dharma.org.au
What is
Insight Meditation?
Insight Meditation (also known
as Vipassana) refers to both Buddhist meditation practices and
a largely Western form of Buddhism. A feature of Insight Meditation
as a form of Buddhism is that it is either free from ritual or
has minimal ritual. There are many styles of Insight Meditation
and teachers with different approaches. A common thread is that
they all have a focus on settling the mind, developing a level
of clarity, and looking carefully at one's experience. Aims of
Insight Meditation include coming to a deep understanding of
who, what and how we are, and finding a sense of connection with,
and compassion for, other living beings.
For a more in-depth view on
what distinguishes secular Insight Meditation from other forms
of Buddhism, one view - not the only view - is presented in Volume
8 of the Journal of Global Buddhism in an article titled
The Emergence of Secular Insight Practice in Australia.
Quarterly
Insight Meditation News
We have a quarterly email news
which gives a little more information than is on the website
about what is coming up and what is happening in our national
(mainly East Coast) network. You can get on the list for these
emails by sending an email to:
We're happy to take you off
the list at any time. Just let us know. We don't give names or
addresses on this list to anyone.
Groups in particular areas
(DharmaCloud, Bluegum Sangha, Sydney Insight Meditators, Tallowwood
Sangha, Brisbane Insight Meditation and others) have their own
lists. Look under the "Groups/Centres" heading for
contact details.
Yatras
We have regular meditation,
yoga and walking programs called yatras. Details available here.
Other Insight Meditation teachers
in Australia
There are other teachers in
Australia who teach a form of Insight Meditation. Some are monastics
or former monastics, some teach at the Blue Mountains Insight Meditation Centre, where
two of the ITCA teachers also teach. Others teach independently
such as John Barter.
Insight Meditation practices
are also found in types of Zen and Tibetan Buddhism.
Overseas
teachers* who lead Insight Meditation programs in Australia
Guy Armstrong and Sally Clough Armstrong lead a retreat in the
Perth area every second year;
Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters lead retreats
near Perth on alternate years;
Stephen and Martine Batchelor have come to
Australia only once before but are coming in 2010;
Gregory
Kramer leads Insight Dialogue retreats each year in NSW and
Victoria;
Jason Siff comes each year and teaches in eastern
and central states;
Steven Smith teaches at the Blue Mountains
Insight Meditation Centre;
Christopher Titmuss has been coming to Australia
consistently for over thirty years and teaches each year in NSW.
*This site covers overseas-based
lay Insight teachers who teach or have taught at one of the following
centres: Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Insight Meditation Society,
Barre Center for Buddhist Studies (all USA), Gaia House (UK)
and Meditation Center Beatenberg (Switzerland).
Insight Meditation in New Zealand
There
is an active Insight Meditation community in New Zealand / Aotearoa
and details can be found at Insight Meditation communities in Aotearoa
and at the Christchurch group site.
Insight Meditation further afield
There are many Insight Meditation
centres and groups overseas. Five of the larger centres are:
Spirit
Rock Meditation Centre (California, USA)
Insight Meditation
Society (Massachussetts, USA)
Barre Centre for Buddhist Studies (Massachussetts,
USA)
Gaia
House (UK)
Meditation Center Beatenberg (Switzerland)
Links
Insight Meditation Australia (subgroup of ITCA
teachers)
BuddhaNet
Tricycle
Zafus (meditation cushions)
Site Information
This site is for programs run
by ITCA teachers, groups related to these teachers and programs
run by visiting Insight Meditation teachers as detailed above.
To contact the site administrator email
Retreats get posted when the
details are set and bookings are open.