International Meditation Center USA

The International Meditation Center - USA was founded in 1988 to promote the practice of Buddhist Vipassana meditation as taught by the late Sayagyi U Ba Khin. The practice is aimed at developing a calm mind leading to the realization of Nibbana. From the time of the Buddha, over 2500 years ago, Buddhist meditation has mainly been practiced within the monastic order. Sayagyi U Ba Khin encountered the teachings as a layman and realized the importance of Buddhist meditation to modern man. He had a unique ability to teach lay people meditation. Sayagyi U Ba Khin became a highly respected meditation teacher in Burma. He taught students from all over the world until his demise in 1971. From then until her demise in January 2017, his leading disciple Mother Sayamagyi carried on the tradition. She taught meditation for more than fifty years and established additional International Meditation Centers worldwide.

Ten-day residential meditation courses are held approximately every other month at IMC-USA. They begin on a Friday evening and end early on a Monday morning. The courses are led by a regional teacher under the auspices of the International Meditation Center, United Kingdom, where Mother Sayamagyi lived and taught for forty years. Anyone who comes with an open mind can gain the necessary confidence in the technique. The students who attend the meditation courses are from all walks of life, professions, religions and cultural backgrounds.

Our Services

A ten-day course in Vipassana meditation is the practice of the Eightfold Noble Path, as taught by the Buddha. The Path can be divided into three parts, namely: higher training in morality, higher training in concentration and higher training in wisdom.

Morality

Morality is the common denominator of all religions. At the Center, students observe the five precepts of refraining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and the use of drugs or intoxicants. By diligently observing this morality, one develops purity of physical and verbal actions.

Concentration

Beginning with the base of morality, training in concentration is taught using Anapana meditation (mindfulness of breathing). Through learning to calm and control the mind during the first five days, the student quickly appreciates the advantages of a steady and balanced mind.

Wisdom

The third training is wisdom (or insight). This is introduced through Vipassana meditation, which is practiced throughout the remainder of the period. The students learn to understand and eradicate the causes of suffering and the way to end suffering. The understanding is developed through direct experience, which brings a profound and lasting transformation in the practitioner's life.