Many Southeast Asian insight masters urge us to observe the body, heart and mind as nature. Typically, this body and mind is seen as “me.” Nature is what’s out there. With insight meditation practice, we are challenged to see what’s occurring in the body and mind as natural phenomena and observe it all in the same spirit that we might bring to witnessing a display of nature such as a passing storm, or a rare bird visiting our yard. When viewing nature, we generally do so with an open nonanalytical curiosity. But when we notice things like anger or worry in ourselves, we don’t normally do this. Instead, we tend to identify with it and see it as part of “me,” and as something we either need to justify to ourselves or suppress. This fuels a cascade of thought, which then carries the worry or anger forward.
In this retreat, we will practice bringing the spirit of a naturalist to the phenomena occurring in our bodies, hearts and minds. We will explore how adopting this stance can not only lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves, but also change how we experience what is happening within us, and at times shift how it all unfolds.
This short retreat is open to both beginners and experienced meditators. While it will be conducted mainly in silence, there will be brief instructions in vipassana meditation, a Dhamma talk, and a discussion period at the end.
Wenham CfMIM currently offers retreats once per month. We recommend and encourage participation in these monthly programs—the extended practice period, two-hours longer than our weekly classes, supports the mind in becoming stable and thus insight can arise more naturally.