Our mission is to be a resource for learning about meditation and Buddhism, and to offer a welcoming, inclusive space for practice. Guiding Teacher - Kim Weeber
Kim started practicing meditation in 1987 in the yoga tradition, with Self Realization Fellowship. Starting in 1988, she practiced Zen koans with Danan Henry, Roshi, of the Zen Center of Denver https://zencenterofdenver.org/. She also stud
ied with Robert Aitken, Roshi, continuing Zen practice until 1997. Her Zen practice included sesshin, 6 week work retreats, and membership in the Monastery Without Walls program. She was introduced to Vipassana in 1997, and was able to study with Bhante Gunaratana, and his student, Matthew Flickstein, as well as Jacqueline Mandel, who introduced her to teaching the Dharma. She ran a weekly meditation class for prisoners for 2 years in Ohio. At a 5 ½ month retreat at Gaia House https://gaiahouse.co.uk/ in the UK, she studied with Christina Feldman and Yanai Postelnik. Her studies included several months of jhana practice, as well as an introduction to Dzogchen from Charles Genoud, of the Ningma Tibetan tradition. When she moved to Northampton, she was asked by Arinna Weisman to be a practice leader at Dhamma Dena/Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley. In 2005, Arinna Weisman invited her to train in the 3 year, Community Dharma Leader program https://www.spiritrock.org/community-dharma-leaders run by Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and taught primarily by James Baraz and Tara Brach. She has continued her studies, including learning from Lama John Makransky https://sustainablecompassion.org/about/ in the Tibetan tradition, to supplement her training in the Theravadin tradition. Her interest in science led her to study neuroscience and meditation with Culadasa John Yates, PhD, author of The Mind Illuminated. She completed a 12 session Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness course, given by David Treleaven, PhD. She participated in Analayo’s intensive Satipatthana Meditation course https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/resources/offerings-analayo/ at Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. She has been teaching in MA since 2005 and started River Valley Insight Meditation Community in 2021.
