Insight Meditation Society
The Insight Meditation Society (IMS, formerly Insight Meditation Center) is a non-profit organization for study of Buddhism located in Barre, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1975, by Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, and Joseph Goldstein, and is rooted in the Theravada tradition. IMS meditation practices are based on the teachings of the late Burmese monk Mahasi Sayadaw. Followers of Mahasi Sayadaw also have an insight meditation center in nearby Shelburne, Massachusetts. Its first retreat center in an old mansion in Barre, Massachusetts was opened on February 14, 1976.
Overview
IMS offers Buddhist meditation retreats at two facilities – the Retreat Center and The Forest Refuge – in rural central Massachusetts. The Retreat Center is one of the two IMS centers in the United States. However, all Buddhist centers teach vipassana/vispashyana.
It offers a full yearly schedule of more than 25 meditation courses, ranging in duration from a weekend to three months. Most retreats run for 7–9 days.
"Rains Retreat," or "Vassa," "Varshyana," is a basic practice for Buddhist monks. During the three-month retreat, monks seclude themselves and follow a tight regimen of meditation and dharma study.
Every year, the Insight Meditation Society runs a three-month course that has been called the "marathon of meditation". Save for triweekly interviews with instructors and nightly lessons, the retreatants observe full silence. In Theravada tradition, after lunch, they do not eat another meal, but are allowed snacks and drink tea (which is not accepted by many Buddhists as pure). The center's courses provide instruction and practice in insight (vipassana) and/or lovingkindness (metta) meditations. This practice is common to all Theravadin Buddhist centers, and is referred to as 'rains retreat' or Vassa (Varshana - 'rainy season' Sanskrit).
Teachings
"Teachers give daily instruction in meditation practice and offer talks about the Buddha’s teachings." Dharma talks are available for free download, a service provided by Dharma Seed.
- Dharma Talks given at Insight Meditation Society -Retreat Center
- Dharma Talks given at Insight Meditation Society -Forest Refuge
