Participation opportunities include:
- Attending the Wednesday evening sessions
- Maintaining a daily meditation practice
- Reading the assigned materials with daily reflection
- Meeting with the teacher periodically to discuss your practice.
Wednesday Evening Sessions
Sessions are held on Wednesday evenings at 2766 Browns Gap Tpk, Charlottesville from 7:00 – 8:30 PM. You can find details of the next meeting on the home page. Please arrive a few minutes early to settle yourself.
The purposes of the Insight Meditation sessions are to:
- Gain an understanding of the role suffering plays in our life;
- Gain insight into the true natures of reality;
- Use Insight Meditation as a technique to gain insight and freedom from suffering;
- Support your practice;
- Build a community of those who practice Insight Meditation.
Your participation is very important because it will be of benefit to others in the group as well.
Our class agenda is to sit in meditation for about 25-30 minutes followed by a dharma (teaching) talk with time for discussion. I honor our time together and will end promptly at 8:30. Those who wish to stay afterwards for questions or conversation are welcome to do so. As always, we observe confidentiality within our group.
Daily Meditation Practice
A daily meditation practice of 20 minutes or more is recommended. For more information, see meditation instructions.
Recap and Reflection
Recaps of each meeting are available from the Dharma (Teaching) talks page. You can also sign up for our email list to receive a recap of the Dharma (Teaching) talk by email. I urge you to find some time each day to practice meditation and reflect on the assignment.
Private Meetings
I offer the opportunity to meet with you privately so that any questions or practice concerns you have may be addressed. This is also helpful so that I can get a sense of where you are on your journey. Please contact me and we can set up a mutually convenient time.
Questions/Contact
I also welcome any email inquiries from you and will answer them as soon as possible. As always, any communication will be kept confidential.
Dana (donations)
There are no fees for participating. Donations are gratefully accepted to assist in continuing and sustaining the Buddha’s teachings. This tradition of generosity which is over 2,500 years old has made it possible for you to hear the dharma and your donations help make it possible for others to benefit as well. You can donate either by placing donations in the Dana bowl or by mail to Robert Hodge, 2764 Browns Gap Tpk, Charlottesville, VA 22901. Checks should be made out to Robert Hodge.
A final note on how we progress
As you will come to realize, this is not a linear process like a course in school.
“We should not have a time schedule to attain the goal, for our attainment depends on how we progress in our practice based on our understanding and development of our spiritual faculties. We must work diligently and mindfully toward the goal without setting any particular time schedule to reach it. When we are ready, we get there. All we have to do is to prepare ourselves for that attainment.” – Henepola Gunaratana, Sitting Still
Question: “What are the signs of progress in spiritual life?”
Maharaj: “Freedom from all anxiety, a sense of ease and joy, deep peace within and abundant energy without.” — Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj “I Am That”
I look forward to working with you!
