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This year, the Northeast Insight Dialogue Sangha is offering mini retreats on the The Three Characteristics:  Anicca: impermanence, Dukkha: suffering or stress, and Anatta:  no inherent, unchanging self. 

Our next offering - April 12, 2026 - Online

And April 26 in Person - (See below for other offerings this spring)

9:00 AM – 12 Noon ET

Zoom Meeting ID: 829 3553 9493 Passcode: pause

Click Here To Join the Zoom Meeting

 April Practice - April  12 - 9 am - noon online

Deborah Ennis and Subha Srinivasan and Annie Hoffman

Exploring Anicca: An Insight Dialogue and Metta Practice

In this mini retreat, we will explore the theme of anicca (impermanence) through meditation and relational practice with the support of the guidelines and metta (loving-kindness). By specifically orienting towards the guideline attune to emergence, we will contemplate bringing attention to the changing flow of experience and cultivating a deep receptivity to what is rising and passing away. In this way we hope to explore the steadiness and peace that can become available in being with the natural phenomena of impermanence as well as compassion for the deep vulnerability of the human condition. By stepping into familiarity with the ‘don’t know mind’, we have the opportunity to examine how suffering eases when there is less solidity, fabrication or sense of self associated with change and how this can help us open our hearts in skillful ways.

There will be periods of silent meditation practice, dharma talk, relational meditation practice and mindful movement with Annie Hoffman.

All are welcome, no registration necessary. Some meditation experience recommended. Some meditation experience recommended.

Zoom Meeting ID: 829 3553 9493 Passcode: pause

Click Here To Join the Zoom Meeting

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April in-person practice - April 26 - Jan Surrey, Marsha Lawson, and Annie Hoffman - registration required

Mini-Retreat, Sunday, April 26, 2026,  9am - noon, in-person offering of the Art and Soul of Insight Dialogue, Peace House, Cambridge, MA - registration required - see below

Anicca Dukkha - Suffering and Release in Change and the Eight Worldly Conditions (8 Worldly Winds)

(Registration details follow the description - all are welcome) 

“Bhikkhus, these eight worldly conditions revolve around the world, and the world revolves around these eight worldly conditions. What eight? Gain and loss, disrepute and fame, blame and praise, and pleasure and pain. ”  

‘This pain [of the worldly conditions] that I have met is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change.’  AN 8.6

This year, the Northeast Insight Dialogue Sangha is offering mini retreats on the The Three Characteristics of our human existence:  Anicca: impermanence, Dukkha: suffering or stress, and Anatta:  no inherent, unchanging self or other.  

What is important about knowing the three characteristics of our human existence, seeing them deeply, practicing with them, navigating our lives with them, knowing the suffering of them, knowing the impermanence of them?  What does it mean to know the truth of the impermanence of the worldly conditions, sometimes translated as the eight “worldly winds”.  We will investigate the continuous challenge of meeting our reactivity to these very human experiences of gain and loss, disrepute and fame, blame and praise, and pleasure and pain. 

Is there release in knowing ‘This pain [or pleasure] that I have met is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change.’?

In April, we will contemplate this teaching, practicing with the Insight Dialogue guidelines of Pause, Relax, Open, Attune to Emergence, Speak the Truth and Listen Deeply.  

The framework of this investigation is the practice of Insight Dialogue, a relational practice developed by Gregory Kramer and the Insight Dialogue Community. We will practice together to explore the teachings based in the Pali Canon, the collection of suttas in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.

Please use the following link for more information about Insight Dialogue:  https://insightdialogue.org/relational-practices/insight-dialogue/. 

Registration: Please email Marsha Lawson at mjlawson118@gmail.com for registration - stating that you wish to attend. The program is limited to twenty people. We encourage you to register early to help us with planning. 

When: Sunday April 26, 2025. 9 am to noon.  Doors open for check-in at 8:30am. 

Where: Peace House, 362 Broadway, Cambridge 02139. A note from the Director of Peace House: "Peace House has a two-fold mission. We provide a sacred place that is first and foremost a monastic residence: a supportive place for monks to further their spiritual development. Second, through various offerings, we invite visitors to engage in spiritual discovery, meaningful community, and practice. We aim to create conditions where individual and collective peace, connection, and discovery can flourish." 

Cost/Dana: There is a suggested donation of $20, more or less, to go towards the maintenance of Peace House. Please bring cash, check, or donate directly to Peace House at their payment/donation page: https://www.cambridgepeacehouse.org/donations. 

Jan Surrey and Marsha Lawson will offer the teachings, and Annie Hoffman movement practice, on a dana basis. Dana is the system of generosity in giving and receiving that the Buddha initiated some 2500 years ago where teachers freely offered the teachings, and students gave what they could to support the teachers and the continuation of the teachings. To learn more about the practice of dana, please see https://insightdialogue.org/giving/.  You can give a financial donation to Jan  use this Paypal link. ​ by donation to and/or Marsha at venmo @marshajeanne or paypal paypal.me/marshalawson1935. 

Parking: Sunday parking on the streets is free. 

Questions: Please email Marsha Lawson at mjlawson118@gmail.com or call her at 207-233-8714. 

Health safety: Please do not come to this program if you have any symptoms of illness of any kind. Thank you for your consideration for the health of our group. Masks are optional.

There will be periods of silent meditation practice, dharma talk, relational meditation practice and mindful movement with Annie Hoffman.

Art & Soul of Insight Dialgoue is offered by the Insight Dialgoue Northeast cohort on a dana basis - by donation. If you would like to contribute to Insight Dialogue Northeast, you may do so via this link by choosing Insight Dialogue Northeast from the pull down list on the right side of the page. If you wish to contribute to individual teachers, you may do so via this link - find the teachers’s picture and bio and ways to give to an individual teacher will be listed at the bottom of the bio listing (not the donate button to the right on the page).

Cost

Spring 2026 Schedule

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May - Mothers’ Day - Sunday May 10 - Jan Surrey and Annie Hoffman

Welcome to our 2026 spring schedule of Art & Soul of Insight Dialogue, a monthly series that continues with online mini retreats and occasional in person offerings.

This year’s dharma theme will be the Three Characteristics, also known as the "Three Marks of Existence": impermanence or inconsistency (anicca), suffering or dissatisfaction (dukkha), and not-self or selflessness (anatta).  We look forward to practicing with you.

Insight Dialogue is an interpersonal meditation practiced in direct, face-to-face, heart-to-heart relational contact. We will practice together in dyads and small groups with the six meditation guidelines - pause, relax, open, attune to emergence, listen deeply and speak the truth - and explore the power of relationship in awakening.

We hope you will join us and taste the joyful potential for release and freedom often hidden in our everyday relations. You are invited to attend any and all of these sessions. There will be periods of silent meditation practice, dharma talk, relational meditation practice and mindful movement.

You are welcome to come to any and all of our practice sessions.