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About UsHistoryThe Regina Insight Meditation Community (RIMC) had its beginnings in 1993. Dana Anjali, on returning from southeast Asia and England where she had spent several years starting her Insight Meditation practice, began to meditate regularly with a friend. Within a month, the group grew to include five women who practised weekly, forming the basis of our community. In the summer of 1994, we invited Sharda Rogell (Dana's meditation teacher) to offer our first Vipassana retreat here in Saskatchewan at Round Lake. Many of those who sat the retreat are still actively involved in our sangha.
Growth of Our CommunitySince leading her first retreat in Saskatchewan, Sharda has continued to be the guiding teacher of our community and offers retreats several times each year. She has an integral role in our sangha, nourishing our individual practice as well as our communal unfolding through her wisdom and compassion.
Dana is our Community Dharma Leader having received training at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Closely mentored by Sharda, she is involved in leading the weekly sitting group, teaching classes and non-residential retreats, organizing events and providing ongoing support to the community. Her commitment to this sangha and to insight meditation practice guides and nourishes the development and growth of RIMC on a day-to-day basis.
From 1998 until 2005, Joanne Broatch, who is based in Vancouver, taught retreats in Regina. She continues to be a strong support both for individuals and for dharma practice in Saskatchewan, now primarily in Saskatoon.
Since 2002, Howard Cohn from California, has been sharing his deep understanding of the dharma with our sangha through our annual retreat with him. He is a strong dharma voice in our community.
Whilst these three teachers have had an ongoing presence in the community, we invite other teachers to Regina whenever possible. Over recent years, such teachers have included Myoshin Kelley, Rodney Smith, Jaya Ashmore, Gemma Polo Pujol, Norman Feldman and Molly Swan.
ActivitiesThe Wednesday Night Sitting Group has been the mainstay of the community's growth in the dharma. Over the years, other opportunities for deepening practice have evolved in the community. These include meditation classes taught by Dana, discussion groups, special interest groups, a tape and book lending library, and residential and non-residential retreats. More recently, we have begun to offer a community newsletter, .....connections....., which comes out once or twice each year.
Leadership Support
From 1998 to early 2007, a Sangha Council made up of experienced and committed practitioners supported Dana in her guidance of our community. Currently, a small Working Group assists Dana in her leadership of the community by helping to fulfill most of the administrative needs of the Sangha. In addition, many Sangha members help the community to flourish by contributing generously and lovingly in the ways that they are able and that are personally meaningful.
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