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In this issue:
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On Generosity and Giving
By Alexandra Belyaeva
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It is a quiet spring evening, the Sangha House is empty and still, swimming in an orange sunset afterglow of the joyous simplicity of the season. The birds are back, the buds on trees are ripe with new life and the inevitable summer is around the corner. Gratitude overwhelms me thinking of all the people who contributed to making this building our home, reviving it into a place of great merit by efforts of their generous spirit. The Teachers, the Board members, greeters, the regulars, various group meets, and people helping out with maintenance, donations, well-wishes and so much more… How I miss the friendly chatter before the sound of gong and the space where we get reminded of the life worth living. We will be back in full swing one Tuesday but until then, I thought we might remember how important Dana is for our beloved Sangha House as well as our practice.
Generosity is the first of the ten parami, or qualities of character, that the Buddha taught his students to cultivate. The practice of generosity develops lovingkindness and compassion, deepens awareness of our interconnectedness and encourages non-attachment.
Dana, or ‘generous giving’ in Pali, is one of the first things a layperson like you and I can cultivate to support the meditation practice if a life of complete renunciation seems unattainable. Living in a Western world with mortgages to pay, kids to raise, desires to enjoy all the comforts of the modern society and a job to hold in order to afford all of the above, leaves us wanting, scared and greedy. Yet the Awakened One in his generosity offers us a path to sustainable life here now and beyond through his suttas if you allow your mind to be touched by them.
It is said that the practice of giving can be an entry point into the mindset of letting go and cultivating the path of spirituality, even before you ever get to hear the teaching on mindfulness meditation. Given freely and generously Dana supports the creation of mind states and inclinations for giving things up. Training your mind to this practice removes greed, hatred and delusion, not unlike your evening meditation sit when you are able to let go of the worries of the day, plans for the future or regrets of the past.
IMFW runs on Dana, be it the Dharma left to us by the Buddha, the teachers who donate their time and knowledge, the monetary donations of our patrons or the daily maintenance and cleaning given freely by a Sangha buddy. I encourage you to make a commitment to the practice of generosity in your daily life and leave you with the below excerpt from Aṅguttara Nikāya, Book of Eights (AN 8.37) The Good Persons’ Gifts Sutta:
He gives what is pure and excellent,
allowable drinks and food at the proper time;
he gives gifts often to fertile fields of merit,
to those who lead the spiritual life.
He does not feel regret,
having given away many material things.
Those with deep insight praise
the gifts given in this way.
Having thus practiced charity
with a mind freely generous,
one intelligent and wise, rich in faith,
is reborn in a pleasant, unafflicted world.
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Recognizing Suffering
Drew Consalvo
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 As practitioners of insight meditation, most of us are very familiar with the core Buddhist teachings of the Four Noble Truths:
- There is suffering.
- There is a cause of suffering.
- Cessation of suffering is possible.
- There is a path leading to the cessation of suffering
We collectively find ourselves in a situation which is unprecedented in our lifetimes. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought out the best and the worst in us. In light of this, I feel it is crucially beneficial now, perhaps more than ever in our lifetimes, to fully understand and embrace the first Noble Truth – There is suffering. The Buddha said that if you do not fully understand the First Noble Truth of dukkha or suffering, it is impossible to understand the other three.
We see images of healthcare workers drained after working 12-hour days amidst illness and death. We see instances and hear stories of homeless people with no place available for them to wash their hands. We know of people unable to gather together and grieve in community for loved ones lost. We know there are people dying in hospitals unable to be soothed and benefit from simple physical contact and the comforting touch of a family member. We also may have seen instances of celebrities bemoaning their self-quarantined state while on yachts, remote islands, and in lavish mansions. Are all these beings genuinely suffering? In a word, yes. While suffering is something that we all share universally, degree of suffering can seem quite different because it is relative. While these particular celebrities may come across as masters of the humble-brag, they too are suffering. It is important to remember that we all share the same basic, universal wish – to be well and happy.
Throughout the texts, what construes suffering (more specifically, dukkha) is typically defined by the following twelve points: Birth, ageing, death,
Sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair,
Association with the unloved, separation from the loved,
Not getting what one wants and, in short, the five aggregates subject to clinging; form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness.
What seems to be hitting me the hardest personally at this particular moment is separation from the loved. I long to hug friends and family again and feel the human connection that arises through touch. Which of these twelve points can you identify with most distinctly at this moment? Lamentation? Not getting what you want? Pain? Grief?
All of us – each and every (unenlightened) one of us may note the presence of one or more of these points of suffering and this fact is precisely what binds us all together – this shared mass of dukkha.
The Buddha gave us instructions for each of the Four Noble Truths and his instruction regarding the first Noble Truth of dukkha is, “It is to be understood”. When we honestly and deeply understand that dukkha and suffering are universal, that we all experience dukkha, compassion blossoms. Genuine compassion blossoms within us when the heart softens in the warm light of this truth. We begin to fully embrace the truth that we all wish to be free from suffering. Understanding the First Noble Truth of dukkha is the key the Buddha has given us to unlock our well of compassion and open up our innate ability to compassionately engage with our fellow beings.
It is so very important during this challenging time that we do not judge another’s suffering as real or imagined, as greater or lesser, as justified or unjustified, as valid or invalid, or as significant or insignificant. We all share in this tangled ball of dukkha. We all suffer. There is suffering. It has been understood. Let this understanding of the first Noble Truth be the spark which ignites our lamp of compassion and dispels the darkness of self-and-other.
May all beings be well and happy.
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 We’re Zooming! Tammy and Drew have been offering a Tuesday night meditation and Dharma talk via Zoom. Please join us! It is a shortened version of the Tuesday night gathering – in the comfort of your own home. It’s only a click away.
Sangha House remains closed. We are closely watching to see when we may resume meeting. We are also learning what precautions we need to take to keep our community safe. When we are open for gatherings again, news will be sent out via the newsletter distribution. Meanwhile, all classes or meetings that took place there are on hold or have found a new technology to meet!
Beginning Meditation has been postponed. New dates will be announced.
MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) class is no longer being offered.
Chi Gong is cancelled.
There are no sitting meditations at Sangha House.
KM groups have transitioned to meeting via Zoom, until further notice.
A tremendous thank you to Jim Lewis who is retiring as our webmaster and to Matthew Katinsky who has volunteered to take over this role!
Thank you to the Lawn Care team! JD – Your team keeps the place looking beautiful – even when we are not using the building! Thanks Charlie and Rick, and especially to JD who cleans the place, inside and out.
Thanks to everyone who helped us with new technology! Vyju Kadambi, thank you for helping us enter this age of technology with as little pain as possible.
Stay safe and six feet apart.
Deb O’Kelly, President of the Board
Tammy Dyer, Guiding Teacher
Drew Consalvo, Secretary
Alex Belyaeva, Treasurer
Ellen England
Nancy Tompkins
Our Mission: To provide for the study and practice of insight (Vipassana) meditation according to the Theravada Buddhist religious tradition and to support and encourage the development of community based upon Buddhist ideals, teachings and practices.
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FIRST AND FOREMOST
 Please know that my very favorite thing to do is to connect with you in Dhamma Discussions. Please phone or email me if you might wish to talk about your practice and what’s going on for you right now.
Tamaradyer6@gmail.com
260-341-4121
ON-GOING RESOURCES
- Insight Meditation Society was the first retreat center in the US, founded by Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, and Jack Kornfield, that offered retreats specifically in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. At reduced rates, they are now offering online retreats led by those same elder teachers of our Insight Meditation practice. Previously, only available to us by getting on a plane or driving to Massachusetts and paying board and room for a week of retreat experience, these retreats are now available online. This is a very rare and precious opportunity. Go to dharma.org to see their offerings.
- Spirit Rock in California was the second Insight Meditation Retreat Center established in the US. Jack Kornfield, Sylvia Boorstein, Anna Douglas, Howard Cohn and James Baraz were the founders of Spirit Rock.They, too, are offering online retreats for the first time.Go to spiritrock.org for more information about their offerings.
- New York Insight Meditation Center was established by Peter Doobinin, Tamara Engel, Joseph Schmidt, Gina Sharpe, and Sandra Weinberg. They are currently offering their weekly Sangha Sits as well as more advanced classes that appear in the monthly Newsletter. Go to nyimc.org.
- Dharma Seed is a compilation of Dharma Talks by IMS and Spirit Rock teachers throughout the US and England. You can search by topic or teacher. It is an expansive list. Go to dharmaseed.org.
SPECIFICALLY
- Many of you are familiar with Rick Hanson, psychologist and neuroscientist, who wrote Buddha’s Brain and many others. Rick teaches at New York Insight many times a year and next month will be offering two different options to hear what’s on his mind at this very important time in our world history. Please go to nyimc.org. to sign up for this talk.
- Gina Sharpe was one of my CDL program teachers and is a co-founder of New York Insight Meditation Center. I am soooo looking forward to once again receiving teachings she is offering since her leave of absence after the death of her husband three years ago. For two Sunday mornings in May and June, Gina will be offering dharma talks as a fund raiser for New York Insight. Go to nyimc.org for this opportunity.
- Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield continue to offer very inspiring teachings via their own websites (jackkornfield.com and tarabrach.com) as well as through Sounds True. These 50-year veterans offer down-to-earth teachings that open the heart and inspire wisdom. Many of the offerings are offered freely.
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May all beings be well, happy, and peaceful.
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