This is a time when you should be very consistent with the awareness of anicca. It is an antidote for fear of all kinds. It will keep you in good stead, calm and serene in the face of chaos threatening mankind.

-- Sayagyi U Ba Khin

(The following is a translation of an article published in the September 1995 issue of the Hindi Vipashyana Patrika.)

Let us practise and develop the four brahmavihara (the nature of a brahma, hence sublime or divine state of mind, in which the four pure qualities are present):

-the brahmavihara of infinite metta (loving kindness),
-the brahmavihara of infinite karuna (compassion),
-the brahmavihara of infinite mudita (sympathetic joy),
-the brahmavihara of infinite upekkha (equanimity).

There is a simple way to practise and develop the four brahmavihara: by the giving of dana that is pure in the past, present, and future, and pure in three ways.

How does dana become pure in the past, present and future? When the mind of the donor is suffused with joy and delight before giving dana, while giving dana, and after giving dana, then the dana becomes pure in the past, present and future.

How does dana become pure in three ways? When the mind of the donor is filled with benevolence; when the recipient is living a life of pure sila; and when the dana, irrespective of the amount and value, is earned by one's own labour, honestly and through right livelihood; then the dana is pure in three ways.

Dana that is pure in the past, present, and future, and pure in three ways is highly beneficial.

How does such dana help to develop the four brahmavihara? When the thing or place or facility that is given as dana is not for a particular person but for the benefit and welfare of all meditators, this dana helps to develop the four brahmavihara.

The mind of the donor is filled with infinite metta when he thinks-"Because of my dana, countless people are gaining or will gain happiness by receiving this wonderful Dhamma".

The mind of the donor is filled with infinite karuna when he thinks-"Because of this dana, there are so many suffering people in the world who will find a way out of their suffering, get the benefit of Dhamma and find contentment".

The mind of the donor is filled with infinite mudita with the thought-"Oh! So many people are getting happiness and contentment through the practice of Dhamma because of my dana".

The mind of the donor is filled with infinite upekkha with the thought-"Whether anyone praises my dana or criticizes it, whether I get success or failure because of this dana, it is of no concern to me. My dana is not for self-acclaim or for success or failure. This dana, given with pure volition, is solely for the benefit of others".

In this way, meditators! The four brahmavihara are developed by giving pure dana.

Meditators! The brahmavihara should be practised and developed. The practice of the brahmavihara is highly beneficial for us.

Do you have questions about your practice that you'd like to ask an assistant teacher? Email them to [email protected]. Please include your phone number and the best time to reach you. Depending on their relevance for a general audience, questions and answers may also be published in the "Ask an Assistant Teacher" column in the Intermountain newsletter without any personally identifying details.

Before any new buildings with plumbing in them can be used, new commercial septic and water systems have to be installed. Due to state and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requirements, these two systems must be built to capacity: 120 students and 20 servers. This means the initial investment is quite costly - roughly $410K. However, once completed it will be easy and inexpensive to hook all future buildings into the water and septic systems.

Getting this infrastructure started (and ultimately completed!) is a major and exciting initial step in the future development of Dhamma Pasava.

Ground breaking for the First Residence is happening! Dhamma Pasava is moving ahead on the first residence, getting the excavation, foundation and floor completed. Our general contractor who constructed the road up to the building site and poured the slab and framed the strawbale building which was built this summer, is going to accommodate us financially to get the walls framed and roof in place so it will be ready for the straw bale installation.

The residential building will have 10 rooms with attached bathrooms in each. There are also 2 extra bathrooms for those camping. This building will cost roughly $385K. Due to generous donations from old students, Dhamma Pasava has enough funds to complete the septic and water systems and to pour the foundation of the first residence. More funds are needed:

Septic System - no additional funding needed

Water System:
$50,000 needed for drilling Commercial Well
$15,000 pump and installation of pump for well needed
$10,000 Pump house needed

First Residence-Excavation and Foundation - additional $10,000 needed
Framing - additional $40,000 needed
Total Completion of first residence - additional $275,000 needed

There is an opportunity for all old students to donate towards completing these projects. If dana continues, the center will stay on schedule to have the first residence building completed prior to the next 10-day course in early June 2018. All donations no matter what amount will be helpful for funding the building of the center. Recurring monthly donations of any amount are also very helpful and may be set-up.

Recurring monthly donations will allow the center to pay off any old student loans that may be offered. For example is 200 students made a recurring monthly donation of $25/month, the center would have $5,000/month to pay off a loan for building. Once buildings are complete to allow year-round courses, dana will also come in from courses to help pay off loans.

Old students may mail a check to: Intermountain Vipassana Association, P.O. Box 5952, Ketchum, ID, 83340.

Donations may also be made online at this link
Username : oldstudent
Password : behappy

Those wishing to give larger donations or an old student loan may contact [email protected].

Tax deductible receipts are available for all donations.

During winter months this is basically being a presence at the center and making sure that there are no problems needing attention such as frozen pipes, keeping up with basic maintenance (minimal in winter) etc., as well as organizing monthly one-day sits at the center and holding a weekly group sit for locals. Other months of the year the responsibilities would be to help organize work weekends, help manage the center, basic maintenance of mowing, watering, following up on projects and assisting old students who come to the center by making sure they have service projects to do and are following the guidelines of a center such as sitting 3 times a day, and keeping the 5 precepts.

Shorter periods of time can also be spent at the center giving service.
If you are interested, please contact: [email protected]

The June 2017 issue of the International Vipassana Newsletter is now available online.

To view or download the issue, go to our website, www.news.dhamma.org

username = oldstudent
password = behappy

The online International Vipassana Newsletter site is updated every few weeks as we have new material to post. Every three to four months, we publish some of that material in a printable PDF issue. Please check regularly for updates, or subscribe to our RSS feed to receive notification automatically whenever we post something. You can also subscribe to receive email notification when a PDF issue is published.

Please also consider contributing material for posting. It could be a news story, photos, your own reminiscences or more. Write to [email protected].