The new space is feeling like home with new blinds and lamps. Come by and check it out. We’d love your feedback!
Category Archives: Lineage
Bozeman Insight Community Update
Due to Suzanne’s retreat this fall, the Insight community has invited a stellar list of guest teachers for their Thursday nights. Since most teachers now to Sept 15 will be on zoom, the Insight sangha will be zoom only August 11 to September 15 (except August 18 which is in-person for Suzanne’s final evening before retreat). BIC will meet in-person again Sept 22 – Nov 3 (with Zoom option).
- August 11: Jim Dochnahl, co-leader of our sister sangha in Butte, via zoom
- August 18: Suzanne’s final Thursday, in person.
- August 25: Floyd Fantelli, our sangha’s former teacher and dear friend, via zoom
- September 1: Marian Jenson, co-leader of our sister sangha in Butte, via zoom
- September 8: Suzanne joins from the east coast, via zoom
- September 15: Carol Blotter, back by popular demand, via zoom
- September 22: Mary Corelli, local teacher specializing in eco-psychology, in person
See the complete schedule of guest teachers here.
Half-Day Sit
Join Karen DeCotis and the Bozeman Zen Group on Sunday, August 14 for a half-day of practice. This is a wonderful way to deepen your practice, get some experience with retreat practice and still have your weekend! Sit zazen, do walking meditation (kinhin), stretch, listen to a Dharma Talk, and chant.
The Zen group asks for a $15 donation for the 1/2 day to support the group, and no one is turned away for lack of funds. There is opportunity to offer dana to the teacher as well.
Developing the Five Strengths
This 3-hour workshop with Melissa McKay on Saturday July 30 will explore the five strengths of Faith, Energy, Mindfulness, Concentration, and Wisdom. Learn how to develop these essential qualities and live with more resolve, ease and clarity.
Befriending the Mind
The Bozeman Insight Community is excited to host Jill Shepherd for an evening talk on Befriending the Mind, Thursday, June 23 at 7PM Mountain time via Zoom. Jill says “one common misperception of meditation is that it aims to stop thinking, but the true purpose of insight meditation is to develop a more skillful relationship to every aspect of our experience, including our thoughts and emotions.” Jill will help us explore some ways to let go of unhelpful mental habits and to cultivate helpful ones: states of heart and mind that lead to greater ease, happiness, peace and freedom.
Jill Shepherd began practicing insight meditation in Thailand in 1999, and since that time has lived and worked at several meditation centres and monasteries in the US, Australia, England, and Thailand.
Currently, she divides her time mostly between the USA, Australia and New Zealand, teaching vipassana and brahmavihara retreats and offering ongoing study and practice groups focused on bringing the dharma into daily life. She also leads courses and non-residential workshops exploring the relational practice of Insight Dialogue, as developed by Gregory Kramer and colleagues.
Masks Required
Our safety policy requires masks be worn at in-person events when levels of COVID transmission are high. Last Friday, the CDC reported that COVID-19 transmission levels for Gallatin County have reached that level and therefore we will again require all participants to wear masks at BDC events. Remember that Zoom is an option for most of our programs. The BDC safety policy can be read in full here.
Bozeman Dharma Center New Address!
We’re going to start meeting at our new Bozeman Dharma Center space next week!
The new address is 3810 Valley Commons Dr, Unit 6. It’s between Fowler and Ferguson, one block north of Huffine. It’s upstairs. When you go up the stairs (or out of the elevator), turn to the left. We’re kind of hidden off to the side.
The space won’t be completely unpacked, but the meditation hall will be usable.
Check out our calendar for meeting days/times.
More Impermanence
Due to illness and space conflicts, we’ll be canceling the noon sits on Thursday (May 12) and Friday (May 13) this week. Looking forward to sitting with you next week! Thanks for your understanding.
No MindSpace Meeting on May 11
MindSpace will not be meeting on Wednesday, May 11 but will resume on the 18th. MindSpace is a meditation group for young adults and usually meets every Wednesday from 6:30-7:45 PM.
Space Update
Work is continuing on our new space at 3810 Valley Commons! Construction needed to take out offices in what will be our meditation hall has finished. A new wall has been put in to make an office for staff in the lobby area. Many volunteers have been working hard to get us ready to open and we’d like to take a quick moment to thank them!
Oscar Wongstrom took care of the electrical rewiring of our renovation.
Brad Webb did an amazing job prepping and painting the space.
Steve Barkley has worked tirelessly coordinating remodeling efforts (and putting in labor as well).
Marilyn Raffensperger, Doug Beaudoin, Mem Schultz and Karen DeCotis spent many hours researching flooring options and paint colors.
Denny Raffensperger was essential in helping to evaluate potential space options and creating an affordable remodeling plan.
Be sure to give them all some gratitude next time you see them!
We know you’re wondering when we’ll be opening. New flooring for the meditation hall is scheduled to be installed May 23-24. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we should be able to open our doors in June. We’ll let you know the exact date as soon as we can.
