur. As an act of care and compassion for our fellow practitioners during these times it will be offered as an online event.

While this will be a full day of contemplation, meditation and community, we are sensitive to “Zoom fatigue”. Guidance will integrate on-line community practice with self-guided “off-line” practices throughout the day. An hour-by-hour schedule will be available for all who are attending. There will be opportunities for small group discussion and a virtual break-fast at the end of the day.

Yom Kippur is a day when the Jewish community is called to reflect on their actions of the past year. Jews and non-Jews are invited to join the sangha as we meditate on right action, the laws of karma, forgiveness and loving-kindness. We consider the impact of Hiri and Ottappa (positive shame and “moral dread” ie losing the respect of those we hold dear) on our actions, practice the Jewish confessional of the Vidui, and offer love to those who we have lost. It is an opportunity to celebrate the potential in all of us to live a life free of unwholesome actions and embody the qualities of generosity, compassion and wisdom.

All are welcome to join us in this exploration. While we can’t share a break-fast in person, we encourage you to join us in a ceremonial, virtual break-fast at the end of the day.

This a full day of practice for current MBSR alumni. The theme will be around self-compassion, forgiveness and gratitude. A great opportunity to turn off your digital devices and re-charge your meditation batteries !

Registration Fee: $45.00  (scholarships available) . Registration will be available soon!

“For one who is awake, whose mind isn’t overflowing, whose heart isn’t afflicted and who has abandoned both merit and demerit. Fear does not exist”. -From the Dhammapada

If we aren’t practicing meditation to wake up, then why are we bothering? What does waking up really mean? What are we waking up from or to? There is a Buddha in each of us waiting to wake up to a life without fear even in a world with much to be fearful of.

In this day of practice, we will explore wise effort, wise mindfulness and wise concentration and the obstructions to our freedom. We will practice directly with some of the Buddha’s teachings on freedom and investigate how to integrate these into every moment of our lives.

This Daylong is appropriate to meditation practitioners of all levels. Everyone is welcome.  

The Buddha taught of suffering and the end of suffering but for those with physical pain, particularly chronic physical pain, this end of suffering seems like it might never happen.

This day of practice will focus on physical pain and how mindfulness practice and some specific Buddhist teachings can open up a pathway to freedom through our pain.

Many of the practices will be from the teachings of Vidyamala Burch, author of “You are Not Your Pain” and founder of Breathworks in the UK. Jon is a certified Breathworks instructor as well as a Certified MBSR Teacher and Teacher Trainer, and a regular dharma teacher at NY Insight and has worked often to help people with pain and illness.

This program will include some mindful movement specifically geared toward those with physical pain or other physical challenges. Participants can be experienced meditators or totally new to meditation.

A Day of Practice hosted by South Ocean Sangha

Mindfulness is a quality of mind most directly cultivated through meditation and through learning to turn toward our moment to moment experience with open hearted curiosity.  As mindfulness is established, Insight into the true nature of life is clearly seen and  the compassionate heart can naturally arise.   Compassion itself can be a doorway to Insight as Mindfulness brings curiosity to the obstructions to the compassion heart as they arise.

This day of practice will look at how we can bring these three qualities into fruition to be fully engaged in life.

 For Information write: info@southoceansangha.org

What is the relationship between mindfulness (Sati) and Insight (Vipassana)? In this day of practice, we will explore the factors of mindfulness and the practice of investigation and how these efforts lead to both insight and tranquility.

What are we talking about when we speak of insights in the meditative context? A strong key is found in the Seven Factors of Awakening which starts with Mindfulness. The teaching on the Seven Factors is a key to our own individual awakening and consequently the awakening of the society we are part of.

In this Daylong, we will explore the concept of meditation, how it leads to insight and what concepts support us in our meditation practice. This program is open to meditators of all levels.

Meditating in Nature-  Hiking and Swimming

Saturday April 21,
depart New York: 8:15AM  return 6:30 PM

This is part of an ongoing series, co-led with Lin Gorden through New York Insight.
For more details:

Kraeme Center
Trustees Pavilion
Ramapo College, Mahwah, New Jersey

A half-day of practice for those interested in refreshing their meditation practice and taking a brief vacation from their digital devices.  There will be instruction in sitting and walking meditation and a talk on the value of stillness.