Recently, I read an article written by Bhikkhu Bodhi that nudged me to ponder the question he asked. “What Kind of World do We Want to Live In?”

I don’t know about you, but I began this path of practice because I was longing for inner peace and relief from the tensions of daily life. I didn’t occur to me that Buddhism might offer me insights that would support clearer understanding and wisdom for resolving more complex problems that weigh so heavily on our planet.

Bhikkhu Bodhi said that he believes “if we as Buddhists are to adequately respond to the needs of our age, we will have to rise to the challenge. It won’t suffice for us merely to adopt Buddhist teachings as a route to deeper self-fulfillment.” He went on to say that a “predominately personal approach to spiritual growth falls short of Buddhism’s ethical ideals and misses half of its message.”

The three defilements that cause most of the suffering for human beings are greed, hatred and delusion. Because we are constantly moving out of the moment seeking something we don’t already have, hating the moment because something is happening we wish weren’t, and we are confused about what really brings happiness and peace, we suffer.

The Buddha’s teachings are far reaching and offer a vision that pierces the depths of suffering in both its personal and collective dimensions. His teachings not only tame the mind but also offer a standard for ennobling us in all dimensions of our being, which include the social, political and economic arenas.

As heirs to the Buddha’s teaching, Bhikkhu Bodhi tells us, “We are called with compelling urgency to the task of envisaging the new structures needed to protect human life on earth. We have to create communities, both locally and globally, that express wisdom, care, and compassion.”

And he goes on to say, “Our work may begin with transforming our own minds and values, but it cannot stop there. We have to go further, and manifest these in action--in deeds that will build a safer, kinder, and more just world.”

I don’t know about you, but a safe, kind and more peaceful world is the kind of world I want to live in.

May each you reflect upon what it might mean to you to create the kind of world you wish to live in.

With lovingkindness,

We are excited to offer a nonresidential retreat with the skilled teacher, Carol Blotter, in October. She is teaching an open-to-the-public drop-in dharma talk and meditation on Friday, October 22 from 7 – 8 p.m. The retreat begins Saturday, October 23 at 9 a.m. and runs through Sunday, October 24. Please note that Carol is requiring all retreatants to be fully vaccinated against COVID and also to wear a mask while in the building.

Notice: on Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October 24th some of the usually scheduled events are canceled. There will NOT be Yoga with Lisa on Saturday nor Sunday morning Silent Sit (including yoga with Pam), as the retreat will be using the Meditation Hall.

We continue to request the use of masks at Sangha House and are watching CDC and local health department recommendations. We have suspended Second Tuesday Night Tea until we believe it is safe to lift the mask requirement.

Carol Blotter, the primary meditation teacher at Chelsea Meditation, Michigan, will be leading a non-residential weekend retreat at IMFW, 2332 Sandpoint Road, Fort Wayne on October 23 and 24. The silent retreat will begin at 9:00 am both Saturday and Sunday mornings and end at 5:00 pm Saturday and 3:00 pm Sunday. Participants are asked to attend all sessions, if at all possible. To sign up or get more information, please contact Caran Ross at rosscaran@gmail.com. More information will follow.

Carol will offer a public talk Friday evening, October 22 at 7:00-8:00 pm. This is a drop-in session and there is no need to sign up. The talk will be appropriate for beginners as well as more experienced students of the Buddha. The Friday evening session might be a nice opportunity to bring a friend who has been showing interest in the dharma.

For more information about Carol, please visit the Chelsea Meditation website at https://www.chelseameditation.com/

Our next book group begins in October! One Dharma, The Emerging Western Buddhism by Joseph Goldstein is the book we will be exploring in our next book group beginning on Tuesday, October 5th . We will meet in the basement of Sangha House from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month through March 1, 2022. This group meets monthly, immediately following Tuesday mediation and dharma talk. We welcome anyone who is interested in a deeper experience of the book.

We will be meeting in person as well as offering a Zoom option. This is new for Book Group to be offered as a hybrid, so we’ll see how it goes!

You need to procure your own book. It is available here on Amazon or here on Bookshop.

Everyone is welcome.

Beginning Saturday October 2 at 9 am, Lisa Selby, 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT), will be offering a Yoga class, in the basement of Sangha House. Class will be a one hour, all levels, flow class. All are welcome! Bring your mat, and any props you have, and start your weekend off right!

Please drop in, no pre-registration required. This class is offered freely. A donation of any kind is welcome.

If you have any questions you can email me at lisa@lisaselby.yoga.

A friend invited me to my first yoga class 4 years ago. After going back the following week, I knew that yoga was something I needed in my life, as often as possible. A year after that, I knew I wanted to learn everything I could about yoga and share it with as many people as I could! I am a 200 hour yoga teacher, registered with The Yoga Alliance. I studied therapeutic yoga and I believe yoga is for every body! There is no age or flexibility limit! I truly endeavor to empower my students, in every class, by teaching with proper alignment, muscle engagement (I will tell you to spread your toes 50 times!) and lovingkindness. I can't wait to see you on your mat!

Lisa Selby

We have welcomed several wise and delightful teachers to Insight Meditation Fort Wayne. John Steinbach and his wife, Pam Steinbach, along with Caran Ross, all were willing to share teaching responsibilities with Tammy Dyer and Drew Consalvo while we were meeting via Zoom. Now all are teaching live and in person at 2332 Sandpoint Road! Each month, we'll be featuring one. They each have a special way of teaching and interpreting the teachings. Each one is worth coming to hear and experience their special insight into ways to live the teachings of the Buddha.

Tammy Dyer

Guiding and Founding Teacher and member of the Board of Directors

Tammy was trained as a licensed clinical social worker and worked as a mental health counselor for 20 years. She began attending meditation retreats in 2002 and graduated from Community Dharma Leadership Program sponsored by Spirit Rock and Insight Meditation Center (CDLP4) in 2010. She founded what is now Insight Meditation Fort Wayne (IMFW) in 2004. Tammy helped find and renovate the current building of Sangha House at 2332 Sandpoint Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

“Our potential as humans is vast and deep and can be intentionally developed. There is a way that we can learn to open to all of our experience with kindness and clarity. As we begin to find this stability of heart and mind, wisdom will emerge. This emergence of wisdom and strengthening of compassion are the path to our individual and collective happiness and well-being. What I teach is the constantly changing nature of the rhythms of my own practice. I find inspiration and joy from bearing witness to the unfolding of the dharma in myself and others and am honored by and am grateful for the spiritual friendships that accompany me on the path.”

“I have sat retreats with Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzburg, Jack Kornfield, Gina Sharpe, Gil Fronsdal, and many others who are elders in the Insight tradition. My guiding teacher for the last eight years has been Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia to whom I offer deep gratitude for her support and guidance as I navigate the path of practice.”