For episode 148 of the Metta Hour, Sharon celebrates the 45th anniversary of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts.
Founded by Sharon, Joseph Goldstein, and Jack Kornfield on February 14th, 1975, this year marks 45 years since IMS opened doors to the public. Sharon reflects on this special anniversary and shares one of her earliest archival recordings from IMS from 1983. Since its inception, IMS has proven a wellspring of spiritual wisdom and a refuge of practice for individuals interested in meditation, mindfulness, lovingkindness, and self-inquiry.
“I think about this running river, and I’m a part of it. It’s just this incredible feeling to watch it go on and spread in the way that it has…It’s hard to even believe what has happened, that IMS has become a refuge of practice for so many.” – Sharon Salzberg
Information on IMS and its ongoing offerings can be found at Dharma.org. For a catalog of dharma talks shared at IMS from a wide assortment of spiritual teachers, please visit: DharmaSeed.org.
Insight Meditation Society
Celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre MA, founded by Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein, and Jack Kornfield on February 14th, 1975; Sharon shares a dharma talk which she gave at IMS in 1983. Since it’s inception, IMS has proven a wellspring of spiritual wisdom and a refuge of practice for individuals interested in meditation, mindfulness, metta, and self-inquiry.
Join Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein live at IMS’ 40th anniversary, exploring how to live in the dharma, on Ep. 47 of the Metta Hour
Intimacy and Caring (2:55)
Beginning the dharma talk, Sharon offers the results of a study that was done regarding the qualities of intimacy and caring. The study gave plants to individuals in nursing homes. One group was told to care for their plants, watering and tending to them; while the other group was told that the nursing staff would take care of it. The group directly caring for their plant were much more alive, energetic, and healthy––showcasing the tremendous effects of care and intimacy on the human condition.
“Meditation is the intimate exploration–in a very direct way–of our own personal experience, developing our own vision of the nature of things, of the nature of our lives; being intimate, being connected with ourselves.” – Sharon Salzberg
Intimately tend to the beautiful garden of your inner life with Sharon’s fellow IMS teacher, Jack Kornfield, on Ep. 73 of Heart Wisdom
Factors of Awakening (21:39)
Sharon elucidates the three predominant forces, our conditioned tendencies, which keep us from being in the moment with totality and openness. The first is an attachment to pleasant objects; a grasping or clinging to that which is pleasant. The second aspect is an aversion to unpleasant experiences; a temptation to withdraw or separate ourselves from something unpleasant. The third factor is delusion or dullness; an aspect of not being present, not being awake.
“It returns to having a sense of our direct experience, and the understanding that each and every moment is equally valuable, whether it is painful, or pleasant, or neutral; and that our energy, our effort, is directed towards being as fully and completely present and aware with each and every moment.” – Sharon Salzberg
Dive into the factors of awakening as outlined by the Buddha, with Sharon’s fellow IMS teacher, Jospeh Goldstein, on Ep. 66 of the Insight Hour
Images via Sharon Salzberg and Insight Meditation Society