My friends, it is through the establishment of the lovely clarity of mindfulness that you can let go of grasping after past and future, overcome attachment and grief, abandon all clinging and anxiety, and awaken an unshakable freedom of heart, here, now.”
New To Insight Meditation
You are welcome here. Insight (Vipassana) Meditation is based on the teachings of the Buddha. However, people with a broad-range of philosophies and religions continue to find Insight Meditation to be helpful in increasing their wisdom and opening their hearts.
Vipassana is a Pali (Pali is the language used during the time of the Buddha) word meaning “to see clearly.” In this practice, we focus our attention on the breath and use body scans and other methods to help calm and collect the mind. In this way we create the conditions for insights to arise.
Insights let us see clearly how suffering is created in ourselves and in the world and how we can reduce this suffering both for ourselves and for others. Scientific studies that show regular meditation is beneficial for:
- a greater sense of peace
- experiencing life more vividly and authentically
- a greater understanding of oneself
- an appreciation of the mind-body relationship
- deepened awareness of one’s capacity for happiness and freedom.
- a new sense of compassion for self and others
For those beginning meditation or new to Insight Meditation, we offer a weekly instruction gathering. Our community (and this gathering) includes meditators of all levels.
IMCC Weekly Instruction Period
Each Wednesday evening of the month, IMC Charlotte offers a 7pm instruction period. This is an opportunity for new or experienced meditators to receive instructions about Insight Meditation and/or ask questions of a Dharma Leader. The teachers make themselves available because they believe it is important to support those beginning and those already engaged in the practice.
Attendees are asked to participate at their first visit, and are encouraged to continue for at least their first four visits. The leaders rotate responsibility for leading these sessions, and the different perspectives offered ensure a certain depth and richness to the sessions. Even long-time meditators in other traditions can benefit from a clear explanation of the particular tradition and practices of Insight Meditation.
The instruction period is open to all sangha members, no matter how long they have attended. New members are welcome to continue coming even after their first four visits. Those returning after a lapse in attendance may find it useful to re-ground themselves in the basics of the practice. For those who’ve been practicing for a while but would like a refresher, please join us too. You’ll find the link for this 7pm session on the homepage of this website.
Click here for recorded meditation instructions. You may also want to look here for recommended readings and audio talks.
Loving-Kindness (Metta) Meditation cultivates the natural capacity for an open heart and a deepening of connection with all beings. We start by sending loving-kindness to ourselves and then generating it for others.
We silently repeat phases such as: “May I be safe and protected. May you be healthy and strong. May all beings be peaceful. May all beings be happy. May all beings be free.” Loving-kindness meditation is a powerful tool for opening our hearts and dispelling feelings of anger and aversion.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a moment-to-moment awareness that allows for the arising of clarity, compassion, and joy – making it possible to live a life of happiness and freedom.
Insight Meditation practice trains our minds to be aware of each breath, each moment. This strengthens the ability to practice mindfulness in our day-to-day lives, being fully open and present to our experiences and to each other.