Midwest Vipassana Newsletter

Issue 17 ~ October 2013

In this Issue

Dhamma Pakasa Autumn Work Week Oct. 7-13
Dhamma Pakasa Trust Retreat - October 11-13.
New Dhamma Center in the Upper Midwest

Autumn Work Week Oct. 7-13

Old students are warmly invited to participate in Dhamma Pakasa's final work week of the year. Various center projects are currently underway. Renovation, insulation and plumbing continue in the Dhamma hall break areas. Autumn grounds activities include re-planting trees, removing poison ivy, reorganizing the wood shop and beautifying the side through general clean-up. Although all skill levels are welcome, especially needed are carpenters and trades people with expertise in deconstruction, sheet rock, plumbing design, sound insulation, and mold remediation. Servers will have the opportunity to meditate three times daily, enjoy hearty meals, meet with a senior teacher, watch dhamma videos, and accumulate merits in the company of other old students. Students who attend October 12^th - 14^th will have the choice of continuing with service projects or participating in the Annual Trust Retreat. If interested in serving this upcoming work week either full- or part-time, please register on-line.

Annual Trust Retreat - Oct. 11-13

This is a wonderful opportunity to become aware of happenings at YOUR Center and to explore opportunities for becoming part of its growth and development. Dhamma Pakasa is run by the Trust through its various committees and with the necessary and dedicated assistance of its old students; here is your chance to be a part of it all. A summary of the weekend agenda and schedule is included at the end of this series of announcements.* You will be welcome for all or part of the weekend. Please RSVP by sending an email to Lucia Meijer at [email protected] no later than October 7^th. Please include:

1. Your name and contact information;

2. Your anticipated arrival date and time;

3. Your anticipated departure date and time; and

4. Any medically-required dietary restrictions (if you plan to take your meals at the Center).

If you will need overnight accommodations at the Center, please registeron-line as part of the Work Week.

Friday October 11

3:00 - 5:00 pm: Dining Hall - Registration

Check-in, information, and work project sign-up (for non-Trust members)

5:00 - 6:30 pm: Dinner and cleanup

6:30 - 7:30 pm: Group sit

7:45 - 9:00 pm: Open - Committee meetings or rest

Saturday October 12

5:50 - 6:30 am Sitting and Chanting (optional)

6:30 - 7:30 am Dining Hall - Breakfast / Registration

8:00 - 9:00 am: Dhamma Hall - Group Sitting

9:00 - 9:20 am: Dhamma Hall - Teachers - greetings and opening remarks

9:30 - 10:30 am: Dining Hall / Tea - Opening Session

Welcome and Introductions - Announce new officers and Trust members, Introduce new staff and others present
Brief Orientation, Overview and review of weekend schedule (introduce - critical needs - and sign up sheets)
Session attendance requirements and options for trust members/ non-trust members
Brief Housekeeping discussion - use of phones, computer, management requests etc.
Summary of past year
Group warm-up

10:30-11:30 am: Dining Hall - Center Development Update: Trust options, decisions, and the challenges those will represent. A joint presentation and tour by Center Development and Finance Committees regarding the future of center growth and development.

Master Planning report on 2014 agenda - septic and capability for expansion
Finance Committee report on financial parameters, center development funding - options (e.g. loans debt, donations, etc.), and the choices that must be made
Trust response, involvement of old students via Committee process

11:30 - 1:00 pm: Dining Hall

Lunch / Free time / Clean up
Teacher Interviews (sign-up sheet available)

1:00 - 2:00 pm: Dining Hall - Center Development Update & Tour

A joint presentation and tour by Center Development and Finance Committees regarding the future of center growth and development.

Objective: Visualize what we are talking about.

2:15 - 3:15 pm: Dhamma Hall - Group Sitting

3:30 - 5:00 pm: Dining Hall /Tea - Critical Center Needs

Review - critical needs list -
Solutions and work to be done

5:00 - 6:00 pm: Dining Hall - Dinner and cleanup

6:00 - 7:00 pm: Dhamma Hall - Group Sitting

7:15 - 8:15 pm: Dining Hall - Inspirational Video

Sunday, October 13

5:30 to 6:30 am: Dhamma Hall - Group Sitting with Morning Chanting (optional)

6:30 - 7:30 am: Breakfast

7:30-8:45 am: Dhamma Hall - for Trust members and AT - s - Trust Fundamentals

(Work Tasks for all others during this time.)

Trustees Code of Conduct
What it means to be a Trust member - our roles
IVA bylaws review and Q & A

9:00 - 10:00 am: Dhamma Hall - Group Sitting

10:30 - 12:00 pm: Dining Hall - October Trust Meeting

12:00 - 1:00 pm: Lunch & Retreat Evaluation

Retreat evaluation & closing comments

1:00 - 2:00 pm: Retreat Evaluation and Wrap-Up

2:00 pm: Cleanup / housekeeping

New Center in the Upper Midwest - Dhamma Visuddhi

After 27 years and over 40 non-center courses, we are happy to announce that the Minnesota Vipassana Association (MVA) has become the owner of a site for a permanent center in our area. Goenkaji has named the center Dhamma Visuddhi - - Purity of Dhamma - .

The site is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, which is just 60 miles east of St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota. Menomonie, voted one of the best small towns in the US by Smithsonian Magazine, has a population of 16,000 people and is home to the University of Wisconsin - Stout. Dhamma Visuddhi is easily accessible; regularly scheduled, inexpensive shuttle service is available to and from the Minneapolis-St Paul airport as well as bus service from the Twin Cities.

Dhamma Visuddhi is situated on 15 acres of wooded land on the bluffs above the Red Cedar River. The site is within the city limits and yet very quiet and secluded. The buildings include a large mansion with kitchen and dining rooms, a meditation hall, men - s and women - s dorms, as well as a small house for the Assistant Teachers. Currently we can accommodate 45 students and 8 servers.

MVA closed on the property on Friday, July 12, 2013. The next 12 days were spent cleaning and reorganizing the site. We held our first course from July 24th to August 4^th and the second course from August 14th to 25th.

The cost of the property is $450,000. The terms of the mortgage include a 30-year fixed rate with a $50,000 down payment.

Old students are welcome to join in supporting this meritorious initiative. To help support the center financially, we accept donations and monthly pledges on our old student website at: www.mn.us.dhamma.org/os. Monthly pledges will help us cover the fixed cost to maintain the center. If you are interested in making an old student loan, please contact [email protected]. To help support the center by giving service, and for information on old student programs, please go to the course schedule page at: http://courses.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/noncenter/mn.us, or contact [email protected].

While we were able to hold courses immediately following the purchase, there are many improvements planned for the short term. These include:

Reroof and add gutters to the Dhamma Hall and AT's residence,
Create a paved parking area for cars
Improve energy efficiency through added insulation and weatherstripping existing buildings
Develop master plan for future buildings
Develop and implement master plan for landscaping
Develop master plan for energy efficiency
Kitchen improvements

Cost estimate for these projects: $150,000

The Minnesota Vipassana Association is excited to have a permanent home after so many years of non-center courses. We all look forward to serving many students and we invite everyone to visit Dhamma Visuddhi!

Dhamma Visuddhi Course Schedule

Work period October 7-12

10-Day October 16 - October 27

2-Day November 1 - 3 (old students only)

10-Day November 20 - December 1

1-Day December 7 (old students only)

10-Day December 27 - January 7

For more information, contact the Minnesota Vipassana Association [email protected] or register on-line.