An edited version of a 2022 Dharma talk by Tara Mulay
Samvega is often translated as “spiritual urgency.” It’s the sense that what one has been doing to try to be happy in the midst of all these conditions has been going in the wrong direction. And there must be another way. And dharma practice might be the other way.

Bhikkhu Bodhi describes it as, “The inner commotion or shock we experience when we are jolted out of our usual complacency by a stark encounter with truths whose full gravity we normally refuse to face.”

by Philip Jones

When I first began practicing Insight Meditation, I was told to sit still and give my complete attention to my breath. And when my mind wandered (which was most of the time) and I noticed it (not so often), I should bring my attention back to the breath without criticism (that was a challenge). I should do this again and again and again and again. I was told that eventually my mind would settle down (it did!… sometimes), that this practice would get easier (it was … sometimes), and that all of this was part of becoming mindful.

By Gil Fronsdal

This article is the Introduction to Gil’s new manual for retreat practice, which will be available soon. The manual contains essays Gil wrote over many years to support those who attend retreats at IRC. Writing them was also an expression of his love for mindfulness, meditation, and retreats. He hopes the book will inspire and support you in undertaking these retreats.

Two more opportunities for retreat practice are coming up in the near future:
David Chernikoff will be offering “The Path of Service: An Insight Meditation Retreat” on
October 23-27, 2024 in St. Louis, MO.
James Baraz will be offering an online retreat for Mid America Dharma Friday, January 17 to Sunday, January 19, 2025.

Mid America Dharma would like to share the following information about retreats being offered by other Insight Meditation Retreat Centers.