What’s New At Insight Meditation Center
Saturday, January 31, 9:30am – 4:00pm In-person only at IMC Part of a Series: Foundation in Freedom: Progressive Instruction in Mindfulness Meditation with Kodo Conlin and Ying Chen Offered by Kodo Conlin and Ying Chen Part and parcel of the Buddha’s path to liberation is the cultivation of mindfulness. Our Insight tradition is rich in ways to grow mindfulness in relationship with all aspects of our experience, no part left out. Let’s share in four Saturday daylong retreats for the…
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Five Saturdays: January 31 – February 28, 2026: 10:00 – 11:30 am on Zoom Offered by Mei Elliott Mindfulness meditation, also known as insight meditation or vipassana, is a simple technique that calms the mind and supports the growth of wisdom. At the heart of mindfulness meditation is the practice of moment-to-moment observation, which cultivates a clear, stable and non-judgmental awareness. While mindfulness practice can be highly effective in supporting relaxation and clarity in daily life, it is also a…
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Saturday, February 28, 2026: 8:30 am — 10:00 am On Zoom Topic: Transform Climate Distress to Collective Action: Climate Reliance Course at UC Offered by: Gail Wright In keeping with last month’s teaching and conversation with Kaira Jewel Lingo on finding “what is ours to do”, this month we will learn about a UC Climate Resilience course putting those key concepts into action across all 10 UC campuses. This UC system wide course aims to transform climate distress to collective…
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Saturday, February 28, 9:30am – 4:00pm In-person only at IMC Part of a Series: Foundation in Freedom: Progressive Instruction in Mindfulness Meditation with Kodo Conlin and Ying Chen Offered by Kodo Conlin and Ying Chen Part and parcel of the Buddha’s path to liberation is the cultivation of mindfulness. Our Insight tradition is rich in ways to grow mindfulness in relationship with all aspects of our experience, no part left out. Let’s share in four Saturday daylong retreats for the…
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Saturday, February 28, 2026, 9:45am – 4:00pm Location: Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar St Berkeley, CA Registration required. The teachings on self and selflessness are traditionally considered wisdom teachings. Yet, insight into self requires love and generates tremendous love. During this day of silence and reflection, we’ll explore how the perception of the innocence of the self diffuses shame and entanglement with self-view. As this insight deepens and territoriality recedes, our love becomes deeper and more…
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Five Sundays: March 1 – 29, 2026, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Offered by: Lydia Ridgway and Yanli Wang In-person at IMC In Chinese (Mandarin) Basic instructions in mindfulness meditation taught sequentially starting with mindfulness of breathing, followed by mindfulness of the body, emotions and thinking, and concluding with a discussion on concentration and the application of mindfulness in daily life. There will be times for Q&A and discussions for each session.
The IMC Winter 2026 Newsletter is available online. You can read past newsletters in PDF format on the Newsletter page of the Insight Meditation Center website. You can also find the Winter Schedule of Events — called the Jan to Mar Schedule of Events — under the CALENDAR link on the IMC website.
Saturday, November 22, 2025 9:30 am – 4:30 pm In-person only at IMC Offered by: bruni dávila Speaking is a rich area for Buddhist Practice. In the Eightfold Path, the Buddha gave us guidance on how to engage in speech that unifies and is beneficial for oneself and others. With mindfulness practice, we can learn to discern, from a place deep within, speech that gives rise to peace and wellbeing from that which does not. This daylong retreat will include silent and…
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Thanksgiving Day (November 27th) vegetarian potluck at IMC from 11:30am until 2pm. Help setting up and cleaning up afterwards will be needed, with the goal of closing up IMC at 2:30pm. Hosted by Gloria Schul. Everyone invited
Saturday, November 29, 2025: 8:30 am — 10:00 am On Zoom Topic: Start a Conversation about Climate Change Led by Elaine Salinger, climate activist and Citizens Climate Lobby leader and facilitated by Hilary Borison and Jan Messer It has been shown that getting people to talk about climate change is one of the most effective ways to reduce our use of dirty energy and reduce the effects of climate change. During this month’s meeting, we will briefly discuss the most effective…
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9:25 Silent Meditation 10:00 Presentation and conversation with GRIP graduates hosted by IMC member Kim Moore, the director of the GRIP Training Institute For the regular Sunday morning talk we will have back Kim Moore and graduates from the GRIP Training Program developed by Insight Practitioners for men incarcerated in the California State Prisons. The morning will include an inspiring conversation rooted in lived experience, transformation, and restorative justice. We have had graduates from GRIP speak on Sunday morning some…
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Saturday December 13, 2025 8:30 am – 5:00 pm In-person only at IMC Offered by: bruni dávila Practicing mindfulness on retreat is one of the foundations for maturing insight meditation. The simplicity, silence and support of retreats contribute to letting go of many of the distractions that get in the way of clear seeing. Retreats also are a wonderful environment for developing a continuity of awareness for an extended period. This particular daylong retreat is meant for people who already understand…
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Sunday, December 21, 2026: 11:10 am Where: Let’s meet in the Edgewood Park parking lot at 11:10 am for a 3+ mile hike — approximately 3 hours. What: We will celebrate this celestial event walking through local ecosystems with some periods of silence bringing our awareness to the present, paying attention to our senses. There will be a time of sitting with a ritual and a gathering together. Join: Kristen Benson, anEco Buddist Chaplain through Sati Center. A chaplain of…
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by Gil Fronsdal When it was evening, the venerable Sariputta rose from meditation and went to the Blessed One. After paying homage to him, he sat down at one side. The Blessed One then said to him:“Sariputta, your faculties are clear. The color of your skin is pure and radiant. What abiding do you often dwell in now, Sariputta?” “Now, venerable sir, I often abide in emptiness.” “Good, good, Sariputta! Now, indeed, you often abide in the abiding of a…
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Zen Retreat with Gil Fronsdal at Green Gulch Farm, Saturday, March 21– Saturday, April 4 This two-week retreat offers an opportunity for experienced Zen and Insight meditators to join Green Gulch residents in a period of intensive residential practice guided by Gil Fronsdal. The teaching and practice orientation will be “Shikantaza Through the Support of Insight,” Shikantaza being the core Zen practice of Soto Zen. Our schedule will include morning, afternoon, and evening zazen; formal oryoki meals; work periods; Dharma talks;…
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