Wellington Insight Meditation Community (Te Puaki Marama o te Poneke) is a group that offers an open space to support individual inquiry through a community of spiritual friends on the Buddhist path. We have an open sitting meditation practice on three Thursday evenings of the month at Wellington Study Group at 31 Hobson Crescent, Thorndon, 7-9pm with the opportunity to listen and engage with Buddhist teachings.
We welcome people of all spiritualities, or none, in the practice of mindfulness meditation, calm concentration and kindness. We listen to and discuss recorded dharma talks. You’re welcome to come along.
We emphasise an open hearted attitude to ourselves and all who come seeking, whether the aim is for ease and peace from the rush of modern living, a means to release from inner suffering and to be happier, or to follow a path to freedom and awakening.
The usual format is a 30-40 minute silent sitting meditation practice followed by a recorded talk from one of the many teachers available, followed by an optional discussion.
The Buddhist tradition in which we situate ourselves is particularly western in form, coming from the Insight Meditation Society. IMS teachings are based mainly in Theravada Buddhism of South-East Asia, which mostly uses the original teachings of the Buddha found in the Pali sutras. The IMS approach was initially developed by men and women from the UK and the US who went to the East (especially S.E. Asia and India) to explore their spirituality and who practiced as monks and nuns for many years. Coming back to the West, they realised that it was impossible for them to practice Buddhism as they had in those societies, and began to develop ways for westerners to learn to meditate and to engage in Buddhist ethical and philosophical understandings in order to follow this path.
We would like dana, or heartfelt generosity, to be the basis for all we do, offering our activities wherever possible without a fee.
To receive news from WIMC each week by email send a message to wimc+subscribe@googlegroups.com with the subject subscribe.
To get in touch with us phone Mary Duignan on 04 389 9465 or send an email to contact@wimc.org.nz