About
FELLOWSHIP FOR MINDFUL AWARENESS
Insight meditation, also known as vipassanā, is a practice that begins with being mindful. This leads to the nourishment of qualities of mind that include confidence, energy, inner stability, and wisdom. These qualities of mind are sometimes collectively referred to as awareness. When such qualities are cultivated, clarity arises which leads to a clear understanding of the sources of distress in our lives, and the sources of wellbeing which can be nourished. The mind can then move towards greater equanimity and peace.
The Buddhist practice of vipassanā traditionally unfolds in a context of community, kindness, and care.
OUR ORGANIZATION
The Fellowship for Mindful Awareness is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation established in 2021 to offer early Buddhist teachings which are primarily rooted in the Burmese lineages of Mahasi Sayadaw and Sayadaw U Tejaniya. The teachings are made available to any who are interested in these liberation practices. Our aim as an organization is to offer and provide opportunities in community to receive, practice, and realize the teachings of the Buddha-Dharma.
The mission of The Fellowship for Mindful Awareness is to offer the traditional and ancient teachings of the Buddha. The core practices of cultivating awareness through meditation, ethical conduct, kindness, and wise discernment are at the bedrock of the teachings being offered, which together support the unfolding of insight. Engaging in these practices is not only a gift in our own lives but a gift to our communities as well.
MAKING OFFERINGS
An important part of our mission is to offer a portion of donations received to other institutions and organizations who adhere to Buddhist principles and offer meditation retreats. We also support organizations that promote social welfare while upholding core Buddhist values of ethical conduct, generosity, and compassion.
How Our Mission is Fulfilled
All teachings are offered freely through residential meditation retreats, non-residential intensives, public talks, and ongoing sangha gatherings that are online and in-person.
VANCE PRYOR
Vance Pryor is the founding and principal teacher for The Fellowship for Mindful Awareness. He began his exploration of insight meditation as an adolescent in 1999 by attending a three-day residential meditation retreat. Gradually, with the support of his lay teachers, he would be encouraged to learn the teachings and practices put forward by Mahasi Sayadaw. This led to long retreat periods with both Sayadaw U Pandita and Sayadaw U Tejaniya, with Vance temporarily ordaining with the latter. Vance continues to engage in long term retreat practice both in Asia and the United States.
If you’d like to read more about the influential Burmese teachers connected with his lineage, please use the following links:
Mahasi Sayadaw
Sayadaw U Pandita
Sayadaw U Tejaniya
Our Teachers
The lineage that the Fellowship for Mindful Awareness draws on is connected to several lines within the Burmese tradition, most notably Mahasi Sayadaw, Sayadaw U Pandita, and Sayadaw U Tejaniya.