New England Family Dharma Retreat in the Berkshire Mountains We are pleased to announce that the IMCW Family Program teachers -- Ofosu, Jen, and Fred – will be leading a New England Family Dharma Retreat in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts, July 19-23, at the beautiful Eastover Estate & Eco-Village. Activities will include skits, games, songs, art, mindful movement, nature activities, a campfire, meditation, and dharma talks. During free time, optional activities include swimming, mindful sports, drumming, nature activities, Qi Gong, and parent workshops.... July 8, 2019By Neile Whitney events, family
Mindful Relations While there are many aspects that go into cultivating loving relationships (with intimate others, parents, children, friends, etc.), perhaps one of the most significant is our habitual way of experiencing those around us.... June 25, 2019By Stan Eisenstein DaylongRetreats
Mindfulness at Mealtime As parents ourselves, we find that it can be challenging to simply find our own personal space to pause, breathe, and be. Taking the next step – bringing mindfulness practices of kindness and presence into family life – can at times feel close to impossible. Here we share some activities and tips for bringing mindfulness to the heart of family life – the dinner table. These tips are gleaned from our own parenting experience as well as our more than ten years of developing and teaching mindfulness to families.... June 11, 2019By Jennifer Jordan, Ofosu Jones-Quartey family, teachings
What Are You Doing For Others? Insight on the Inside There were a lot of insightful questions directed both to me and their peers, who chimed in with insights that may have come straight out of the dharma. There were discussions on how to make peace with the treatment by police and the justice system, as well as how to make peace with the things that landed them there in the first place. We ended up going a bit over time because everyone was so engaged... May 29, 2019By Carolyn Stachowski announcement, SocialJustice
No Self, No Problem: Exploring Anatta The writer Emily McDowell isn't a Buddhist, but in today's language she has accurately described one of Buddhism's most difficult and misunderstood concepts - that of no-self, or anatta -- in this short statement: "Finding yourself is not really how it works. You aren't a 10-dollar bill in last winter's coat pocket. You are also not lost. Your true self is right here, buried under cultural conditioning, other people's opinions, and inaccurate conclusions you drew as a kid that became your beliefs about who you are... April 28, 2019By Shell Fischer announcement, teachings