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Philadelphia Meditation Center is located in a business district of Havertown. It opened in December, 1998. Since then, the center has grown very quickly. It is now open to all for the practice of silent sitting meditation, teachings and workshops. A large percentage of programs come from the mindfulness (or Insight, or vipassana) traditions as well as from Dzogchen teachings and other meditation-related areas. Zen students should feel comfortable with the regular silent meditation and retreat format. The emphasis will be on teachings emphasizing direct experience and personal practice in a non-hierarchical, egalitarian and non-sectarian setting. Form of operation: PMC is registered in Pennsylvania as a non-profit corporation (1998). It is also a 501 (c) 3 (1999 with final retroactive to 1999 approval in 2002) public charity and, as such, contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Final IRS approval came in 2005 and PMC was the first charity in the US to file electronically with IRS. All donations go directly to the corporation's general fund, unless marked specifically as dana for visiting teachers. We have a Board of Directors that consists of three individuals and we have a Council of Advisors that meets about 6 times per year. One excellent way to learn is to attend our weekend teachings with visiting teachers. All of our silent mindfulness retreats will include comprehensive instruction as well as practice. You should not be afraid to come sit with us or attend a retreat if you are a beginner. Many people who come have not been practicing a long time and everyone has to start as a beginner. We also have tapes available and can recommend other books. Workshops and Retreats: Various events may be planned by the center. Some will use a presentation format, some may have a psychological slant, and others will be day long or weekend silent retreats. They will all have practical value for the person who really wants to practice meditation. Snacks and beverages will be available. There are many places nearby to eat, as well as a bakery and convenience store, or you may bring your own lunch. Silent retreats: We often have silent weekend retreats taught by non-resident teachers. We also hosted our first residential weekend silent retreat and we hope to do this again. Many, but not all, of these teachers come from the Insight and Dzogchen traditions. These retreats include teachings, meditation instruction and sitting and walking meditation. For the walking meditation, we usually go outside and walk slowly but normally. Most of the teachers will teach the same thing, but possibly in slightly different ways: Relax, stay in the present, get to know yourself without the overlay of conditioning and personal history. Who is welcome: Everyone is welcome; you certainly do not have to be a Buddhist to benefit from silent meditation. Buddha was just a person who looked within, noticed the nature of his mind and body and, as a result, experienced a great peace and understanding. Buddha himself was not "a Buddhist," and meditation is not unique to Buddhism. Today, people of all beliefs are incorporating Buddhist meditation techniques into their spiritual life and many use meditation primarily for pain and stress control as well as general relaxation. Payment to the visiting teacher: For Insight Retreats and most other events, we institute the concept of dana. This payment method has been employed successfully by many centers, and most teachers in the Insight tradition prefer or require that payment be made on this basis. Dana is intrinsic to the 2500 year-old Buddhist tradition. Going back to the days of the Buddha the teachings were considered priceless and thus offered freely as a form of dana. The early teachers received no payment for their instruction, and in turn, the lay community saw to it through their voluntary generosity, their dana, that the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and medicine were provided for these monks and nuns. Dana is an ancient Pali word meaning "generosity," "giving" or "gift." It is directly related to the Latin word donum and through this to such English words as donor, donate and donation. Beyond the practical dimension, dana also plays a crucial role in the spiritual life of a Dharma practitioner. It is the first of the ten paramitas, or qualities of character, to be perfected. The act of giving itself is of immeasurable benefit to the giver for it opens up the heart, diminishes for a moment one's self-absorption, and places value on the well-being of others. The simple gesture of offering a flower, an act of service, a kind thought or a simple meal is in fact a sincere form of practice. During the retreat there will be dana boxes at each entrance. Contributions or retreat fees if in the form of check to PMC should be made out to the Philadelphia Meditation Center. Dana to the teacher, if in the form of a check, should be made out to the teacher directly.
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