 In this issue:
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The Rhythm of Listening
Drew Consalvo
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 I enjoy rock n roll music. Always have. I have enjoyed this musical form since my age was in the low single digits. When I reflect on all the fantastic and widely varied musical artists who were around as I was growing up in the latter decades of the 20th century, it blows my mind. There was progressive rock, punk, pop, new wave, blues rock, southern rock, glam, psychedelia, metal, hard rock, etc. One of the hard rock/metal artists to emerge from the 1970’s is AC/DC. I didn’t care much about the band when they first hit because their music felt sparse and unsophisticated to me at the time. It took some years for me to realize that the much of the true allure of the band, aside from the raw, tight, power of their live performances, was the space extant in their arrangements. It was, among other things, the rests in-between the notes and chords, that made their music special. There is a lot of space in those arrangements. Think about AC/DC’s 1980 resurrection album, Back In Black. The title track’s riff displays no sense of urgency to hit the next note, just measured beat after measured beat, hitting at just the right time. It’s the notes that aren’t being played that contribute to the effectiveness of this rock anthem.
How many of us demonstrate the ability to consistently offer ourselves that rest in-between the notes? That precious pause when we can offer ourselves the opportunity to make wise choices on how we will interact with experience as it unfolds - especially when we find ourselves in situations where there may be an emotional charge to a conversation or interaction. In situations where there may be disagreement. It is a truly difficult practice which all of us are capable of but startlingly few of us have mastered.
When we don’t rest before response, we often have not actively engaged with what has been said. We haven’t heard. We haven’t actively listened to another’s point, concern, or criticism, we are just hovering over our strings, eagerly anticipating when we can strike our next note, our next chord, perhaps anxious to get on with our big solo, rather than actively listening to the rest of the ensemble. Listening to the rest of the ensemble is one key to an acceptable performance. We can make listening a practice. We can make timely response a practice. We can make laying-back or laying-out for a measure a practice, but first we must become mindful of and extirpate our inherent unskillful tendencies which cause us to habitually clutter the section or rush the beat.
It is only through diligent, repeated practice that we offer ourselves this opportunity to melodiously contribute to, harmoniously complement, and hopefully, improve these occasionally difficult passages with others. We must learn when to lay back, when to solo, and when it is necessary and skillful for us to provide the rhythm. These acts are often the most beneficial contributions we can make to any interactions performed in-concert with others. This is a practice I have yet to perfect. But I continue to practice.
Discord ensues when we don’t offer the appropriate rest before response. Concord is promoted by appropriate and timely responses, not by rushing the beat.
Here’s a link to Back In Black: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAgnJDJN4VA
May All Beings Be Well & Happy.
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Save the Date – The Steinbachs are hosting a family fun night on Friday, May 3rd at 6:30pm. For this first event, you can learn to juggle, enjoy snacks and an evening with friends. The Steinbachs plan to host a famiy friendly evening every first Friday of the month at 6:30 pm at Sangha House.
Join Pam and John for a day long retreat. They are offering a day of sitting, walking meditation and teaching Saturday, March 2 and Thursday, March 14, Friday the 15th and Saturday the 16th. These events are freely offered with dana welcomed. Sign up here.
Our Introduction to Insight Meditation Class is being freely offered beginning April 8th at 6:30pm and continuing for the following three Mondays in April. Tammy Dyer and Barb Lahman are teaching the course. Dana is encouraged. If you are interested, please sign up here.
Anyone interested in volunteering time to help us keep IMFW clean and green please let us know. Our summer crews are coming together. We have a team that mows and cares for the lawn and another that tends the plants and gardens on the grounds. We are completely maintained by volunteers. If you are interested in helping you can contact us at InsightmeditationFW@gmail.com.
The Board of Directors for IMFW
Tammy Dyer, Founder and Guiding Teacher
Deb O’Kelly, President
Pam Steinbach, Secretary and Teacher
Alexandra Belyaeva, Treasurer
Drew Consalvo, Teacher
Nancy Tompkins
Luke Bassett
Josh Smith
Monica Cardenas
Dora Rogers
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.
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“What is it you plan to do with this one wild and precious life?”
-Mary Oliver
Open Retreats Offered:
- Saturday, March 2, 2024
- Thursday, March 14, 2024
- Friday, March 15, 2024
- Saturday, March 16, 2024
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An Open Retreat will be available at IMFW (in person only) led by John and Pamela Steinbach. You are welcome to come for half a day or full days, all or any combination on any of these dates. Please bring a journal or paper to briefly note insights and questions, and a lunch if you are staying for the full day. The retreats are offered on a Dana basis, the practice of generosity: giving what you are able, out of gratitude, for IMFW and the teachers.
Almost all schools of Buddhism include meditation practices to directly experience the workings of the mind. Retreats are an opportunity to devote a period of quiet focus committed to introspective awareness and mindful attention. If you decide you want to bring serious Buddhist practice into your life, two things seem necessary; a daily practice of meditation and periods of more prolonged practice to gain deeper insights into the workings of the mind. In the midst of our busy lives of gaining insights and performing outer responsibilities, a half day or full day or a short stretch of days is an opportunity to examine what this life is. IMFW is pleased to be able to offer some intensive opportunities for inquiry. This doesn’t mean that study of the dharma, listening to talks, and being a member of a sangha without a meditation practice is not valuable; they can all be of benefit to generate generosity, virtue, patience, meditation, and wisdom. Occasional retreats offer deeper pondering of the teachings, observing the nature of mind, and reflecting on the activities of body, speech and mind. Interspersed with periods of 30 minute seated meditation, these retreats include walking meditation, teachings, discussion, and yoga.
Please sign up here for any retreat/day that you are interested in.
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An Introduction to Meditation
Tammy Dyer and Barb Lahman
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The Introduction to Insight Meditation Class will be offered by guiding teacher, Tammy Dyer, and Barb Lahman Monday evenings from 6:30-8:00 pm April 8th and running until April 29.
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The course will provide fundamental instruction in Insight Meditation. Emphasis is placed on mindfulness practices of awareness of breath, feelings, emotions, and thoughts.
Explanation and discussion of the teachings central to insight meditation are part of each class. The course is appropriate for beginners as well as experienced meditators who wish to maintain their “beginner’s mind.”
Classes meet at 2332 Sandpoint Road, Fort Wayne and are offered in person, only.
If you are interested in participating in this class that is “freely offered” (on a donation basis), please sign up here.
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The Benefits of a Retreat
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Generosity’s aim is twofold: we give to free others, and we give to free ourselves.
- Sharon Salzberg
Meditation retreats provide a protected space where we can set aside most of the distractions and stimulation of daily life. Within that secluded space it becomes a lot easier to develop sufficient stability (concentration), continuity of mindfulness, and clarity of the mind. Retreats support a deepening of our natural awareness, a maturing of understanding, and a development of the beautiful qualities of the heart like generosity, integrity, kindness, and compassion.
We are encouraged to sit retreats regularly to deepen our natural awareness, mature our understanding and cultivate the beautiful qualities of the heart like generosity, integrity, kindness, and compassion.
Because cost should not be a barrier to growing one’s practice and in keeping with the spirit and practice of generosity (dana), Insight Meditation Fort Wayne (IMFW) has made available financial assistance for Buddhist retreats.
If you would like to apply for financial assistance, please contact Tammy at tamaradyer6@gmail.com as far as possible in advance of the retreat.
All retreat centers offer scholarships, and I have listed below three financial assistance programs for most Insight Meditation Retreat Centers.
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