There are a number of spiritual groups in Vernon that offer the chance to meditate and pray in a group setting. Rather than just being a solitary activity, meditation is often practiced in communal settings, rooted in the belief that collective intention enhanced the experience and benefits of the practice. Monasteries, ashrams, and other spiritual communities have been pivotal in fostering a shared meditative environment for millenia, but group meditation certainly hasn’t only been connected to religious settings. The other great benefit of being in a group is members often share ideas and discuss the work of saints and sages. At a recent group discussion in Vernon, one the members of the group highlighted the work of Dipa Ma. One of the things that really stood out about Dipa Ma was she was often called "the most loving person in the world." She deeply cared about everyone. We all have individuals that we know that are this caring and loving, and we should seek them out as often as possible. About Dipa Ma Born 1911 - Died 1989 She taught Vipassana Buddhism in Myanmar/Burma, India, and USA. Nani Bala Barua, later known as Dipa Ma, was born in 1911 in a village on the plains of Chittagong in what is now Bangladesh. The indigenous Buddhist culture there traces its lineage in an unbroken line back to the Buddha. By the time Dipa Ma was born, meditation practice had almost disappeared among her clan, but they continued to observe Buddhist rituals and customs. Though intensely interested in Buddhism from a young age, like most Asian women of her era Dipa Ma had little opportunity to undertake serious spiritual training. However, by midlife she came to devote herself fully to meditation, attaining profound levels of insight in only a short time. She found a way to incorporate her family into her spiritual journey and went on to teach specific techniques for practicing mindfulness in the midst of everyday activities. Dipa Ma’s influence has been widely felt in the West, in part due to her relationship with the three founders of the Insight Meditation Society. She was a primary teacher of Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg, as well as one of Jack Kornfield’s teachers. Kornfield recalls that Dipa Ma’s first questions were always, “How are you feeling? How is your health? Are you eating well?” No matter who showed up or what state they were in, Dipa Ma reached out to them with love. Both Salzberg and Goldstein call her “the most loving person I have ever met.” The Emily Dahl Foundation