Issue 14 ~ January, 2013
Winter

Words of Inspiration
S.N. Goenka ~ For many, January is a time of reflection on the year past and resolution regarding the coming year.  Goenkaji offers these words of inspiration to light the path of Dhamma.

Dear Travelers on the Path of Dhamma,
Be happy! Keep the torch of Dhamma alight! Let it shine brightly in your daily life. Always remember, Dhamma is not an escape. It is an art of living: living in peace and harmony with oneself and also with all others. Hence, try to live a Dhamma life. Don't miss your daily sittings each morning and evening. Whenever possible, attend weekly joint sittings with other Vipassana meditators. Do a ten-day course as an annual retreat. This is essential to keep you going strong. With all confidence, face the spikes around you bravely and smilingly. Renounce hatred and aversion, ill will and animosity. Generate love and compassion, especially for those who do not understand Dhamma and are living an unhappy life. May your Dhamma behavior show them the path of peace and harmony. May the glow of Dhamma on your faces attract more and more suffering people to this path of real happiness.
May all beings be happy, peaceful, liberated.
With all my metta, S.N. Goenka


Old Student Loan Program Allows Center to Restructure Debt
Dhamma Pakasa launched an Old Student Loan program in March of 2012 to reduce our mortgage costs. The support from old students has been very encouraging. Through December 15th, nineteen students provided twenty one loans totaling $238,000, thus providing a method whereby the center’s commercial bank debt could be reduced.  Read more about the Old Student Loan Program.


 

Service Opportunities At Dhamma Pakasa

As Goenkaji reminds us, service is an essential element in deepening the practice of Vipassana.  Dhamma Pakasa invites all students who have completed at least one 10-day course to give service at the Center. Read more about service opportunities.


Servers in waders clear algae from the ponds.

Interest in Children and Teen Courses Grows in 2012

In 2012 five children and teen courses were hosted by members of the regional Children’s Course Committee. Off‐site courses were held in Michigan and Minnesota, and three courses were hosted at Dhamma Pakasa. Read more about Children's and Teen's Courses.

Outreach Committee Seeks New Members

The Outreach Committee is responsible for conducting and overseeing activities that facilitate communication between the Illinois Vipassana Center and current or prospective students. Read more about the outreach committee's work in 2012.


Outreach committee member displays a draft of one of the new posters produced in 2012.

Click here to access full newsletter articles as a single PDF file
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Important Update on Listserves & Weekly Email Announcement

Due to a recent server failure subscriptions and un-subscribes to all Dhamma Pakasa listserves from May 28 to December 3, 2012 were lost. This includes subscriptions to the weekly email announcement. In addition, our regular procedures for self-subscribing and unsubscribing are not yet fully functional.  The technology committee has set up a temporary subscription procedure. To subscribe or unsubscribe to the weekly email announcement please send an email to [email protected]g with ‘Subscribe’ or Unsubscribe’ in the subject line.
 


Regional Group Sittings & Contacts
 
Group sitting Information for Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin
Information about Chicago One Day Sittings

Servers are needed for the next work period February 4-9, 2013
Sign up to serve



December 2012 International Vipassana Newsletter

The December newsletter is now available online at www.news.dhamma.org.  Enter  username = oldstudent, password = behappy
Features:
* Writings of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
* Teachers’ Self-Course and Assistant Teacher meeting
* Q&A from a 10-day course

Resources and Links

Dhamma Pakasa Website
Give Dana/Donation
Guidelines for Practice
Pariyatti Website Audio and Books

Needed Items for In Kind Donations
  • Small, durable LED flashlights
  • New, warm twin or full size blankets
  • New, high-quality, spatulas for the kitchen
  • AA and AAA batteries
  • Gallon jugs of Citra-Solve and/or Simple Green concentrated cleaners
  • Durable tape measures
  • High quality noise-canceling ear muffs (for operating loud machinery)
  • Plants/flowers for open house
Overview of the Annual Trust Meeting

At the annual Trust Retreat, the last weekend in October, approximately 25 old students gathered to meditate, celebrate the accomplishments of the previous year, look forward to the future, assist with various service opportunities around the Center, partake in delicious food and enjoy each other’s company.  Read highlights of the retreat.



Servers cabins built in 2012.

Management Team Reflects on 2012

The management team at Dhamma Pakasa is comprised of the center managers and the On-Site Group--several old students who participate in on-going tasks such as maintenance, housekeeping, food acquisition and storage and server orientation. Read more from the management team.

Illinois Vipassana Meditation Center, Dhamma Pakasa
10076 Fish Hatchery Road, Pecatonica, IL 61063
Phone: 1-815 489-0420 Fax 1-360-283-7068
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.pakasa.dhamma.org

This notice is sent to old students of Vipassana as taught by S.N. Goenka in the North American Old Student Contact Database. You may also receive occasional messages from centers and newsletters via this database.
 

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