Join Jamie Roberts and the DVI sangha for our March Insight (Vipassana) meditation practice.
While Early Buddhism as practiced by the Delaware Valley Insight community is centered around meditation, chanting has been a core practice since the time of the Buddha. Originally a method of recitation designed to help practitioners memorize the teachings, chanting has also served as an expression of commitment to the path and a way of preparing the mind for meditation.
Buddhist practitioners around the world still chant in Pali, the language of the historical Buddha, as well as in their native languages. Many sanghas (Buddhist communities) begin the day or individual practice sessions with chanting, or conclude a day of meditation with one or more chants, as well as a dedication of merit.
Because the teachings were passed on through chants for centuries before they were put into writing, chanting connects us with the Buddha’s earliest disciples, who carried his teachings to us through this oral tradition.
As we chant, we can let go of the idea of having a “good voice” or a “bad voice,” and just touch in to the words, noticing how they connect us to our own hearts and minds and also to each other.
During this community sit, we will practice three chants we explored during a community sit last year: The Karaniya Metta Sutta (in English), the Metta chant (in Pali) and Resting, a compassion chant centered around the bodhisattva Guan Yin (in English). We will also explore several new chants. There will also be periods of silent meditation.
This program is hybrid - you may attend in person or remotely via Zoom. It is appropriate for both new and experienced meditators — all are welcome.
This community sit is freely offered, and generous donations (dana), either in advance or on site, will be gratefully accepted.
Teacher Bio
Jamie Roberts, M.Ed., teaches mindfulness to adults, teens and children. She is an MBSR instructor at the Myrna Brind Center for Mindfulness and a teacher with the School District of Philadelphia. Jamie has completed comprehensive MBSR teacher training at Jefferson's Myrna Brind Center for Mindfulness and is a Mindful Schools Certified Instructor. Her work includes teaching mindfulness to teachers, teens and children living in high stress environments. Jamie is honored to serve on Delaware Valley Insight’s Steering Committee.