Our intention is that CIMC be a refuge, a place of safety where we care for one another in support of our collective well-being. This is in keeping with foundational principles of the Dharma, which include a commitment to non-harm and a recognition of our interdependence. To cultivate a culture of mindfulness at CIMC and an environment that is welcoming and peaceful, we ask all participants to follow these Guidelines for Using the Center.
Covid Precautions
Wearing a high-quality mask is an effective way to reduce the risk of infection and masks are required while inside CIMC’s building, except when eating or drinking. We encourage everyone to wear N95 or equivalent masks. CIMC will provide masks at the door as needed.
Proof of COVID vaccination is not required to come to the Center. However, we ask anyone who is ill, has COVID, or has recently been exposed to COVID and has not yet tested negative to refrain from coming to the Center. Thank you for your care and consideration of others in our community.
Cleaning Protocol
On a regular basis, our bathrooms and other high-touch surfaces are disinfected. We provide hand-sanitizer throughout the building and encourage everyone to use it frequently.
Electronic Devices
Cell phones, smart watches and other electronic devices can be particularly disturbing in a quiet atmosphere. Please power off your electronic devices before you enter the Center, so that others may practice in peace. If you need to make a phone call, check a message or text, please go outside to the sidewalk or parking lot behind the Center to do so.
Shoes, Coats, Valuables
When entering the building please remove your shoes and leave them on the shoe racks under the stairs in the front hallway or in the dining room. Coats may go in the closets across from the main bulletin board or on the second floor. Please keep all valuables with you.
No Scented Products
Some people who practice at the Center have chemical sensitivities or environmental illnesses and experience adverse reactions when exposed to scented products. CIMC is a refuge. Out of compassion for those with chemical sensitivities, please avoid using scented products—lotions, deodorant, after-shave, hair products, perfume, clothes laundered with scented detergent or dryer sheets—before you come to the Center.
Meditation Hall
We ask that you maintain silence in, and near, the upper and lower Dharma halls at all times. When entering the upper hall, open and close the doors gently to minimize noise. Please refrain from reading or writing in the meditation halls. After sitting, brush off your zabuton (large mat) and plump up your zafu (round cushion). Return any other items to their respective storage spaces so that you leave the hall as you found it.
Temperature
We strongly recommend you dress in layers since the temperature in the meditation halls will vary. The thermostats are set to a temperature range that is comfortable for most people, however, individual preferences for warmth or coolness differ widely and cannot be accommodated.
Housekeeping
Since we have no custodial staff, we rely on each person in our community to keep CIMC clean and orderly. Please leave the Center at least as neat as you found it. This may mean brushing off your mat and plumping your cushion after sitting, pushing your chair back under the table in the library or dining room, putting your cup in the dishwasher or replacing an empty roll of toilet paper. These can all be expressions of mindfulness and generosity to those who share this space with you.
If you have any questions about these guidelines, please contact the office by email or phone: office@cambridgeinsight.org or (617) 441-9038.