About Our Sangha
Prescott Insight Meditation (formerly Prescott Vipassana Sangha) started in 1993 with a small group of people who came together every Tuesday to sit in meditation. We slowly evolved into an active Sangha — a community of people who not only sit in meditation together, but are dedicated to living in the present moment and cultivating kindness and compassion toward ourselves and all beings. And with all that, we also know increased joy.
Our Sangha is rooted in the Theravada school of Buddhism, believed to be the oldest of three main traditions. The other two are known commonly as Zen and Tibetan.
It’s important to note that not everyone in this Sangha is a Buddhist. We don’t know how many Sangha members call themselves “Buddhists,” because it’s really not important! And even those who do may identify more strongly with one of the other traditions. But most of us are in some way following the path that the Buddha is said to have taught — the path that leads to liberation from unnecessary suffering for ourselves and all beings.
Our practice is called Insight Meditation (also vipassana, a Pali word meaning “seeing clearly”). It is grounded in learning to live in the present moment. We are not trying to go into any kind of trance or leave our body. We want to stay right here without getting lost in thought, worrying, planning, day dreaming. This can be challenging in the beginning because our minds are wired to think — to plan, to imagine, etc. And that’s what they do!
When you are new to the practice we suggest that you begin by developing some calmness, tranquility, and the ability to stay somewhat focused on one object — this is usually the breath. The breath works well because our breath is always in the present moment. And it’s portable.
Once we have gained some skill in creating calmness, tranquility, and concentration, we can open our attention to other objects: sounds, touch, smells, tastes, and eventually mental images, thoughts and emotions.
It is at this deeper level of attention that we begin to see clearly, to have insight into the many ways we create unnecessary suffering in our life and the lives of others. These ways are usually unconscious, deeply conditioned, and by practicing, we learn to see them clearly in order to make positive changes in our thoughts, attitudes and behaviors in our daily lives.
But all along this path, we can feel ourselves growing — not only in wisdom, but in kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. We realize and deepen our connection with all beings.
Our Sangha is rooted in the Theravada school of Buddhism, believed to be the oldest of three main traditions. The other two are known commonly as Zen and Tibetan.
It’s important to note that not everyone in this Sangha is a Buddhist. We don’t know how many Sangha members call themselves “Buddhists,” because it’s really not important! And even those who do may identify more strongly with one of the other traditions. But most of us are in some way following the path that the Buddha is said to have taught — the path that leads to liberation from unnecessary suffering for ourselves and all beings.
Our practice is called Insight Meditation (also vipassana, a Pali word meaning “seeing clearly”). It is grounded in learning to live in the present moment. We are not trying to go into any kind of trance or leave our body. We want to stay right here without getting lost in thought, worrying, planning, day dreaming. This can be challenging in the beginning because our minds are wired to think — to plan, to imagine, etc. And that’s what they do!
When you are new to the practice we suggest that you begin by developing some calmness, tranquility, and the ability to stay somewhat focused on one object — this is usually the breath. The breath works well because our breath is always in the present moment. And it’s portable.
Once we have gained some skill in creating calmness, tranquility, and concentration, we can open our attention to other objects: sounds, touch, smells, tastes, and eventually mental images, thoughts and emotions.
It is at this deeper level of attention that we begin to see clearly, to have insight into the many ways we create unnecessary suffering in our life and the lives of others. These ways are usually unconscious, deeply conditioned, and by practicing, we learn to see them clearly in order to make positive changes in our thoughts, attitudes and behaviors in our daily lives.
But all along this path, we can feel ourselves growing — not only in wisdom, but in kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. We realize and deepen our connection with all beings.
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Our Dharma Leaders
The teachings of the Buddha have been sustained for over 2,500 years by the ancient tradition of dana, a Pali word meaning “generosity”. Our leaders follow this centuries-old tradition of offering the Dharma freely so that the teachings are available to all.
Each Tuesday night we are graced by the guiding presence of one of our Dharma Leaders in an alternating schedule. In the Theravada tradition, there is no charge for the teachings and practice support, but you may make an offering of dana. Dana is a word in Pali and Sanskrit that can be translated as “generosity” — a gift given freely to express our gratitude.
Each Tuesday night we are graced by the guiding presence of one of our Dharma Leaders in an alternating schedule. In the Theravada tradition, there is no charge for the teachings and practice support, but you may make an offering of dana. Dana is a word in Pali and Sanskrit that can be translated as “generosity” — a gift given freely to express our gratitude.
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Carol Cook
Carol is the founder and guiding Dharma Leader for Prescott Insight. She has practiced vipassana meditation since 1993 and has studied in the Theravada tradition as it has come to the West. She completed the Community Dharma Leaders Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center (founded by Jack Kornfield), and is authorized to teach the Dharma through classes, sitting groups and non-residential retreats. Carol is dedicated to helping others end mental suffering through understanding the Buddha’s basic teachings and applying them in daily life. She is available for individual practice support. To schedule, please send an email to Carol. |
"One does not have to be a Buddhist to benefit from the Buddha's teachings."
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J. Mark Donovan
The Beatnik writers, and their interest in Eastern spirituality, inspired Mark as a teenager and drew him to San Francisco as a young man in the mid-1980’s, where he discovered mindfulness at a 10-day Goenka retreat. Mark has practiced in Zen and Shambhala traditions, and over time made his home in Vipassana. He founded, and for seven years co-facilitated, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the Albuquerque VA for veterans with PTSD in his role as an occupational therapist. Yoga has been an integral part of his life. Mark moved to Prescott in 2014 to be near family and forest and because he was drawn by the Prescott Insight Meditation (PIM) community. He now serves as a PIM retreat coordinator and began dharma teaching in 2015. In these times of rapid change, displacement and anxiety, he is deeply grateful for the Buddhist wisdom teachings and practices that ground us and guide us to liberation, open hearts, and caring inter-being with one another and life.
The Beatnik writers, and their interest in Eastern spirituality, inspired Mark as a teenager and drew him to San Francisco as a young man in the mid-1980’s, where he discovered mindfulness at a 10-day Goenka retreat. Mark has practiced in Zen and Shambhala traditions, and over time made his home in Vipassana. He founded, and for seven years co-facilitated, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the Albuquerque VA for veterans with PTSD in his role as an occupational therapist. Yoga has been an integral part of his life. Mark moved to Prescott in 2014 to be near family and forest and because he was drawn by the Prescott Insight Meditation (PIM) community. He now serves as a PIM retreat coordinator and began dharma teaching in 2015. In these times of rapid change, displacement and anxiety, he is deeply grateful for the Buddhist wisdom teachings and practices that ground us and guide us to liberation, open hearts, and caring inter-being with one another and life.
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Carol Russell
Somewhere along the way, Carol stumbled into the Dharma and has been practicing ever since. She appreciates the straightforward and compassionate invitation of these teachings: In the midst of everyday life we can find the extraordinary experience of the present moment. Loosening our habitual mindset slowly frees us from the causes of suffering and awakens lovingkindness toward ourselves and others. Since Carol has walked a variety of paths, she enjoys drawing a big circle and exploring the inclusive common ground among diverse spiritual approaches.
The value of sangha, spiritual community, is immeasurable, and Carol is happy to welcome everyone to this circle.
Somewhere along the way, Carol stumbled into the Dharma and has been practicing ever since. She appreciates the straightforward and compassionate invitation of these teachings: In the midst of everyday life we can find the extraordinary experience of the present moment. Loosening our habitual mindset slowly frees us from the causes of suffering and awakens lovingkindness toward ourselves and others. Since Carol has walked a variety of paths, she enjoys drawing a big circle and exploring the inclusive common ground among diverse spiritual approaches.
The value of sangha, spiritual community, is immeasurable, and Carol is happy to welcome everyone to this circle.
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Guided Metta Meditation
Forgiveness and Metta Meditation
Metta, a Pali word for loving-kindness, is the heartfelt wish for the well-being of oneself and others. Gil Fronsdal describes loving-kindness, in his book The Issue at Hand, as being "closely related to the softening of the heart that allows us to feel empathy with the happiness and sorrow of the world. [...] Loving-kindness is also understood as the innate friendliness of an open heart."
Following is just one version of a guided meditation that we offer at the conclusion of many of our silent sits on Tuesday nights:
We begin by offering forgiveness to ourselves and other beings.
Thinking first of yourself, something you have done or failed to do, said or failed to say, that may have caused harm to yourself or to another being:
I allow myself to make mistakes.
I allow myself to be imperfect.
I allow myself to be a learner, learning life’s lessons.
I forgive myself for any harm I may have done.
And if I can’t forgive myself completely now, may I do so in the future.
And now thinking of someone else; someone who has done something or failed to do something, said something or failed to say something, that may have caused harm to you, or to them, or to another being:
I allow you to make mistakes.
I allow you to be imperfect.
I allow you to be a learner, learning life’s lessons.
I forgive you for having done harm.
And if I can’t forgive you completely now, may I do so in the future.
And now focusing again on your own being, imagine yourself in a kind and gentle way. Holding this image of yourself in your heart, repeat the phrases of metta:
May I be happy.
May I be healthy in mind and body.
May I live in peace, with ease and well being.
May I be safe.
And may I know and embrace every aspect of myself, both dark and light, with love and kindness.
And now thinking of someone for whom it is easy to feel kind and loving, and holding that being or those beings close to your heart:
May you be happy.
May you be healthy in mind and body.
May you live in peace, with ease and well being.
And may you be safe.
And may you know and embrace every aspect of yourself, both dark and light, with love and kindness
And finally, thinking of someone for whom it is harder to feel kind and loving,
holding that being or those beings in your awareness:
May you, too, be happy.
May you, too, be healthy in mind and body.
May you live in peace, with ease and well being.
May you be safe.
And may you know and embrace every aspect of yourself, both dark and light, with love and kindness
May all beings be happy – all beings
Those of us here in this room
Those for whom we love and care.
The folks in this community, on this continent, on this planet, throughout the universe and beyond.
All beings: far and near, seen and unseen, heard and unheard, big and little, born and unborn.
May we all be free from suffering and the causes and conditions of suffering.
May our hearts be liberated.