Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation?
Tuesday evening meditation sessions are “drop in”. Just show up! Note that the meditation starts right on time, so try to get there a few minutes early.
How can I learn to meditate?
See the Beginner’s Sessions page and the Online Info and Suggested Reading pages.
What happens at Tuesday sitting group?
Some people arrive early just to chat with friends and meet new visitors. Please remove shoes before entering the meditation hall. We begin with a bell to start the meditation session promptly at 6:00. Latecomers are asked to enter the room quietly and take a seat in the back of the room. Sometimes a few words are spoken or a chant is sung to guide the meditation, which lasts around 40 minutes. A bell is rung three times to end the meditation. We then receive a teaching and sometimes finish with a short discussion of the talk.
But I can’t sit in the Lotus position!
Neither can most of us. Members may sit in any way that is comfortable; on a cushion or bench or on straight back chairs that are provided.
Do I have to be a Buddhist to attend?
No. Insight Meditation is practiced by members of many traditions and often people find that it complements their own spiritual practice.
Is there a charge to attend?
There is no charge to attend. Dana is the Pali word for generosity. The teaching of generosity is one of the most fundamental of Buddhist practices that allows us to develop spiritually through contributing to the well-being of others. Free will offerings may be placed in the two dana (donation) boxes provided at the entry doors. One box helps with upkeep on our home, Sangha House, and the other is offered to the Dharma teacher for the evening.
What is Vipassana?
Insight Meditation, or Vipassanā, has been practiced since the time of the Buddha, 2500 years ago. It originates from the Theravada tradition, which is practiced primarily in Thailand, Burma, India, Sri Lanka, and other parts of Southeast Asia. Other streams of Buddhism are Mahayana, practiced mainly in China, Japan, and Korea; and Vajrayana, practiced mainly in Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Insight Meditation is the practice of cultivating a precise nonjudgmental attention, which can clearly experience the present moment. Often associated with Mindfulness Meditation, it supports the awakening of hearts and minds through the direct experience of the Buddhist path.
What is Pali?
Pali is an ancient language of the Indian Subcontinent that was first used to record the Early Buddhist Texts a few hundred years after the death of the historical Buddha. It is closely related to Sanskrit, a language that was used by later Buddhist traditions. “Dhamma” in Pali is “Dharma” in Sanskrit.