Don't try to be anything, Do not make yourself into anything. Do not be a meditator. Do not become enlightened.
When you sit, let it be. When you walk, let it be. Grasp at nothing. Resist nothing.
-Ajahn Chah
We are a Buddhist-inspired lay community whose purpose is to provide a supportive setting for both meditation practice and for integrating mindfulness and compassion into our daily lives. While we foster the Western style of insight meditation, our group is composed of varying interests and traditions. All who have a like-minded meditation/contemplation practice that focuses on awareness, stillness of habitual reactivity, and compassionate action are welcome. There is no charge to participate.
For each Monday night's meeting during each month, our group is led by a different small team of sangha members. Each meeting begins with 30 to 45 minutes of silent meditation. After the meditation, we rotate our formats week-to-week each month, presenting dhamma study, a night of silent meditation, readings and responses, a open/creative format, and a night of walking meditation when the month has five Mondays.
The Louisville Vipassana Community does not provide personal counseling, group therapy or other mental health services.
The Louisville Vipassana Community operates with a Dharma Council to help provide leadership within the community. The Dharma Council is composed of:
LVC has an Ethics Committee and Policy. The Committee is composed of:
If you'd like to contact someone to discuss a potential ethical issue you've experienced with our community, you may always do so in private with anyone on the Ethics Committee or Dharma Council. If you'd prefer to contact that person via a confidential email, the committee and council member email addresses are above.
View or download LVC's ethical guidelines here (PDF)