The Insight Meditation Center is a community-based, urban refuge for the teachings and practice of insight meditation, also known as mindfulness or vipassana meditation. We offer Buddhist teachings in clear, accessible and open-handed ways.
Guided by Gil Fronsdal and Andrea Fella, IMC offers a broad range of programs and community activities. These include a weekly schedule of meditation sessions, dharma talks (talks on Buddhist teachings and practice) and yoga classes. In addition, we offer introductory classes in mindfulness meditation, youth programs, affinity groups, year-long study programs and residential meditation retreats through our Insight Retreat Center in Santa Cruz, CA.
IMC welcomes anyone and everyone who has an interest in the teachings and practices we offer. We aspire for our community to represent the wide range of diversity found in our society. IMC is intended to be a spiritual home for everyone who practices here.
IMC does not require payment for any of our teachings, programs or events. The support of our teachers and center expenses is done through voluntary donations from the community. All the work in running and maintaining IMC and its programs is done by volunteers. We are inspired by how effectively mindfulness practice unfolds when it does so in a field of goodwill, generosity and gratitude.
IMC began in 1986 as a gathering of individuals who met in order to learn, support and deepen their mindfulness practice. Under the guidance of Gil Fronsdal the group grew, becoming incorporated in 1997 and purchasing our current location in 2001. Currently, the guiding teachers are Gil Fronsdal and Andrea Fella. More information about our history can be found here. Information about our teachers can be found here.
We are located in Redwood City, California, on the edge of Silicon Valley, about 20 miles south of San Francisco. We are a non-residential center. Directions are here.
Programs
As a community-based meditation center, IMC aims to provide programs in mindfulness and Buddhist practice relevant to people in our community at different stages of life and different stages of practice. Through our programs we aspire for IMC to be a welcoming refuge for everyone who is interested in the teachings and practices we offer.
Information about programs at IMC can be found on the Programs Overview