Friends,
Often in teachings we explore the importance of contact with highly awakened beings, in honing our inner spiritual compass. There is almost magic there, the way in which contact with a highly awakened being helps us attune to our own way forward on the path, to our own potential for realization.
Looking ahead a bit, this region will in mid-May be blessed with a visit by Ajahn Liem, a Theravada monk who was one of the closest disciples of Ajahn Chah, the great 20th century Thai master. Ajahn Liem has been abbot of Wat Pah Pong, the monastery Ajahn Chah created, since Ajahn Chah’s death.
On May 15, Ajahn Liem may be teaching at St. Mark’s Cathedral at Capitol Hill through Clear Mountain Monastery.
If this does happen, we’ll cancel Eastside Insight for May 15, so you can attend his teaching either in person or online.
With all that in mind, for the upcoming Thursday, May 1 sit, I am planning to share some of my experience with great masters over the decades, in Asia and the United States. I’ve sought out contact with such contacts as a core part of the spiritual path, and I’ll be honored to share some of that transmission with you.
I’ll be doing my best to share what they gave, therefore not so much about my own journey, because ultimately this isn’t about “me.”
Thinking that this will give some preparation for contact with Ajahn Liem, if he does indeed teach on May 15.
This idea was originally proposed by sangha member Jonathan Stenberg, and thank you. (As an aside, any requests from sangha members for teachings or sets of teachings are always welcome..so keep them coming!)
We’ll be gathering at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 1.
The URL for the evening will be https://tinyurl.com/Eastside-Insight-2025, or please come in person to the chapel at Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church, 315 3rd Ave S., Kirkland, WA 98033.
Please consider offering dana to Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church, which makes this space available on a dana-only basis, in a very kind and generous way. If you do, please mention you’re from Eastside Insight Meditation.
https://tinyurl.com/NorthlakeUU-Paypal2022
Also you're invited to offer dana to the teacher, with links and addresses below. Many thanks for your generous dana, which will be helping to pay for an upcoming retreat, to help me come back and better offer to all of you.
paypal.me/SteveWilhelm48
Steve Wilhelm
17623 184th Ave. NE
Woodinville, WA 98072
Big bows to the growing numbers of sangha members who have been stepping up to help set up for Thursday evenings. It’s a blessing to do this good work with others, and we have fun before everyone arrives, so please sign up below!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18OKEUO7ubunOG_q9r8MaBFWXqmWScOm4LIsv8MdnBU8/edit
Hoping that Ajahn Liem will be teaching with Clear Mountain on May 15, so I’ll tell you as soon as this clarifies.
Also I will have some extra time in coming weeks, so very happy to sit down with anyone for a one-on-one dharma discussion about your practice, or your inner journey, or working with obstacles. We can do this in person or online. Just email me, and we’ll set something up.
Rejoicing in the continued bright energy, kind energy, of Eastside Insight. Just by what we share together, we offer peace and equanimity to many.
May all of you find balance and happiness in your hearts,
Steve