Triangle Insight Meditation Community |
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October 2021 Newsletter
triangleinsight.org
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Upon first sitting down to contemplate our spiritual purpose and direction, it becomes apparent that thoughts intrude immediately on whatever we are doing and interrupt the quiet we assumed was so accessible. How we frame our final destination and purpose will immediately affect how we work with these thoughts. For example, if we are looking for peace of mind, we will assume these thoughts are in opposition to the tranquility we seek, and we will look for peace in a mind that is free of thinking. But if our destination is to understand the mind and who we are within it, we'll want to observe the nature of thought, what it is, and how it drives us. As we press forward we also discover that the more effort we apply to eliminating thoughts, the more thoughts arise from that effort, and conversely the more we attempt to observe our thoughts and understand the mind, the quieter our mind becomes.
Rodney Smith
Stepping Out of Self-Deception:
The Buddha's Liberating Teaching of No-Self
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Our home is the Episcopal Center at Duke
505 Alexander Ave. | Durham, NC 27705 (when safe to gather in person)
Morning meditation: Monday and Thursday
Wednesday meditation with Dharma Talk, or as Insight Dialogue (below)
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Wednesday Evenings
6:30 - 8:00 pm (Insight Dialogue: 6:30 - 8 pm)
October 06 - Ron Vereen
October 13 - Scott Bryce
October 20 - Sarah Bryce (Guest Teacher)
October 27 - Mary Grigsby (Insight Dialogue)
November 03 - Ron Vereen
November 10 - Daya Breckinridge (Insight Dialogue)
November 17 - Karen Ziegler
November 24 - No Meeting (Holiday)
Monday and Thursday Morning Meditation
7:00 - 7:45 AM (click here for more info)
Zoom locations to be emailed.
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"An antique Mani singing bowl.
Musical Note: F#5 (high), 748 Hz.
Diameter: 7 5/8 in. Height: 4 1/4 in. Rim: 5/8 in."
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If you would like to receive an invitation to one or both Zoom meditations, please subscribe on our Schedule webpage, or tell us the Zoom list(s) you would like to join.
To receive this monthly newsletter, please complete the newsletter subscription on our Newsletters webpage, or send your request to the info email above.
If you would like to change any part of your subscription(s), please email us and we will make this change for you.
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The Practice of Insight Dialogue at Triangle Insight |
Insight Dialogue is an interpersonal meditation practice and is offered at Triangle Insight once monthly, usually on the fourth Wednesday of the month. It brings the mindfulness and tranquility of silent meditation directly into our experience with other people.
Listening practice....................
The new website for Insight Dialogue is an excellent resource for learning more about the practice: www.insightdialogue.org.
The evening begins with silent meditation practice, followed by gentle mindful movement, and then shifting into dyad practice where interpersonal mindfulness is explored with a partner in response to a contemplation that is offered. The dyad practice is optional so that anyone who chooses to remain in silent practice may do so, rather than shifting into dyad practice. One can investigate the guidance of the contemplation internally, noticing the moment by moment unfolding of internal experience. Note that the ID practice goes from 6:30 to 8:00 pm while meeting on Zoom. When it is possible to resume in-person meetings the time will return to 8:30 pm, to allow for more spaciousness and time for questions. We hope you will be able to join us.
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Reference Notes for Wednesday Dharma Talks
Triangle Insight Meditation teachers invite us to consider these notes to the references they used for their Dharma talks. Please click on links below to see teacher notes for the current month.
Sept. 01 - Ron Vereen
Sept. 08 - Scott Bryce
Sept. 15 - Francesca Morfesis
Sept. 29 - Jeanne van Gemert
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RETREATS and SPECIAL EVENTS |
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The Thinning of Self:
Aligning Dharma Practice with Its True Destination
A Daylong Benefit for Triangle Insight
with Rodney Smith
Saturday, October 16th, 10 am - 5:30 pm EDT
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From Rodney Smith:
"We can so easily lose our orientation of dharma practice when we empower the sense-of-self to act on freedom’s behalf. However, when we use our practice to thin the sense-of-self by both understanding and diminishing its prominence, we stay honest to the dharma's true intent.
This daylong will encourage a simple realignment of our intentions and practices to that end, and will consist of dharma talks, silent and guided meditations, Qigong (lead by Ellen, Rodney’s spouse) and Q & A. As a benefit for Triangle Insight all dana will go to this organization for the purchase of much needed audio/visual equipment.
Please give generously.
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Join us for this virtual day of practice with Rodney Smith, Founding Teacher of the Seattle Insight Meditation Society (SIMS) and a Core Teacher at the Forest Refuge. Rodney's gracious offer that all donations go to Triangle Insight will help cover the costs of upgrading our Zoom technology as we anticipate a shift to providing both a virtual and an in-person option once we return to the Episcopal Center.
This event is being offered free of charge and will be by registration only with a limit of 100 participants per our current Zoom plan. If registration appears to be approaching this limit as we move closer to the time of the event, we will make a one time upgrade to accommodate all who wish to attend.
If you would like to register now you may do so by clicking on this link.
Once registered you will receive access to the event landing page that will have the details of the schedule for the day along with the Zoom link to join the event and further directions on how to donate. If you are unable to attend you will still have an opportunity to donate. And thank you in advance for giving generously!
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OPPORTUNITIES
Community Engagement
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Community members--share here your ideas and events for volunteer activity to engage our Buddhist values and spirit. Send to the newsletter any opportunities you may know about, or those in which you participate. |
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IF YOU HAVE A GROUP, EVENT or ACTIVITY to share in this section, please send an email to the board@triangleinsight.org, including main details and relevant links.
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Fed Up in the South
FED UP is a community program in Durham for food distribution and opportunities to low-wage workers, the BIPOC community and Durham residents without transportation. FED UP joins together the Carolina Jews for Justice, Triangle Poor People’s Campaign, and Raise Up/Fight for 15.
This is a network of community organizations working together to improve the lives and life-conditions of disadvantage, minority, low-wage people, and ALL of use, no matter our standing or origins. There are many ways to volunteer through the various organizations under the FedUp umbrella.
FED UP's Food Distribution Schedule
Action times for getting out food bags to area residents take place at the Lakewood Shopping Center (2000 Chapel Hill Rd., Durham NC) every other Friday from 11 am to 1 pm. They are looking for volunteers to help set-up and clean-up; also drivers with vehicles to make in-home drop-offs on a route. Visit their Facebook website or contact Karen Zeigler at 919-819-2073. .
CALENDAR for the next Food Distribution Days Volunteer help welcome!
October: 8, 22
November: 5, 19
December: 3, 17, 31
For Information about FedUp's mission and leadership, explore the main FedUp website.
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NOTE that Financial Support is available for Training Programs and Workshops in Racial Justice and Diversity to individuals in the TIMC community. Please contact us to apply: board@triangleinsight.org.
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Please use these links to visit the website for this information |
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Welcome Committee and TEAM INFO
Sangha means spiritual community, and it is treasured because without it awakening cannot be sustained.
____ Jack Kornfield, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry
The Welcoming Committee wishes to foster the experience of belonging to a diverse, tolerant community connected through mindfulness practice, where all feel welcome and safe. We seek to link all participants and newcomers to ongoing activities and to ensure the Zoom connection is available. You are welcome to Visit our Webpage!
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Having admirable people as friends, companions, and colleagues is actually
the whole of the holy life. - The Buddha
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Kalyana Mitta
In challenging times, we can feel as if we’re caught in a storm. Our view darkens, our bodies tighten, and we’re blown off course by the winds of thoughts and emotions. One of the gifts of a Kalyana Mitta (KM) group is to offer a place of safe harbor.
As Phillip Moffitt says in The Three Wholesome Exchanges of the Heart, “We all need to have someone hear our fears, failures, triumphs, and dreams... . This exchange is essential to our personal and spiritual development because when we are being witnessed, it allows us to really hear our own authentic voice.”
The trust, intimacy, and care of a KM group allow us to deepen connection to both self and others. We see more clearly, our hearts soften, and we move towards greater understanding, compassion, and ease.
A beautiful aspect of this process is that as the heart of the dharma is enriched in our own lives, we are contributing to the spiritual journey of others. This is the gift of the third jewel of sangha, a jewel that illuminates the path we travel together.
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Current KM Group Openings
Openings are available in these KM groups: Insight Dialogue.
Waiting Lists are available for Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Raleigh and Secular Dharma.
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The KM-RA Coordinating Team of Sarah Tillis and Tamara Share expresses deep gratitude for the dedication of our sangha.
May our Kalyana Mitta and Racial Affinity groups be of great benefit to all.
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If you would like more information, want to join a group, be on a waiting list or start a new group, please contact Sarah Tillis, KM Coordinator: sarah@triangleinsight.org
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Racial Affinity
Known as RAGs, Racial Affinity Groups allow people to deepen self-awareness around issues of race in small, racially homogeneous groups. As we face our long history of systemic racism and violence against people of color, RAGs provide a safe space where participantss can integrate the dharma into their exploration of racial belonging and racial habits of harm.
Announcing a New RAGs Coordinator
Kathy Shipp, long-time participant of the Triangle Insight community, is now the coordinator of TIMC's Racial Affinity Groups. Kathy will keep the sangha aware of on-going RAGs and the opportunities for practice that they offer, through newsletter, website and meeting announcements. She will be available to answer questions about RAGs formation and RAGs experience, and she will be a resource of information about racial equity training and practice. Among other coordinator responsibililites, she will maintain an up-to-date list of active RAGs, and connect people who are interested in forming a new group, To reach out to Kathy, email her at kathy@triangleinsight.org.
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Sangha Support: Caring Circles
A TIMC Sangha Initiative connecting and strengthening the bonds of our shared practice.
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Caring Circles offers the Triangle Insight Meditation Sangha a simple framework for requesting and providing services to cope with the uncertainties and needs of everyday life. Knowing there is a helping network for sharing and receiving is a great joy and safe haven.
Requests for assistance from the TIMC community will be connected with other TIM regular practitioners who are ready to volunteer their assistance as a form of dana service.
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In your communication, please let us know if the request is of a sensitive nature. The coordinator will make special arrangements with you.
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Financial Support
Scholarships for Training Programs and Workshops in Racial Justice and Diversity
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Our goal:
To help individuals and our community deepen the understanding of how unexamined views of race can limit the mind and human systems.
A Scholarship Fund for this purpose exists through donations from the TIMC General Fund and the generosity of several Triangle Insight participants.
If Triangle Insight sangha participants would like to receive scholarship support for training with OARNC, White Awake, or other programs addressing racial injustice, please email the Board at board@triangleinsight.org.
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We invite the community to join this initiative by contributing directly to this scholarship fund.
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For your convenience, you may use the dedicated PayPal portal,
Or visit our website
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TIMC BOARD | NEWS AND REPORTS |
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Board Meetings
Cynthia, Leah, Martin and Ron convened an open board meeting on September 19, 2021, on Zoom. One participant from the sangha was also present. The minutes will be forthcoming, but here's a brief summary: .
-- Ron updated the current state of our Zoom communications. We decided to purchase a multi-license account with Zoom to insure the teachers can set up and run their own Zoom meetings through TIMC. This arrangement includes a license for a Zoom assistant to manage Wednesday evening meetings and larger events.
--Martin updated the Board on available tech equipment to fit both our needs and our budget. Thus far he has investigated cameras, speaker/microphone options, screens and a laptop, priced under $3,000. He continues to speak with a Zoom representative and will be in contact with a specialist on the design of Zoom Rooms--official jargon for the site where a Zoom meeting takes place.
-- Ron provided an update on the October 16th daylong fundraiser for Triangle Insight with Rodney Smith. Pending a final schedule of how the daylong retreat will proceed, all parts of this event are in place, and Ron will send out an email to all registrants with final instructions on what to expect and preparations. Registration is still open: Go here for a description and to register. Rodney Smith is not taking any dana for himself, but wishes all dana be given to TIMC for our immediate and on-going technical costs to provide hybrid meditation and Dharma sessions..
-- Cynthia reported on a meeting with several participants from the sangha regarding the formation of a Community Connections Committee, with their current intention for Triangle Insight to donate all dana received from one designated Wednesday evening sangha meeting on a quarterly basis to an organization in the community in need of support. Further deliberations are planned in order to formalize the process, and the TI board is in full support of this initiative.
-- Ron reported that we received an invitation from Dharma Relief to complete a survey being sent to various Buddhist communities. Given that none of the board members were familiar with this group and that intentions of the survey are not clear to us as this time, further review was felt to be necessary in order for the board to make a decision on how best to proceed.
-- The board is pleased to announce that since the recent board meeting, Kathy Shipp has volunteered to take on the role of the Racial Affinity Group Coordinator. The board is grateful for the contributions that Beth Lauderdale brought to this effort, and for sharing her experience with Kathy regarding the coordination of the RAGs. We also appreciate Sarah Tillis' contribution by providing the board with the responsibilities and guidelines for the RAG coordinator so that we could share these with Kathy.
-- The board continues implement a rotating leadership for agenda formation and meetings, and Martin has volunteered for this role for the next meeting.
The next open board meeting will be held on Zoom, Sunday, Oct. 9, 12-2 p.m.
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Newsletter Submission Pointers |
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At least two weeks prior to the month in which you wish your announcement to appear, submit new items to info@triangleinsight.org.
- Include in your request a short statement of your relationship to TIMC.
- New requests submitted in the last week of any month may not be accepted if time is a factor in preparing a final copy.
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Changes to existing entries may be incorporated if submitted early in the last week of any month.
- All authors are encouraged to update their newsletter entries and to resubmit, clearly indicating all changes in text and lay-out to minimize error and design time.
- Keep the text crisp and short, but include important details and attachments. Instead of longer texts, refer the reader to websites for additional information.
- Indicate how many months you want your entry to be published, and
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Stay in touch with updates if any specific details change. You are responsible for calling in any changes in time, special dates and/or end dates for ongoing classes, groups or other continuing entries.
- Special circumstances may require adjustment of the deadlines indicated here; early submission is a best practice and helps the newsletter editors determine where, how and if the item submitted shall be published (please see #1 in the Guidelines).
Please contact us through info@triangleinsight.org, and include "Newsletter" on the subject line. We will help you get your item published. Thank you for helping us!
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The Triangle Insight Board is looking for interested sangha participants to help us build a Communications Network for our whole practice community
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Build a Communications Network around
the Newsletter & Website .
Newsletter Editorial Committee
To all interested sangha participants, we are forming a Newsletter Editorial Committee and hope you will volunteer to help develop and maintain the Newsletter. Email www.board@triangleinsight.org. noting Editorial Committee in the subject line.
Website
Plans are in the works for refreshing the website with advice from. a professional website designer. If you are interested in working on planning the website, send us an email: ww.board@triangleinsight.org.
Thank you!
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You are welcome to contact me directly with any comments or suggestions to improve the newsletter and website.
In humor and good intention,
Leah Rutchick, leah@triangleinsight.org
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Share Share Share, Tell your friends
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