I noticed I was mentally torturing myself to come up with a topic for this newsletter article. Ordinarily it comes quite naturally - particular things arise that motivate me to write. Something happens on the street or in interaction with life that corresponds to a particular Dhamma teaching. Perhaps a sight, a sound, a feeling arises and it evokes the need to write about it. Regardless, something arises that persuades me to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). This month, not so much.

So, I sat down at the keyboard and decided to write the above paragraph and suddenly I had my topic.

Just Show Up.

This is something one of the teachers I sat with recently admonished me to do, just show up.

Whatever block or obstacle I may have perceived as separating myself from a newsletter article was overcome by just sitting down to the keyboard and showing up. Showing up precisely where I was with whatever wasn’t (or was) going the way I would like or prefer.

It is just like this in our mediation practice. How many times have we convinced ourselves that we are too monkey-minded to sit for 20, 30, 60 minutes? I can’t count the times in the past that I’d talked myself into avoiding the mediation cushion because my mind was, “Just too busy.” Perhaps it was “too troubled.” “Too tired?” You know the story.

The wonderful thing about this spiritual practice is that we start right where we are in this very moment. If the mind feels agitated, we notice, “agitated mind” and we sit with it. If the mind is calm and placid, we notice, “tranquil mind” and we sit with it. Undoubtedly, we will often find that mind is somewhere between these two states perhaps tranquil in one moment, agitated in the very next. It’s ok. Just show up. Really show up. With honesty, openness, a sense of curiosity, and an intention to be here, right here, right now.

Noticing agitated mind is meditation. Noticing tranquil mind is meditation. Noticing the right now is meditation. It is all in the doing. But that crucial first step, just showing up, is of paramount importance.

If we can just show up, with an intention to meditate, we open the door to gaining insight into the way things truly are. You might just sit on the cushion with monkey-mind for 28 out of 30 minutes during a sit. Maybe you learned something about yourself during those 28 minutes. Maybe you had an insight that led to those two minutes of tranquil mindfulness, of just being here. Maybe the simple intention of being here now tired out the monkey.

By employing right effort and maintaining an intention for liberation, you may achieve 3 minutes, 8 minutes, 12 minutes of mindfulness on the next 30 or 40-minute sit. Or maybe not. The key is to just show up.

May all beings be well and happy.

Thank you from IMFW to all of the volunteers who worked so diligently on yardwork Saturday May 6th. We weeded, prepared beds and spread 10 yards of mulch all in one day. Thank you to Nathan, Ian, Parris, Bruce, Tammy, Jack, Dan, John and Bob. John and Bob also provided trucks to haul out waste. Thank you to Barb who did a great deal of prep work. The grounds look terrific.

Check it out: we are adding to our library. New books are being added weekly. We are still accepting your gently used Buddhist books. Thank you to all who have helped fill the shelves. Thank you to all our readers who keep the library a vibrant part of what is offered at IMFW.

Day-long Retreat opportunities continue to be offered in June. Click here to see dates and how to sign up.

We will be offering a new course; An Introduction to Buddhism. Pam and John Steinbach are teaching the course on Monday evenings during August. Click here to see dates and how to sign up.

A Sangha member, Janet Lynch, is offering a class in Mindfulness, using the space at IMFW. See the article below.

Thank you to the volunteers who care for the lawn and grounds throughout the year. Thank you to the mowing team: J.D., Nathan, Josh, and Dan. Thank you to the gardeners: Parris, Lisa, Mandy, Barb and Tammy.

Thank you to the team that keeps Sangha House clean: Barb, Josh, and Pam.

If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact a board member.

Our mission is to provide for the study and practice of Insight (Vipassanā) Meditation according to the Theravāda Buddhist religious tradition and to support and encourage the development of community based upon Buddhist ideals, teachings and practices.

This one-day format is an ideal opportunity to experience the benefit of meditating with others for a longer period. The day is not too long and the format less rigorous than other retreats. Yet it is long enough to taste the increased stability and clarity we can find when sitting in the supportive atmosphere of a group.

John and/or Pam Steinbach will be facilitating five Day-long retreats in June. Come to one or many, whatever fits in your calendar.

In the period between 9:00 and noon we have a talk and conversation at the beginning of the day followed by a two hour block that alternates between 30 minutes of seated meditation and choose to do more seated meditation, go to the bathroom, stretch, drink tea or whatever fits into the meditative goals of the day.  After that two hour block, we might have another seated meditation before lunch.

Instead of maintaining silence at lunch, we have been using the time for mindful conversation.  We take an hour for lunch and a break (a nap for the instructor, and that is a wonderful option for anyone!).

The afternoon starts the same way with a brief talk and conversation and another two-hour block of sitting and walking, maybe followed by a last seated meditation and a final discussion.

Pam offers a period of gentle yoga during one of the walking meditation periods in the morning and one in the afternoon.

The atmosphere is relaxed and the teachings center on letting go of thinking and allowing the mind to settle.

If you want to attend one of the upcoming sessions or have any questions, please call or text John at 260-413-2372.   Or sign up at https://www.imfw.org/retreats-day-long

Dates for June are Thursdays, June 1, 15, and 29.  Saturdays, June 10 and 24. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm in person at Sangha House, 2332 Sandpoint Road, Fort Wayne, IN.

Please remember to bring your lunch and register in advance with John.

The teachings are freely offered. Donation boxes are available in the Welcome Room for dana, which is the Pali word for generosity. The Buddha taught that generosity is an important part of the path to enlightenment. You may also support this sangha by donating on line - follow the link at the bottom of this newsletter.

Wednesdays 9:30-11:00 am, June 14-August 2 at Insight Meditation, Fort Wayne

Offered by Janet Lynch, Certified Mindfulness Instructor

Intentionally engaging the principles and practices of mindfulness will support you in navigating life’s full range of experience. This course is a practical, educational, and experiential guide to applying mindful awareness to your daily life, including your emotions, thoughts, and stress. With a curious Beginner’s Mind, you will begin to cultivate a new relationship with these through acceptance, non-judgment, non-attachment, kindness, compassion, and gratitude. We will explore breath work, meditation, 5 senses activities, and gentle movement. You will come away with useful practices and resources for managing thoughts and emotions for personal growth and well-being.

For full benefits and a thorough experiential understanding, it is recommended that participants intend to attend all 8 sessions, which build upon one another, as well as engage in a daily at-home practice of 10-20 minutes. We will come together in community and shared humanity for the benefit of our worthy selves and our fellow humans. This course is offered on a donation basis. For questions and registration, email the instructor at janetlynch729@gmail.com.

Janet Lynch, MSEd, is a Certified Mindfulness Instructor who has taught Mindfulness and meditation to Kindergartners through adults for six years. Her training includes: Mindful Schools Year-long Certification Program, Heart Math Institute training in Heart-Brain Coherence, Trauma Informed Mindfulness with Dr. David Treleaven, Intuitive Intelligence with The Institute for Intuitive Intelligence, MBSR with Dr. Jack Dyer, and MBSC & MBSR-T with Lorraine Hobbs.

IMFW is offering a new class: An Introduction to Buddhism. The course, taught by IMFW teachers Pam and John Steinbach, will meet on the four consecutive Monday evenings in August at IMFW in person only. The intent is for all who participate to have a better understanding of Buddhism and gain some insight into how these teachings apply to daily life. Since this is the first offering of the course, John and Pam look forward to seeing where the discussions take us and are planning to allow plenty of time for conversation.

The class will address the Four Noble Truths including the Noble Eightfold Path, the Three Marks of Existence, lists of the virtuous qualities, the Hindrances, and the different schools of Buddhism.  Introductory classes will be offered quarterly at IMFW with this class alternating with the Introduction to Insight Meditation taught by Tammy Dyer and Barb Lahman in the spring and Drew Consalvo in the fall.

Classes will be held from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm on Mondays, August 7, 14, 21, and 28. The classes are freely given. Dana (donation of generosity as you are able) is welcome and encouraged.  You can sign up here.