"At its most basic, meditation is an effective form of mindfulness-based stress reduction," Goldstein said during a phone interview. "It's well recognized by the medical profession. "On a deeper level, meditation is the practice of sustained awareness. It's a way to look at the mind in a systematic and deep way." The practice, Goldstein said, leads to understanding of our thoughts and emotions and knowing which ones lead to suffering and which to happiness. "Otherwise," he added, "we just play out the habits of our conditioning." He began meditating while serving in the Peace Corps in Thailand during the 1960s. Goldstein subsequently spent the better part of seven years studying Buddhist philosophy and spiritual practice in India. He established the Insight centre in 1976 in Barre, Mass.
Joseph Goldstein began meditating while serving in the Peace Corps in Thailand during the 1960s
An insight into awareness of one's self
"It's a way to look at the mind in a systematic and deep way."
By MIKE BOONE, The GazetteJune 10, 2009
During the latest consumerist feeding frenzy, maybe you don't need an iPhone to get in touch with your inner essence.
Montrealers can reach out and touch their real selves this weekend. Joseph Goldstein, who pioneered Insight meditation in the U.S., will talk about the practice during sessions that were set up by Daryl Lynn Ross, a former Concordia University interfaith chaplain.
When I asked what was unique about Insight meditation, known as Vipassana in the Buddhist tradition, Ross cited "the element of looking at who we really are."
"Also, you get on a very deep level that everything is impermanent. We can't hold on to anything."
Yeah, right. What about my HDTV? What about my Blu-ray player?
What about the newest, best, shiniest, coolest, can't-live-without-one thing?
"Part of maturing and looking at our experience," Ross said, "is we realize there is nothing that's going to make us happy all the time."
What, not even an iPhone?
Nope. Ross talks about the "unfulfilling nature of experience" and the zen Buddhist concept of "no self."
Insight meditation, she says, can lead to "rich ground for exploration" of who we are and what our relationships are. We can learn to live "with more lightness and freedom."
"And ultimately, when we stop holding on so tightly, there's more joy."
More joy? Yeah, I'm down with that.
"At its most basic, meditation is an effective form of mindfulness-based stress reduction," Goldstein said during a phone interview. "It's well recognized by the medical profession.
"On a deeper level, meditation is the practice of sustained awareness. It's a way to look at the mind in a systematic and deep way."
The practice, Goldstein said, leads to understanding of our thoughts and emotions and knowing which ones lead to suffering and which to happiness.
"Otherwise," he added, "we just play out the habits of our conditioning."
He began meditating while serving in the Peace Corps in Thailand during the 1960s. Goldstein subsequently spent the better part of seven years studying Buddhist philosophy and spiritual practice in India. He established the Insight centre in 1976 in Barre, Mass.
Ross attended several retreats led by Goldstein and searched in vain for something similar to Insight in Canada. She founded True North Insight/Voie Boréale in 2003 and got charitable organization status a year later. The first meditation retreat was in 2006 and they're up to 11 residential and three non-residential retreats this year.
True North Insight is not a franchisee, but there is an ongoing relationship with Goldstein, who has mentored True North Insight teachers. Ross estimates Insight meditation has been taught to several hundred Montrealers, and the mailing list has more than 1,000 names.
Ross describes meditation as "finding your inner refuge, so you can let go of the demands and stresses and touch base with the simplicity of your breath, your body, the feeling of being present in this moment."
In a world that's 24/7 wired to an alarming degree, Ross says it's important to find "inner stillness."
"People are never unplugged," she added, "which makes it difficult to touch base with your inner being."
What is the sound of one hand texting?
The zen hockey fan had the right idea. Ordering a hot dog at the Bell Centre, he said: "Make me one with everything."
True North Insight presents An Evening With Joseph Goldstein, Saturday at 7 o'clock in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal building, 1444 Union Ave. Goldstein will also lead workshops on Sunday. To order tickets, call 514-488-7484. On the Web: www.truenorthinsight.org
mboone@thegazette.canwest.com
