Dhamma Pakasa Open House · Additional details for several articles are on the old student website...
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Additional details for several articles are on the old student website (username: old student password: behappy) Dhamma Pakasa Open House Sunday, May 5th, 2019 Old Student Day Saturday, May 4th, 2019 Spring Work Service Period April 28 - May 8 Dhamma Pakasa Center Development Update Dhamma Pakasa Seeks Center Manager Introducing Chicago Vipassana Hall Dhamma.org Mobile App We need your engagement, ideas, and creative energy to build strong old student communities in our surrounding major metropolitan areas. You are invited to the first Open Space Technology event at Dhamma Pakasa on Saturday, May 4, 2019 from 10:45 - 2:00 (including lunch) to explore how the Center can better support Old Students in the cities where they live, work and practice every day. Open Space Technology is a large group participation methodology designed to elicit maximum involvement and creativity in a constructive atmosphere. It is also highly flexible so that the con- tent is entirely determined by you -- the participants. We will begin with a group sitting and then convene in the Dining Hall where you will choose the topics that you find meaningful and energizing. What we achieve will depend on our individual and collective responsibility to make it happen. The content is what each person shares, and the outcome is what we will all create. We propose to create an Open Space in which clear thinking and creativity can flourish. Please RSVP for lunch or send questions and suggestions at [email protected] SCHEDULE 9:00 am - 10:00 am Group Sitting 9:30 am - 10:30 am Dhamma Talk (Dennis Austin, Center Teacher). 10:45 am - 12:00 pm Open Space Event 12:00 am - 1:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Open Space Findings and Discussion 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Group Sitting After a delay of almost three years, plans to expand Dhamma Pakasa are back on track! Due to new planning laws that were put in place in Winnebago County, the zoning classification the Center previously had was no longer valid and it was necessary to apply for a new classification. However, when we submitted our application for the new zoning classification, one of our neigh- bors objected to it. This neighbor has no objections to the Center, and is not opposed to what we do or our plans to expand, only to the zoning classification and its potential long-term future implications. Consequently, Dhamma Pakasa was faced with a decision; press forward over the objections of our neighbor, or pursue a special zoning classification. The decision made by the Dhamma Pakasa Trust was to pursue a special zoning classification, even if it meant a further delay in our expansion plans and some additional cost to the center. In October of 2018, Dhamma Pakasa was granted special zoning status by the county and took another big step for development to proceed once again. The remaining step that needs to be taken is for Dhamma Pakasa to apply for new Special Use Permit (SUP). It’s anticipated that our application for a new SUP will be submitted this spring and approved by the county board this summer. We do not anticipate any problems in obtaining a new SUP based upon conversations with county officials (and our previous success in getting one). With the new SUP in place, we’ll be excited to begin development in earnest once again. Long- term server residences, infrastructure upgrades, and development of roadways on the property will be some of the first projects undertaken so that we can then construct the new Dhamma Hall with meditation cells and AT residences, followed by construction of a new dormitory. Of course, further development is dependent not only upon the necessary permits, but also the generosity of old students in form of Dana. Should you have the volition to help in the effort, please visit http://www.pakasa.dhamma.org/os/osportal/donation/ to contribute or contact the treasurer at [email protected]. A position will be opening for Center Manager in the Fall of 2019, with training beginning in August/September. The general role of a center manager is to organize the maintenance of the center and support servers through the processes of course service. This can take the form of administrative support or hands-on instruction. In this varied and constantly changing role, it is always the goal of managers to apply the principles of the practice and be a role model for newer servers in approaching problems with ingenuity and energy and above all, equanimity. It is important that candidates for center manager be well established in their practice and have experience in serving several courses. The Trust would like potential center managers to make a commitment of six months to a year. In some cases, center managers may be allowed to extend their service for up to one more addi- tional year. Duties will involve close coordination with the Trust Committees about the day-to-day operation of the center and needed improvements. It will be helpful if prospective center manag- ers have their own transportation for off-duty periods. Serious meditators have found that service given in the center manager role quickly deepens their practice, preparing them for longer cours- es, and provides a thorough understanding of how centers and trusts operate. If you are interested in applying or learning more, please contact either the Managers at [email protected]. All Old Students who have completed at least one ten-day course with S.N. Goenka or his as- sistant teachers are welcome to attend.Old students in Chicago have come together and estab- lished a Chicago Vipassana Hall where regular group sittings and one-day courses can be held. These sittings are valuable opportunities to strengthen your practice of Vipassana by meditat- ing with fellow students. We are grateful that the Quang Minh Temple has provided us a space to meditate together at a highly subsidized rate and we ask that you please be respectful of their space. Our Vipassana group sittings have no official affiliation with the Vietnamese Buddhist tem- ple, and our meditation groups remain non-sectarian. Please contact Bethany, Lisa or Anand at [email protected] to help with hosting, managing, and outreach, or if you would like to be on the Chicago Vipassana Hall Committee. Group Sitting Schedule (registration not required) Monday evenings: 7:15 pm - 8:30 pm Saturday afternoons: 12:00 pm - 1:10 pm and 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm (feel free to join one or both) One-Day Courses (registration required) - The 4th Saturday of every month (10:00 am - 5:30 pm). Registration begins at 9:30 am. Register here: http://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa. Click here for more details. More Chicagoland Group Sitting Locations Hyde Park- Tuesdays (7:15pm)- 5650 S. Woodlawn Ave. One-hour group sitting held in the First Unitarian Church. Group sittings will take place in the Bell Tower Room. We have meditation cushions available, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer. Please email [email protected] with any questions. Oak Park– every other Saturday (6:00 pm)- 441 South Blvd. One-hour group sitting held at the Ahimsa yoga studio. You can check the address and schedule by following this link https://goo.gl/igcEqB. Please contact [email protected] before noon on the day of the sitting to confirm your plans to attend. Virtual Daily Group Sittings All old students are welcome to participate in this flexible and user friendly program to strength- en their daily practice. It has been designed to give you the flexibility to join late or leave early without worrying about disturbing the other meditators. These virtual daily group sittings are com- plementary and not a replacement for the existing weekly and monthly group sittings that are already happening in your communities. If you wish to participate in this program, please click on the following link to register for the Virtual Daily Group Sitting program. Once we receive your information, all the necessary details about the program will be sent to you in- cluding timings of the virtual daily group sittings, various ways of connecting to these daily sittings etc. One-day Course in Akron, Ohio + Date: Sunday, May 19, 2019 + Time: Arrival: 8:00 - 8:15, End 4:30 pm. + Location: Akron, Ohio. If you are interested to participate, or would like to be contacted for future one-day course or group sit, please send an email including your first and last name to [email protected]. The Dhamma.org Mobile App for iOS devices, iPhones and iPads is now avail- able for download at https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/about/mobile-app and at the iTunes Store. Note that a download link to the App is also available at the bottom of the front page of the www.dhamma.org website for the convenience of students. The Dhamma.org Mobile App provides information about Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin and makes it easy to discover and apply for courses worldwide. Old Students in this tradition will be able to use this App to support their daily practice and further their lifelong development in Dhamma. General features: + Learn more about Vipassana Meditation + Find locations near you that offer Vipassana Meditation courses from a complete worldwide listing or map of over 300 locations spread across 80+ countries + Locate Vipassana Meditation courses using search criteria such as dates, regions, and instruction languages + Apply and register to attend a Vipassana Meditation course Features for Old Students (accessible by logging in as “oldstudent” and password “behappy”): + One hour group sitting recordings in 25+ different languages + Play group sitting recordings with an option to log your daily sittings Dhamma.org does not collect this data. All logged data is only stored locally on your device. + Old Student reference materials to guide your practice including the 10-day discourse summaries Please write to [email protected] for any questions, suggestions, or to volunteer for mobile app development. Note that the Dhamma.org Mobile App version for Android devices is actively under development and will be available soon. We hope that the Dhamma.org Mobile App is beneficial in your individual practice. We request your help in making students and others aware of the App and also making this announcement available to other old students. Volunteering at the center during the work period. FOR ALL OLD STUDENTS You are invited to apply to serve full-time or part-time for the Spring Dhamma Service Period April 28-May 8. Giving Dhamma service is a great opportunity to grow in our own practice by applying it in a working environment. We hope to see you there. Please apply here: http://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa. What Can I Do? Dhamma Pakasa needs help from Old Students to work on many indoor and outdoor Center proj- ects that require a range of varying skills. There is something for everyone. Some of the outdoor jobs include tree removal, use of a tractor to set gate posts and rebuild fence lines on the new driveway entrances, grading and reseeding the west entrance, and taking down the pheasant shed. Further outdoor jobs consist of hauling materials to be recycled, picking up branches to pre- pare for mowing season, preparing the center gardens for the Open House, and burying the com- puter and telephone lines between the Dhamma Hall and Dining Hall. For those who enjoy organiz - ing, we want to clean out, rearrange the dry barn and set up a woodworking shop as well as clean out the ‘pig barn’. There are also a number of indoor projects such as finishing the office remodel by painting and laying down the new floor, repairing the ceiling in the female dormitory hallway, steam cleaning the rugs in the dormitory and Dhamma Hall, and cooking during the work period. Click here for more information. Come join us for our annual Dhamma Pakasa Open House on Sunday, May 5th from 12 to 4 pm at the Illinois Vipassana Center located at 10076 Fish Hatchery Rd in Pecatonica, IL. This is our once-a-year opportunity to welcome one and all to come to the Center and get to know us as friends, neighbors and a valuable community resource. The event is free and open to the public; all are welcome, including children. Bring your family and friends to enjoy the beautiful grounds, delicious home-cooked vegetarian food, guided tours, Dhamma videos and Q&A with the teachers. We look forward to seeing you! Please let us know that you are coming with your RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dhamma-paksa-annual-open-house-tickets-57675621336 We need your help spreading the word! Tell your friends, families, and colleagues about this event by posting the link to RSVP on Facebook, LinkedIn, et al. We also need Old Students to help with cooking and preparing the Center on Saturday, May 4th for the Open House event. Please register online if you plan to stay overnight at the Center at: http://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa (Old Student Program, May 4th - 5th). Members of work period crew at the beginning of kitchen and dining hall buildout before they excavated the hole to build the foundation for the extension in August 2016 Words of the Buddha Anabhijjhālu vihareyya, abyāpannena cetasā. Sato ekaggacittassa, ajjhattaṃ susamāhito. Listen here Live without covetous greed, fill your mind with benevolence. Be mindful and one-pointed, inwardly stable and concentrated. Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.29 Gemstones of the Good Dhamma, copiled and translated by Ven. S. Dhammika Resources and Useful Links Dhamma Pakasa Website Give Dana/Donation Center Wish List Vipassana International Newsletter Pariyatti: Audio and Books Ways to Donate Follow us on Facebook Dhamma Pakasa Sending Dana via Online or Mobile Banking: Using Venmo Illinois Vipassana Association Writing Checks payable to Illinois Vipassana Association 10076 Fish Hatchery Rd., Pecatonica, IL 61063 For those who shop at Amazon, please use and bookmark the link http://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-4340723 so that all your eligible shopping will benefit Illinois Vipassana Association. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center. With PayPal Giving Fund All donations made here go to charity, no deductions, no fees Illinois Vipassana Association International Vipassana Newsletter The April 2019 issue of the International Vipassana Newsletter is now available online. For your reading in this issue: Feature Article: Fifty Years of Vipassana To view or download the issue, go to our website: www.news.dhamma.org (username oldstudent, password behappy). The online International Newsletter site is updated as we have new material to post. Every three to four months, we publish some of that material in a printable PDF issue. Please check regularly for updates, or subscribe to our RSS feed to receive notification automatically whenever we post something. You can also subscribe to receive email notification when a PDF issue is published. Please also consider contributing material for posting. It could be a news story, photos, your own reminiscences or more. Write to [email protected].
Transcript of Dhamma Pakasa Open House · Additional details for several articles are on the old student website...
Additional details for several articles are on the old student website (username: old student password: behappy)
Dhamma Pakasa Open HouseSunday, May 5th, 2019
Old Student DaySaturday, May 4th, 2019
Spring Work Service Period April 28 - May 8
Dhamma Pakasa Center Development Update
Dhamma Pakasa Seeks Center Manager
Introducing Chicago Vipassana Hall
Dhamma.org Mobile App
We need your engagement, ideas, and creative energy to build strong old student communities in our surrounding major metropolitan areas.
You are invited to the first Open Space Technology event at Dhamma Pakasa on Saturday, May 4, 2019 from 10:45 - 2:00 (including lunch) to explore how the Center can better support Old Students in the cities where they live, work and practice every day.
Open Space Technology is a large group participation methodology designed to elicit maximum involvement and creativity in a constructive atmosphere. It is also highly flexible so that the con-tent is entirely determined by you -- the participants.
We will begin with a group sitting and then convene in the Dining Hall where you will choose the topics that you find meaningful and energizing. What we achieve will depend on our individual and collective responsibility to make it happen. The content is what each person shares, and the outcome is what we will all create. We propose to create an Open Space in which clear thinking and creativity can flourish. Please RSVP for lunch or send questions and suggestions at [email protected]
SCHEDULE 9:00 am - 10:00 am Group Sitting 9:30 am - 10:30 am Dhamma Talk (Dennis Austin, Center Teacher). 10:45 am - 12:00 pm Open Space Event12:00 am - 1:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Open Space Findings and Discussion 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Group Sitting
After a delay of almost three years, plans to expand Dhamma Pakasa are back on track! Due to new planning laws that were put in place in Winnebago County, the zoning classification the Center previously had was no longer valid and it was necessary to apply for a new classification. However, when we submitted our application for the new zoning classification, one of our neigh-bors objected to it. This neighbor has no objections to the Center, and is not opposed to what we do or our plans to expand, only to the zoning classification and its potential long-term future implications. Consequently, Dhamma Pakasa was faced with a decision; press forward over the objections of our neighbor, or pursue a special zoning classification. The decision made by the Dhamma Pakasa Trust was to pursue a special zoning classification, even if it meant a further delay in our expansion plans and some additional cost to the center.
In October of 2018, Dhamma Pakasa was granted special zoning status by the county and took another big step for development to proceed once again. The remaining step that needs to be taken is for Dhamma Pakasa to apply for new Special Use Permit (SUP). It’s anticipated that our application for a new SUP will be submitted this spring and approved by the county board this summer. We do not anticipate any problems in obtaining a new SUP based upon conversations with county officials (and our previous success in getting one).
With the new SUP in place, we’ll be excited to begin development in earnest once again. Long-term server residences, infrastructure upgrades, and development of roadways on the property will be some of the first projects undertaken so that we can then construct the new Dhamma Hall with meditation cells and AT residences, followed by construction of a new dormitory.
Of course, further development is dependent not only upon the necessary permits, but also the generosity of old students in form of Dana. Should you have the volition to help in the effort, please visit http://www.pakasa.dhamma.org/os/osportal/donation/ to contribute or contact the treasurer at [email protected].
A position will be opening for Center Manager in the Fall of 2019, with training beginning in August/September. The general role of a center manager is to organize the maintenance of the center and support servers through the processes of course service. This can take the form of administrative support or hands-on instruction. In this varied and constantly changing role, it is always the goal of managers to apply the principles of the practice and be a role model for newer servers in approaching problems with ingenuity and energy and above all, equanimity. It is important that candidates for center manager be well established in their practice and have experience in serving several courses. The Trust would like potential center managers to make a commitment of six months to a year. In some cases, center managers may be allowed to extend their service for up to one more addi-tional year. Duties will involve close coordination with the Trust Committees about the day-to-day operation of the center and needed improvements. It will be helpful if prospective center manag-ers have their own transportation for off-duty periods. Serious meditators have found that service given in the center manager role quickly deepens their practice, preparing them for longer cours-es, and provides a thorough understanding of how centers and trusts operate. If you are interested in applying or learning more, please contact either the Managers at [email protected].
All Old Students who have completed at least one ten-day course with S.N. Goenka or his as-sistant teachers are welcome to attend.Old students in Chicago have come together and estab-lished a Chicago Vipassana Hall where regular group sittings and one-day courses can be held.
These sittings are valuable opportunities to strengthen your practice of Vipassana by meditat-ing with fellow students. We are grateful that the Quang Minh Temple has provided us a space to meditate together at a highly subsidized rate and we ask that you please be respectful of their space. Our Vipassana group sittings have no official affiliation with the Vietnamese Buddhist tem-ple, and our meditation groups remain non-sectarian. Please contact Bethany, Lisa or Anand at [email protected] to help with hosting, managing, and outreach, or if you would like to be on the Chicago Vipassana Hall Committee.
Group Sitting Schedule (registration not required) Monday evenings: 7:15 pm - 8:30 pm Saturday afternoons: 12:00 pm - 1:10 pm and 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm (feel free to join one or both)
One-Day Courses (registration required) - The 4th Saturday of every month (10:00 am - 5:30 pm). Registration begins at 9:30 am. Register here: http://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa. Click here for more details.
More Chicagoland Group Sitting LocationsHyde Park- Tuesdays (7:15pm)- 5650 S. Woodlawn Ave.One-hour group sitting held in the First Unitarian Church. Group sittings will take place in the Bell Tower Room. We have meditation cushions available, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer. Please email [email protected] with any questions.
Oak Park– every other Saturday (6:00 pm)- 441 South Blvd.One-hour group sitting held at the Ahimsa yoga studio. You can check the address and schedule by following this link https://goo.gl/igcEqB. Please contact [email protected] before noon on the day of the sitting to confirm your plans to attend.
Virtual Daily Group SittingsAll old students are welcome to participate in this flexible and user friendly program to strength-en their daily practice. It has been designed to give you the flexibility to join late or leave early without worrying about disturbing the other meditators. These virtual daily group sittings are com-plementary and not a replacement for the existing weekly and monthly group sittings that are already happening in your communities. If you wish to participate in this program, please click on the following link to register for the Virtual Daily Group Sitting program.
Once we receive your information, all the necessary details about the program will be sent to you in-cluding timings of the virtual daily group sittings, various ways of connecting to these daily sittings etc.
One-day Course in Akron, Ohio + Date: Sunday, May 19, 2019 + Time: Arrival: 8:00 - 8:15, End 4:30 pm. + Location: Akron, Ohio.
If you are interested to participate, or would like to be contacted for future one-day course or group sit, please send an email including your first and last name to [email protected].
The Dhamma.org Mobile App for iOS devices, iPhones and iPads is now avail-able for download at https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/about/mobile-app and at the iTunes Store. Note that a download link to the App is also available at
the bottom of the front page of the www.dhamma.org website for the convenience of students. The Dhamma.org Mobile App provides information about Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin and makes it easy to discover and apply for courses worldwide. Old Students in this tradition will be able to use this App to support their daily practice and further their lifelong development in Dhamma. General features:
+ Learn more about Vipassana Meditation + Find locations near you that offer Vipassana Meditation courses from a complete
worldwide listing or map of over 300 locations spread across 80+ countries + Locate Vipassana Meditation courses using search criteria such as dates, regions,
and instruction languages + Apply and register to attend a Vipassana Meditation course
Features for Old Students (accessible by logging in as “oldstudent” and password “behappy”):
+ One hour group sitting recordings in 25+ different languages + Play group sitting recordings with an option to log your daily sittings
Dhamma.org does not collect this data. All logged data is only stored locally on your device. + Old Student reference materials to guide your practice including the
10-day discourse summaries
Please write to [email protected] for any questions, suggestions, or to volunteer for mobile app development. Note that the Dhamma.org Mobile App version for Android devices is actively under development and will be available soon.
We hope that the Dhamma.org Mobile App is beneficial in your individual practice. We request your help in making students and others aware of the App and also making this announcement available to other old students.
Volunteering at the center during the work period.
FOR ALL OLD STUDENTSYou are invited to apply to serve full-time or part-time for the Spring Dhamma Service Period April 28-May 8. Giving Dhamma service is a great opportunity to grow in our own practice by applying it in a working environment. We hope to see you there. Please apply here:http://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa.
What Can I Do? Dhamma Pakasa needs help from Old Students to work on many indoor and outdoor Center proj-ects that require a range of varying skills. There is something for everyone. Some of the outdoor jobs include tree removal, use of a tractor to set gate posts and rebuild fence lines on the new driveway entrances, grading and reseeding the west entrance, and taking down the pheasant shed. Further outdoor jobs consist of hauling materials to be recycled, picking up branches to pre-pare for mowing season, preparing the center gardens for the Open House, and burying the com-puter and telephone lines between the Dhamma Hall and Dining Hall. For those who enjoy organiz-ing, we want to clean out, rearrange the dry barn and set up a woodworking shop as well as clean out the ‘pig barn’. There are also a number of indoor projects such as finishing the office remodel by painting and laying down the new floor, repairing the ceiling in the female dormitory hallway, steam cleaning the rugs in the dormitory and Dhamma Hall, and cooking during the work period.
Click here for more information.
Come join us for our annual Dhamma Pakasa Open House on Sunday, May 5th from 12 to 4 pm at the Illinois Vipassana Center located at 10076 Fish Hatchery Rd in Pecatonica, IL.
This is our once-a-year opportunity to welcome one and all to come to the Center and get to know us as friends, neighbors and a valuable community resource. The event is free and open to the public; all are welcome, including children. Bring your family and friends to enjoy the beautiful grounds, delicious home-cooked vegetarian food, guided tours, Dhamma videos and Q&A with the teachers. We look forward to seeing you!
Please let us know that you are coming with your RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dhamma-paksa-annual-open-house-tickets-57675621336
We need your help spreading the word! Tell your friends, families, and colleagues about this event by posting the link to RSVP on Facebook, LinkedIn, et al.
We also need Old Students to help with cooking and preparing the Center on Saturday, May 4th for the Open House event. Please register online if you plan to stay overnight at the Center at: http://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa (Old Student Program, May 4th - 5th).
Members of work period crew at the beginning of kitchen and dining hall buildout before they excavated the hole to build the foundation for the extension in August 2016
Words of the BuddhaAnabhijjhālu vihareyya,abyāpannena cetasā.Sato ekaggacittassa,ajjhattaṃ susamāhito.Listen here
Live without covetous greed,fill your mind with benevolence.Be mindful and one-pointed,inwardly stable and concentrated.
Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.29 Gemstones of the Good Dhamma, copiled and translated by Ven. S. Dhammika
Resources and Useful Links
Dhamma Pakasa Website
Give Dana/Donation
Center Wish List
Vipassana International Newsletter
Pariyatti: Audio and Books
Ways to Donate
Follow us on Facebook Dhamma Pakasa
Sending Dana via Online or Mobile Banking:
Using Venmo Illinois Vipassana Association
Writing Checks payable to
Illinois Vipassana Association10076 Fish Hatchery Rd., Pecatonica, IL 61063
For those who shop at Amazon, please use and bookmark the linkhttp://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-4340723so that all your eligible shopping will benefit Illinois Vipassana Association. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Center.
With PayPal Giving Fund All donations made here go to charity, no deductions, no fees
Illinois Vipassana Association
International Vipassana NewsletterThe April 2019 issue of the International Vipassana Newsletter is now available online. For your reading in this issue:
Feature Article: Fifty Years of Vipassana
To view or download the issue, go to our website: www.news.dhamma.org (username oldstudent, password behappy).
The online International Newsletter site is updated as we have new material to post. Every three to four months, we publish some of that material in a printable PDF issue. Please check regularly for updates, or subscribe to our RSS feed to receive notification automatically whenever we post something. You can also subscribe to receive email notification when a PDF issue is published.
Please also consider contributing material for posting. It could be a news story, photos, your own reminiscences or more. Write to [email protected].
