Developing Steadiness, Clarity & Wise Action in a Political Climate of Greed, Cruelty & Exclusion
with Manny Mansbach

Saturday February 22, 11am-3pm ET

in-person/hybrid at IWM

Suggested donation: $20-$45 registration + teacher donation* (we encourage you to consider giving teacher dana equal to or greater than what you gave for registration)*

Description:

“Each morning I awaken torn between the desire to save the world and savor the world.” - E.B. White

One of the great symbolic images that Buddhism offers is the Buddha sitting in meditation, powerfully upright and with his chest open, and his eyes half-open. The idea is that he is paying attention equally to inside and outside. Not burdened with the weight of the world, but also not ignoring the situation of the world.

This half-day retreat is an opportunity to practice in community with one foot planted in the beauty of the world, this life and the dharma; and the other foot resting in the middle of our broken and harmful political realities.

We will sit and walk and cultivate wholesome and connecting mind/heart states.

Additionally, we will wrestle with important questions, like:

-- How do we love what is — not preferring what is here, but attending with utmost care to it?

-- How might these conditions serve to awaken?

-- What does Wise Action look like in this time? And importantly, from what consciousness do we act? How do we respond from the best that we are instead of from fear and greed and confusion, from blame and reaction?

-- How do we balance welcoming diverse people and viewpoints, while being firm about standing up for certain values and principles of human decency, of civility, of telling the truth, of caring for vulnerable peoples.

-- How might Buddhism be a source of strength for the world in moving beyond division, in respecting all beings, in seeking commonalities and common ground amongst all beings?

-- How might we in this time honor the Buddha’s instruction and exhortation:

“Make yourself a refuge for all beings.”

“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.” - Cornell West

Manny Mansbach has been practicing Insight Meditation since 1980. He is a graduate of Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s Community Dharma Leader Program, and has decades of experience as a mindfulness-based psychotherapist working with couples, a teacher of therapists in training, and a social activist. Manny is committed to helping people remember and express their basic goodness, and to gain confidence in the beauty and power of the Buddha’s teachings of profound understanding and boundless kindness. He is passionate about integrating the wise speech teachings of the Buddha with western-based practices of skillful communication. For Manny's website visit mannymansbach.com.

*In keeping with the Buddhist tradition of dana (generosity), the suggested registration amounts for our classes and retreats do not include any payment for the teacher. The teachers are paid entirely out of the students' generosity. Please consider giving a donation to the teacher in order to support their ability to continue to share the dharma. We encourage you to consider teacher dana equal to or greater than the amount you gave for registration. You may give a donation at the time of registration and/or give later donations through our teacher dana link or in-person at the course/retreat. Everyone is welcome to all of our offerings regardless of ability to donate.

You can give online or send checks to Insight Western Mass, 116 Pleasant Street, Suite 242, Easthampton, MA 01027. FYI: we check for mail once per week.

IN-PERSON LOCATION:

IWM at Eastworks; 116 Pleasant St, Suite 242, Easthampton, MA

Chairs and cushions available.

Please bring your own covered water bottle.

Covid Protocols:

• Masks optional

• If you have COVID concerns (new symptoms or think you've been exposed), please stay home and join us via Zoom.

• Field Control Trio Plus portable air purifier will be running (H13 HEPA with an ultraviolet light component).

Zoom Link
Password: 242. 

Dial in by phone for audio only: Call (646) 558-8656. Meeting ID: 943 156 1684. Password: 242Call. Meeting ID: . Password: 242