Dear IMFW Community

The IMFW book study group this year read Listening to the Heart: Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism, by Kittisaro and Thanissara. I have found it to be a profoundly beautiful book that is luminous in clarity and depth. It's both a memoir and guide to practice that has provoked inspiring discussion in the group and deepened my practice in many ways. This husband-and-wife team are able to cut through the jargon often used by teachers by using personal examples of their dharma life unfolding to help the reader make the unconscious conscious.

The first development of mindfulness directs us to establish mindfulness of body. The Buddha encouraged us to begin with the body when he told us: (translated) 'in this fathom long body, I make known the world. Its arising, its ceasing and the path leading to its cessation.' When we see the body as a bundle of pleasant and unpleasant sensations that help us get in touch with the body's intelligence, we begin to see the symbiotic relationship of body and mind. And as we tap into old beliefs, opinions, assumptions and expectations that are the forerunner of likes and dislikes, pain and suffering, the path of liberation from suffering slowly emerges.

Thanisarra explained, "The choices we make, and the lives we lead, are influenced by the subliminal, ancestral messaging we inherit on a cellular level. The past haunts us in ways we sometimes don’t see, passing on unresolved disturbances to future generations....Our wounds are not shameful things, but catalysts for personal and collective transformation. The wounding of the "soul” is something we all inherit and yet, with the power of wise reflection and loving awareness, we can extricate our life force from redundant and dysfunctional beliefs." Having finished reading Listening to the Heart for the first time, I feel quite certain I will return to the wisdom of their teachings time and time again. But right now, I experience peace and an open heart with the motivation to ease my own suffering and the suffering of others. And to strengthen that intention, I have been motivated to write the following aspirations:

May I meet this moment with my highest humanity
May I face what is difficult and hurting in both self and others with love
May I rise to what is beautiful and life-giving and grow alongside others.

With love and gratitude for your practice,

A bit of loosening up with yoga before a session of meditation can make a still posture more available. Coming into a focused state with tai chi may prepare one for calm attention before settling into a cushion or chair. So, before the Sunday morning meditation sessions you may find it helpful to join us at 9:15 am for gentle yoga and tai chi. It's an informal and friendly class.

Please don't feel you must be flexible for yoga; we are not competing with each other and all bodies are welcome. Last week, one participant said she was more focused and her body much more relaxed in the meditation that followed. Don't pass up a chance like this!

We meet outdoors in the beautiful garden behind IMFW on Sandpoint Road, weather permitting, alternatively in the basement of Sangha House. We start at 9:15 am and finish at 9:45 so there’s time to get ready for meditation at 10 am.

Pamela Steinbach has taught tai chi and then yoga since 1986 at various settings in and around Fort Wayne and has always enjoyed the supportive community this practice fosters.

Drew Consalvo, a teacher at Insight Meditation Fort Wayne (IMFW) is offering an Introduction to Insight Meditation Class, beginning Monday, September 6th, and continuing for four weeks. Drew’s teaching will be based upon the Four Foundations of Mindfulness as practiced in Theravada Buddhism.

This four-week course will offer an introductory look at mindfulness of body and breath, feeling, mind, and phenomena. These classes may help you discover ways to benefit from a dedicated meditation practice and perhaps learn a bit more about Buddhist practice in general.

These classes will be offered at IMFW 2332 Sandpoint Road, in Fort Wayne. Please join Drew every Monday, September 6th through September 27, 2021, 7:00- 8:00 p.m. and learn about meditation from the Theravada tradition.

To register, please fill out the form at https://www.imfw.org/intro. For further information you may contact Drew at drewconsalvo@gmail.com.

This is class is offered freely. Please consider donating to IMFW to help us continue to offer programs like this.

We have opened up at Sandpoint Road – with much joy! 10 am Sunday Sits are back! Sunday Sits are a time to sit in silent community. We invite the bell to begin the sit at 10 am – and sit in silence for 45 minutes. You are welcome to come in early for Yoga and Tai Chi with Pam Steinbach at 9:15 am. In this new offering, Pam leads a 30 minute gentle practice prior to meditation. We do have some yoga mats on site. Feel free to bring your own. All of this is offered freely. We do welcome dana to help us support the building and programs that we offer.

We love and appreciate our volunteers! All of the cleaning and grounds maintenance is done by a host of volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please send us an email at InsightMeditationFW@gmail.com. It is a great way to give back to the community and meet others. Any help is good help and we can always use a hand. If you have a more specialized skill set and you would like to volunteer your time, let us know and we’ll be happy to see if we can find a match!

Tuesday Tea is back on the second Tuesday of the month! Immediately following the Dharma talk we meet in the Welcome Room for tea and conversation. Please bring a snack to share – or one for yourself and enjoy a cup of tea. If you are interested in helping to co-ordinate this event please speak to any board member, let us know on Tuesday night, or send us an email at InsightMeditationFW@gmail.com.

It has been a gift to be able to meet in person again; however, we continue to offer a Zoom option for Tuesday nights. See the weekly email for the link! Visit our website at https://www.imfw.org/ to learn more about our classes and opportunities.

Our mission is to share the Buddha's teachings with all those who are interested, to provide support to deepen our meditation practice, and to bring wisdom and compassion into daily life.

A friend asked me to give this meditation cushion set to someone who could use it. First come, first served. Please contact me if you're interested. Free to a good home.

Ellen
eeengland@gmail.com