InsightLA Schedule
Join Us for Vesak Celebration! Potluck and Midnight Sit
| Teacher(s): |
TRUDY GOODMAN AND CHRISTIANE WOLF
TEACHER BIO |
|
| Date(s): | May 5 (Saturday) | |
| Time: | 7:15pm - 12:00am | |
| Description: | On the night of the full moon in May, people gather in Buddhist monasteries around the world to celebrate the Buddha's birth and enlightenment. For six years the Buddha practiced with dedication and determination; after a long night of sitting under the Bodhi-tree, he finally understood how to free the heart from suffering. This momentous insight is honored in the monasteries with quiet sitting and walking meditation all through the night; the lay community joins in to practice and give to those in need. Here is the story of this night more than 2500 years ago: "During the first watch of the night, when the Buddha-to-be's mind was calm, clear and purified, light arose in him, knowledge and insight arose. He saw his previous lives, at first one, then two, three up to five, then multiples of them .. . ten, twenty, thirty to fifty. Then 100, 1000 and so on.... As he went on with his practice, during the second watch of the night, he saw how beings die and are reborn, depending on their Karma, how they disappear and reappear from one form to another, from one plane of existence to another. Then during the final watch of the night, he saw the arising and cessation of all phenomena, mental and physical. He saw how things arose dependent on causes and conditions. This led him to perceive the arising and cessation of suffering and all forms of unsatisfactoriness. With the complete cessation of craving and aversion, his mind was completely liberated. He attained to Full Enlightenment." It's important to note: the Buddha spent the next 40 years teaching what he saw during the final watch of the night -- he taught what can be verified in our own experience and bring suffering to an end. He didn't spend his time teaching about past lives, planes of existence, or the workings of karma and rebirth, which he called an "imponderable." He even quipped, if you ponder this, it can drive you crazy! What he wanted us to see for ourselves is the arising and passing away of phenomena, the conditioned nature of our lives, and how looking deeply into this can bring peace to our hearts. We'll come together to share a meal, meditate, listen to a dharma talk and then meditate some more. You are welcome to come for part of the evening or the whole time. Come find out that you can practice longer than you think! Play with your limits -- explore what may be possible for you as we sit, with trust and confidence that the Buddha's awakening is a real possibility for each one of us. Schedule: 7.15 - 8.00 PM: Potluck dinner (let us know if you want to bring something) 8.00 - 8.30 PM: Sitting 8.30 - 9.00 PM: Dharma talk 9.00 - 9.15 PM: Break 9.15 - 10.00 PM: Sitting again, if you like, starting with chanting 10 - 10.20 PM: Walking 10.20 - 11 PM: Sitting 11 - 11.15: Walking 11.15 - 12 AM: Sitting | |
| Location: | InsightLA Olympic 1430 Olympic Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90404 | |
| Directions: | See Map | |
| Contact the teacher | Contact by email (expect responses Monday - Friday, only) | |
| Level: | All Levels | |
| Cost: | by donation (all donations of the evening will go into our scholarship fund) | |
| Enrollment Limit: | 70 | There are still openings for this event. | |
| Contact Information: | Christiane@insightla.org | |






