We are a meditation and discussion group interested in exploring the many aspects of the Buddhist approach to life. We meet in Berrima in the Southern Highlands on Wednesdays (10 am – noon) during school terms. Each meeting starts with meditation (silent, guided or with music), followed by a discussion, a cup of tea or coffee and we finish with a silent meditation.
Instead of having a single designated leader, we take it in turns to introduce the discussions. Ahead of time we agree on a topic for each week and someone volunteers to be lead it. Before the meeting she or he circulates a relevant reading or Dhamma talk for us to think about. This will usually come from a well-known Buddhist teacher, and it forms the basis of
our discussion.
At our meetings we are not particularly interested in debating the finer points of Buddhist thought (none of us are experts anyway). Rather our topics deal with basic Buddhist ideas and practices, and we talk about these in relation to our own experiences and daily lives. This gives us the opportunity to support and learn from each other. We become each other’s
teachers.
Our discussions are also an opportunity to practice wise speech and deep listening. Both are mindfulness practices. Wise speech means we speak with awareness and compassion rather than merely reactively. Deep listening means being closely attentive to what is being said and opening up to where the speaker is coming from.
We are a group with diverse viewpoints and not all of us would describe ourselves as Buddhists. However, our discussion topics and weekly study materials are always grounded in some aspect of Buddhism.
New members are very welcome. Drop an email to [email protected] and one of us will get back to you.
Instead of having a single designated leader, we take it in turns to introduce the discussions. Ahead of time we agree on a topic for each week and someone volunteers to be lead it. Before the meeting she or he circulates a relevant reading or Dhamma talk for us to think about. This will usually come from a well-known Buddhist teacher, and it forms the basis of
our discussion.
At our meetings we are not particularly interested in debating the finer points of Buddhist thought (none of us are experts anyway). Rather our topics deal with basic Buddhist ideas and practices, and we talk about these in relation to our own experiences and daily lives. This gives us the opportunity to support and learn from each other. We become each other’s
teachers.
Our discussions are also an opportunity to practice wise speech and deep listening. Both are mindfulness practices. Wise speech means we speak with awareness and compassion rather than merely reactively. Deep listening means being closely attentive to what is being said and opening up to where the speaker is coming from.
We are a group with diverse viewpoints and not all of us would describe ourselves as Buddhists. However, our discussion topics and weekly study materials are always grounded in some aspect of Buddhism.
New members are very welcome. Drop an email to [email protected] and one of us will get back to you.
Sydney Insight Meditators acknowledges the Gadigal, Dharug and Dharawal peoples, the traditional custodians of the lands on which SIM is located. We acknowledge their ongoing connection to the land, water, sky, and animals. We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present, and emerging.