About Our Sangha
Prescott Insight Meditation started in 1996 with a small group of people who came together every Tuesday to sit in meditation — sometimes lovingly referred to as Barking Dog Sangha. 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 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 many other contemplative 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, purge our mind of thoughts or leave our body. We want to stay right here without reacting to, or getting lost in thoughts, 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 and 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 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 many other contemplative 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, purge our mind of thoughts or leave our body. We want to stay right here without reacting to, or getting lost in thoughts, 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 and 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.
And so we sit.
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Carol Cook
Founder and guiding Dharma Leader Carol 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. |
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Our Dharma Leaders
Each Tuesday night we are led by the guiding presence of one of these generous Dharma Leaders, in a loosely alternating schedule.
Grace G. Burford
Grace first learned about Buddhism in college in the mid-1970s and has been studying Buddhist teachings and practices ever since. After she earned her Ph.D. in the history and literature of Buddhism and Hinduism, Grace enjoyed a fruitful career as a college/university Religious Studies professor, author, and scholar. For most of her life she has engaged in Buddhist meditation practices that she originally learned from Thai Buddhists in Thailand and the U.S. In 2020 Grace returned to Prescott, having retired from her “capstone” career as a college chaplain. She is quite grateful to be involved again in the Prescott Insight Meditation sangha. Grace is also an ordained Buddhist minister in the American insight tradition and hopes to find ways to serve the Prescott community in this capacity. Grace is inspired by, and aspires to share with others, the many ways the Buddha taught us to lessen our suffering and the suffering of all beings, with the aim of living a peaceful, harmonious life of benefit to all.
Grace first learned about Buddhism in college in the mid-1970s and has been studying Buddhist teachings and practices ever since. After she earned her Ph.D. in the history and literature of Buddhism and Hinduism, Grace enjoyed a fruitful career as a college/university Religious Studies professor, author, and scholar. For most of her life she has engaged in Buddhist meditation practices that she originally learned from Thai Buddhists in Thailand and the U.S. In 2020 Grace returned to Prescott, having retired from her “capstone” career as a college chaplain. She is quite grateful to be involved again in the Prescott Insight Meditation sangha. Grace is also an ordained Buddhist minister in the American insight tradition and hopes to find ways to serve the Prescott community in this capacity. Grace is inspired by, and aspires to share with others, the many ways the Buddha taught us to lessen our suffering and the suffering of all beings, with the aim of living a peaceful, harmonious life of benefit to all.
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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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Kenn Duncan
For Kenn, the door to the Dharma was opened through his meditation practice. As his practice deepened, he began exploring the teachings; and this exploration called to him. He started sitting with Prescott Insight Meditation and practicing Vipassana in the early 2000’s and found great refuge in studying the Dharma with the insightful guidance of Carol Cook. Kenn continued to learn by way of practice, discussion, study and retreats (primarily in Theravada and Tibetan traditions). He began leading meditation sits at PIM. in 2017 and enjoys continuing to develop through sharing. He celebrates working on living daily life with the teachings in mind and enjoys sharing ways to integrate the Dharma into our lives. He believes the Sangha is a safe place for connection and discovery, and Kenn has immense gratitude for the community and all it brings to our lives.
For Kenn, the door to the Dharma was opened through his meditation practice. As his practice deepened, he began exploring the teachings; and this exploration called to him. He started sitting with Prescott Insight Meditation and practicing Vipassana in the early 2000’s and found great refuge in studying the Dharma with the insightful guidance of Carol Cook. Kenn continued to learn by way of practice, discussion, study and retreats (primarily in Theravada and Tibetan traditions). He began leading meditation sits at PIM. in 2017 and enjoys continuing to develop through sharing. He celebrates working on living daily life with the teachings in mind and enjoys sharing ways to integrate the Dharma into our lives. He believes the Sangha is a safe place for connection and discovery, and Kenn has immense gratitude for the community and all it brings to our lives.
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Brenda Frechette
Brenda was drawn to Buddhist teachings in the mid 80’s, struggling with often feeling powerless in the face of profound suffering. In the dharma she found a path that taught how to cultivate presence, balance, and open-hearted acceptance, compassion, and kindness. She has had the good fortune to have teachers in both the Theravadan vipassana tradition as well as Tibetan Buddhism. Brenda has found silent retreat practice to be highly beneficial in developing concentration and compassion over the past 35 years, starting first with S.N. Goenka and later with the Ajahn Chah Thai Forest Tradition. She is a senior student at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and was in their first Dedicated Practitioner Program and Advanced Practitioner Program. Brenda has had a 50 year career in community service, first as a paramedic and later as a psychologist. In addition to having taught in psychotherapy graduate school for 20 years, she has trained in providing mindfulness teachings—first in 2008 with UCSD’s Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, then with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Teacher Certification, as well as being a graduate of the Sati Center’s Eco Buddhist Chaplaincy.
Brenda is very grateful for this warm welcoming sangha!
Brenda was drawn to Buddhist teachings in the mid 80’s, struggling with often feeling powerless in the face of profound suffering. In the dharma she found a path that taught how to cultivate presence, balance, and open-hearted acceptance, compassion, and kindness. She has had the good fortune to have teachers in both the Theravadan vipassana tradition as well as Tibetan Buddhism. Brenda has found silent retreat practice to be highly beneficial in developing concentration and compassion over the past 35 years, starting first with S.N. Goenka and later with the Ajahn Chah Thai Forest Tradition. She is a senior student at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and was in their first Dedicated Practitioner Program and Advanced Practitioner Program. Brenda has had a 50 year career in community service, first as a paramedic and later as a psychologist. In addition to having taught in psychotherapy graduate school for 20 years, she has trained in providing mindfulness teachings—first in 2008 with UCSD’s Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, then with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Teacher Certification, as well as being a graduate of the Sati Center’s Eco Buddhist Chaplaincy.
Brenda is very grateful for this warm welcoming sangha!
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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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Teacher Dana
In keeping with the traditions of Theravada lineage, our Dharma Leaders offer their time and the Buddha's teachings freely so that they are available to all. This has been sustained for over 2,500 years by the ancient tradition of dana, a Pali word meaning “generosity” — a gift given freely to express our gratitude.
If you wish to contribute, please use the button below. On our Paypal donation page you will have the option to direct your gift to one of our teachers, or to the group, with the pull-down menu: "Use this donation for..."
If you wish to contribute, please use the button below. On our Paypal donation page you will have the option to direct your gift to one of our teachers, or to the group, with the pull-down menu: "Use this donation for..."