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Heartwood Insight Victoria
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Heartwood
Insight is a Mindfulness meditation group based in the Dandenong
Ranges an hour from Melbourne. We draw heart and inspiration from
the Buddha Dharma. The Buddha meditated under the Bodhi tree in
Bodh Gaya until there was an undistorted clear comprehension of
a life free from greed, aversion and delusion.
Heartwood Insight facilitates and supports meditation and mindfulness
practices that respond with kindness and compassion to oneself and
others as well as developing insight leading to wisdom. Participants
have the opportunity to learn meditation techniques; develop mindfulness
in everyday life and engage in discussions and dharma talks.
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What is Insight Meditation?
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The word 'Insight'
or 'Vipassana' in Pali (the language of the Buddha) means to see deeply
and clearly into the nature of existence and does not relate inherently
to any specific technique or meditation teacher. The Buddha conveys
the possibility of a range of meditation and mindfulness practices
to support calm and insight.
The Insight meditation tradition in the west has many branches and
includes many lay teachers and practitioners. Some teachers have been
monks and nuns in countries such as Thailand and Burma. Inspiration
is drawn from the roots of the Buddhist tradition and contemporary
Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. Insight meditation practices continue
to be part of a living tradition in both eastern and western countries.
It is open to different influences and flavours depending on changing
cultural and social mores.
At the heart, Insight, is a contemplation of the heart/mind and a
wish to end suffering for ourselves and others.
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Program: What happens at Heartwood?
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The Heartwood meditation
group meets on Wednesday evenings between 7.30 and 9pm during school
terms. Activities include: sitting meditation, as well as guided meditations;
walking meditation and dharma discussions.
The group
meets in an upstairs studio space in a peaceful location in the wooded
Dandenong Hills. You will be encouraged to explore different meditation
postures such as sitting cross legged, in a chair or reclining. There
will be a possibility to meet occasionally for day retreats which
will involve sitting meditations and walking through the forest.
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About Christine
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Christine Thompson
has been on a life-long spiritual journey, embracing teachings of
inquiry and insight from across traditions. She sat with J. Krishnamurti
and Vimala Thakar and H.W.L Poonja from Lucknow as well as developing
her love of the Buddha Dharma. Christine sat her first Vipassana
retreat with S.N. Goenka in 1975 and since then has studied with
a range of Dharma teachers both in India and in the West, such as
Christopher Titmuss, Anagarika Munindra from Bengal, Godwin Samaratne
from Sri Lanka and Sayadaw U Tejaniya from Burma. She has lived
in a dharma community in the U.K. guided by Christopher Titmuss
and Christina Feldman. Her practice has included extended retreats,
such as the three month silent retreat guided by Joseph Goldstein
at the Insight Meditation Society Barre, Mass., U.S. She also has
an ongoing involvement in the Dharma Facilitators Program in Australia.
Christine offered teaching support by leading a group and giving
interviews on both the Bodh Gaya retreats led by Christopher Titmuss
and Radha Nicholson in 2011. In her capacity as a psychotherapist
and social worker, she has taught meditation and mindfulness to
individuals and groups in the mental health and drug and alcohol
fields. Christine continues to be nourished by three teachers in
particular; Christopher Titmuss, Radha Nicholson and Jaya Ashmore
from Open Dharma.
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Contact
0425
723 850 (mobile)
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Site last updated:
July 10, 2011
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