Living the Buddha’s Teachings
Annie Nugent, Deborah Helzer, and Devin Berry
Register for this 5-Day recorded program, and participate at your own pace for 30 days!
Cost is sliding-scale: $400, $220, or $150, your choice.
A wellspring of joy arises when we realize the scope of the Buddha’s teachings and their impact on our relationships and activities. This retreat is an invitation to explore the core teaching of mindfulness and how it supports the cultivation of wisdom and compassion. With practice, we come to interact with our world with an ease of mind and understanding, especially amidst the fullness and vibrancy of everyday life.
The course format will include meditation instruction and guidance, silent sitting and walking meditation periods, as well as talks about the Buddha’s teachings.
Open to all: Beginner and Experienced Meditators alike.
A note on dana (generosity)
Most IMS teachers—like insight teachers around the world—rely on the generosity of students for their livelihood, and receive no compensation from course fees. All IMS online teachers receive a modest dana advance from IMS to guarantee a minimum level of financial support. (Click here to learn more about the dana practice.) There will be an opportunity to offer a contribution to your teacher at the end of this course.
REGISTER HERE
Select the rate you want to pay for the entire retreat: $400, $220, $150
Retreat Sessions:
Click the links below to access individual retreat sessions. The times listed are suggestions. We recommend watching the sessions in order: 1-17. All sessions are listed here.
Day 1:
10-11am: Opening talk + Sit (Annie)
1-1:45pm: Instructions + Sit (Deborah)
4-5pm: Dharma Talk (Devin)
7-7:45pm: Sit + Lovingkindness Reflection (Annie)
Day 2:
10-11am: Instructions + Sit | Q&A (Annie)
1-1:45pm: Sit + Reflection (Devin)
4-5pm: Dharma Talk (Deborah)
7-7:45pm: Sit + Lovingkindness Reflection (Devin)
Day 3
10-11am: Instructions + Sit | Q&A (Devin)
1-1:45pm: Sit + Reflection (Deborah)
4-5pm: Dharma Talk (Annie)
7-7:45pm: Sit + Lovingkindness Reflection (Deborah)
Day 4
10-11am: Instructions + Sit | Q&A (Annie)
1-1:45pm: Sit + Reflection (Devin)
4-5pm: Dharma Talk (Deborah)
7-7:45pm: Sit + Lovingkindness Reflection (Devin)
Day 5
Teacher Bios
Annie Nugent has practiced since 1979 and was an IMS Resident Teacher from 1999 to 2003. She has been part of the teaching team for the annual Three-Month Retreat for a number of years and has taught at the Forest Refuge since 2004. Her teaching style aims to reveal how all aspects of our lives can help us come to a clear and direct understanding of the Truth.
Deborah Helzer first took up Buddhist meditation 30 years ago to reduce stress while working on her engineering degree. She has been teaching at IMS since 2004, as well as with theInsight Meditation Community of Washington, DC where she lives. She has studied and practiced with both western and asian teachers, including a year as a nun with the late Sayadaw U Pandita. Her teaching style reflects the influence of the 20th century Burmese master Mahasi Sayadaw and his emphasis on clear, non-judgmental awareness. Since becoming a mother, she has also been actively exploring practice within family life.
Devin Berry has been meditating for over 20 years. His practice is primarily informed by the classical teachings of early Buddhism and the Insight Meditation tradition. He has undertaken many periods of silent long-term retreat practice. Devin completed the Dedicated Practitioners Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, where he is a visiting teacher. He is currently in the 2017-2021 Insight Meditation Society Teacher Training Program. Devin served as a core leader with San Francisco POC Insight Sangha. He is a community teacher at East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, CA where he co-founded the teen sangha and the Men of Color sangha. Devin currently serves on the Board of Directors of Insight World Aid. He has recently relocated to Western Massachusetts and teaches nationally.
Devin is passionate about the power of witnessing and storytelling as a liberation tool. He is deeply committed to the personal and collective liberation of marginalized communities knowing that through the integration of reflection and insight, clarity and wisdom give rise to wise action.