Illinois
Vipassana Center
Development
Update
February
2023
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During
December and January
insulation, drywall,
painting, acoustical
ceilings, flooring,
doors and hardware
and finished wood
trim out were
essentially
completed.
With
the activation of the
in-floor heating system,
we were able to make
uninterrupted progress
on the interior finishes
of the new Dhamma Hall.
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New
Fire Water Pump
installed
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During
these months, the HVAC
systems were activated,
electrical work
including building
lighting was completed,
the fire alarm system
was completed and
tested, plumbing
fixtures were installed
and water was turned on
to the Dhamma hall.
Additionally, the new
well servicing the
expansion was turned on,
the firewater pump was
installed and the
underground firewater
main was flushed and is
ready for service.
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New Fire Water Pump House Interior
Women's Break Room
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Looking
ahead to February and
March, interior trim
work will continue, A/V
systems will be
installed, the firewater
system will be activated
and occupancy
inspections will be
called for in late
February. We hope all
old students will
consider joining a work
period, even if for only
a day, from March 15-19
as the Center managers
organize final clean-up
and set up for our first
course in the new Dhamma
Hall. This will be a
3-day course beginning
on March 22.
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Reflections
On The New Dhamma Hall
In May of 2020, our old
Dhamma hall burned down,
followed by vandalism in
our Dining hall
building, a challenge
that no Center has had
to face. Through the
efforts and
contributions of so many
old students in
cleaning, organizing,
planning, and designing,
we were able to keep
courses going under very
difficult circumstances
and are now nearing the
completion of a new
Dhamma hall. This will
be a Refuge in Dhamma.
What constitutes a
Refuge? Thoughts of
protection, devotion to
a higher ideal of peace
and harmony, and service
to others come to mind.
This building will not
only offer shelter to
students meditating on
the Path to
Enlightenment, it will
also offer them
protection from any real
storms or tornadoes on
the campus. It is built
with geothermal heating,
in harmony with our
Master Plan for
expansion of the Center,
so as to help protect
the environment for
future generations of
meditators. But most
importantly, it is built
with efforts and
contributions out of
devotion to the Path to
Enlightenment.
These last qualities of
Service and Devotion on
the Path are what
constitute the most
important aspect of
Refuge. Carrying through
on the ideals that arise
out of devotion brings
confidence and support
to those practicing
Vipassana. Likewise, the
Admirable Friendship on
the Path of which the
Buddha speaks so highly,
also becomes an
inspiration and refuge
for those who may at
times be struggling.
Come and join us this
year in meditation and
service at the Center as
we seek to re-establish
the flow of Dhamma and
the broader Vipassana
community in the Midwest
after these difficult
years.
With Metta,
Dennis Austin, Teacher
for Dhamma Pakasa
If you have the volition
to provide financial
support, the following
link will give you
access to the various
methods in which to
contribute.
https://pakasa.dhamma.org/os/osportal/donation/
Username :
oldstudent
Password:behappy
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Center
Manager Positions
Are Now Open
If you are an old student
with the volition to do a
long-term service at a
Dhamma Center, we
encourage you to consider
the position of Center
manager at the Illinois
Vipassana Center (Dhamma
Pakasa). The general
role of a center manager
is to organize the
maintenance of the Center
and support servers
throughout their
activities at the Center.
This can take the form of
administrative support or
hands-on instruction. In
this varied and constantly
changing role, it is
always the goal of
managers to apply the
principles of the practice
and be a role model for
newer servers in
approaching problems with
ingenuity and energy, and
above all, equanimity. It
is important that
candidates for Center
Manager be well
established in their
practice and have
experience in serving
courses.
The Trust would like
potential center managers
to make a commitment of
six months to a year. In
some cases, Center
managers may be allowed to
extend their service for
up to one more additional
year. Duties will involve
close coordination with
the Trust and Committees
about the day-to-day
operation of the center
and needed improvements.
It will be helpful if
prospective center
managers have their own
transportation for
off-duty periods. Serious
meditators have found that
service given in the
center manager role
quickly deepens their
practice, preparing them
for longer courses, and
providing a thorough
understanding of how
Centers and Center Trusts
operate.
If you are interested in
applying or learning more,
please send an email to
[email protected]
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The
practice of generosity
(Dana) was a primary
teaching of
the
Buddha, one of the
TenQualities (parami)
that help a meditator
pass through suffering
and experienceNibbana.
It helps the
householder meditator
realize they are not
only working for
theirown benefit and
financial success, but
that our success is
also built on the
efforts andsuccess of
so many others in this
life and we share our
Gratitude for this.
Providing
Dana(financial support
or service) for Center
development generates
merit for the donor
from the thousands
more students who will
be allowed to enter on
the Path
of
Dhamma inensuing
years, as well as by
developing a greater
maturity in Dhamma
from working inthe
best possible
environment for
meditation.
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Best
wishes
Illinois
Vipassana Meditation
Center, Dhamma Pakasa
Street
Address: 10076 Fish
Hatchery Road,
Pecatonica, IL 61063
Tel.
[1] 815
489-0420 Fax [1]
(360) 283-7068
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