Talk:Insight Meditation Society

Fact check, verify source.
I've added a tag to the following statement:


 * The Retreat Center is one of the two largest vipassana centers in the United States.

...with the given footnote being


 * Fronsdal (1988). Jack Kornfield's "Spirit Rock" is the other large vipassana center.

This footnote is not complete enough to allow for verification of the source. The reason I feel this is dubious is because SN Goenka's organization operates 14 centers in the US, and while not a single center, merits inclusion. Also, there is Bhante Henepola Gunaratana's Bhavana Society] in WV. Both centers differ from IMS and Spirit Rock in that they do not charge for retreats. -- Bill Huston (talk)  19:19, 31 March 2009 (UTC)
 * I removed the reference since there doesn't seem to be much to support it. I also removed the new citation of the "Dummies" book; I would like to see some consensus on this source before it's included because so far as I can tell the only mention of Insight is as an address listing, which only establishes an address.--otherlleft 04:09, 29 September 2009 (UTC)

I have to agree with the above notes, plus all Buddhists engage in Vispashyana, or vipassana, so it is wrong to make this seem as if it is something exclusive to IMS. There are many larger meditation centers in the US. Dharma Realm University operates a much larger meditation center, engaged in vipassana, for just one example. There are larger centers in Hawaii, California, Colorado, and NY that I know of. The claim by IMS is utterly insupportbale. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.23.245.97 (talk) 17:04, 9 February 2011 (UTC)

IMS approach and philosophy
What I think this entry lacks - and which may lead some editors to think it should be deleted - is an account of the position IMS occupies within modern Buddhism. As I understand it, IMS is a US offshoot of what might reasonably be called the "Theravada revival" inspired by Ajahn Chah, which also took root in the UK. This is a really important development: seeking to draw from Buddhism life-changing inspirations in personal life. It probably only requires a couple of paragraphs to keep everyone happy. Bluehotel (talk) 11:10, 29 September 2009 (UTC)

Deleted: one misleading and derogatory statement about Mahayaana Buddhism. We should not engagge in slander or partisanship.

More to the point, this article lacks any statement of actual credentials, lineage history, or in other words, from whom and where Kornfield, Salzman, or Goldstein received authority to teach Buddhism. I know they have been questioned on this a number of times, and I also know they have refused to supply an answer. Without authorization, teaching the dharma is utter heresy.

The other good reason the article should be deleted is that is informs on nothing and functions only as a self-interested advertisement.


 * Anonymous edit from Feb 2011 (above) is an example of dogma ("utter heresy", not mere heresy). Talk comments should not be deleted, because that is a censorship of discussion -- deletions should be reserved for the Article itself, which requires NPOV. FYI, the term Mahayana is itself a "self-interested advertisement" literally meaning "great path" analogous to someone saying "I am the greatest."


 * As for informing, IMS has been around for nearly half a century, so it is notable enough as an organization. Martindo (talk) 10:35, 17 October 2022 (UTC)

Disputed former name removed
"The Insight Meditation Society (IMS, formerly Insight Meditation Center)" was referenced by:



I have removed this per this comment on my talk page from :

Dear Cunard,

In your September 29, 2009 edit of the Insight Meditation Society, you added the text "formerly 'Insight Meditation Center'" and cited a publication by Jack Maguire. I have worked at IMS for a little over 7 years now and have a good relationship with its founders. I also have seen some of the original documents of the incorporation. In speaking with them and reviewing the founding documents I have evidence to dispute your edit. I wanted to let you know that the organization was never the Insight Meditation Center. Would you like to find another way to use the cited work in the article while removing the inaccuracy?

Best, Charlie Stevenson IT Manager Insight Meditation Society

Corezion (talk) 15:36, 20 September 2013 (UTC)

I have not seen any reason to doubt Corezion's assertion so have removed this content from article and noted my removal here on the talk page. Cunard (talk) 09:22, 21 September 2013 (UTC)

Non-functioning link(s)
Heyp! I removed a link that is directing to the very page of Insight Meditation Society (The Forest Refuge).

"MS offers Buddhist meditation retreats at two facilities – the Retreat Center and The Forest Refuge – in rural central Massachusetts."

Jayaguru-Shishya (talk) 21:50, 6 January 2014 (UTC)

Shouldn't Spirit Rock be mentioned in the article, and not just as an external link?

 * Spirit Rock—Meditation center founded by Jack Kornfield and others in Marin County, California

My impression is that Spirit Rock is an integral part of the Insight Meditation Movement, or else a key and important offshoot, and worthy of mention in either event.