Description

This introductory meditation class meets for 6 weeks, January 4 – February 8 from 7-9PM, PST. Beginners are welcome. This class will be hybrid, thus Online and In-Person.  Class registration includes a Day of Mindfulness the Saturday, February 11, after the last class, in Kirkland. Please see dates to be aware of below.

About Insight Meditation

Insight meditation, also known as mindfulness or vipassana meditation, comes from the Buddhist tradition. It aims to free the mind from the distortions of self-centeredness, negativity, and confusion. Seeing life as a constantly changing process, one begins to accept pleasure and pain, fear and joy, and all aspects of life with increasing balance and equanimity. This balanced awareness, grounded in the present moment, leads to stillness and a growing understanding of the nature of life. Out of this seeing emerges wisdom and compassion.

Insight meditation is a moment-to-moment investigation of the mind and body process. Our experience is explored from a balanced and spacious awareness which allows the heart to flower in love. During these six weeks there will be meditation instructions, talks about the philosophy of the practice, homework assignments, and time for discussion and questions.

Teacher Bio

Steve Wilhelm has been meditating since 1968, and engaged in Buddhist practice since 1987. He has studied and practiced in the Tibetan and Vipassana traditions, including extended retreats in both, although his practice is now primarily Vipassana. Steve has facilitated Eastside Insight Meditation since 2000, and serves on the boards of the Tibetan Nuns Project and Friends of Clear Mountain. He retired in mid-2016 from a 34-year career as a journalist, and currently edits Northwest Dharma News and is now editing a sixth Dharma book. In 2017 Steve graduated from the fifth Community Dharma Leaders program, offered through Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He lives in Kirkland with his wife Ellen.

Dates to Be Aware Of

• Your registration includes attendance at a Day of Mindfulness on Saturday, February 11, 2023.
• Please note that registrations are being accepted up through the second class on January 11th. After January 11th, registration is closed.
• If you have a question about this class series or for the teacher, please contact stevellen95@comcast.net.

Registration and Donation

The suggested event donation is $90 for the six-week series including the Day of Mindfulness, with options for $120 as a benefactor and $60 for a supported donation. If you choose to donate at time of event and this is an online class, please go to our Donate Page. Instructions for mailing in a check are included there as well.

Following our tradition, none of this donation will go to the teacher. Please consider offering teacher dana online or at the event to support their livelihood. Online teacher dana for this series can be made at paypal.me/SteveWilhelm48. (Dana is a term for generosity, or freely offered giving). No one is turned away for inability to offer a donation or teacher dana. Please use your best efforts to pay the suggested donation or another heartfelt amount.

Please register below. Since this is a series where each class builds on the previous ones, registration is closed after the second class. A zoom link will be sent to all those who have registered.