What’s New At Insight Meditation Center

Earth Day Morning Meditation Retreat at Huddart Park

Earth Day Morning Meditation Retreat at Huddart Park

Saturday, April 22, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM Location: Huddart Park Redwood Picnic Area 1100 Kings Mountain Rd, Woodside, CA 94062 To celebrate Earth Day, please join us for a morning meditation retreat to commune with the natural world. We’ll experience ourselves as nature, and nature as Dharma, in community. There will be short talks, lightly guided and silent sitting, walking meditation, and time for reflections. Recommended for beginning and experienced practitioners. Please tell the ranger at the gate you…

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Non-IRC Retreat with Gil

Non-IRC Retreat with Gil

July 8 – 29: The Practice of Awakening: Zen Intensive Gil and Paul Haller.  Both the tradition of early Buddhism and the Zen tradition emphasize the Practice of Awakening. In this Intensive, which is held in Tassajara, a Zen center in the midst of the Ventana wilderness, we will practice and study the main principles of both traditions and explore how they can support awakening in everyday life. This three-week Intensive offers an opportunity for experienced meditators to engage in…

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March 16, IMC Community Meeting on Zoom with Gil

March 16, IMC Community Meeting on Zoom with Gil

Sunday March 12, 11 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.   On Zoom Everyone is welcome to participate in a community meeting with Gil through Zoom on Sunday, March 12 for a discussion of the current state of IMC and a vision for IMC’s continued development as shaped by post Pandemic changes. No sign-up is required. Zoom link will be posted here on March 11

New Series: Mindful Parents starts Sunday March 19

New Series: Mindful Parents starts Sunday March 19

Led by Lauren Silver and Melody Baumgartner Three Sundays: March 19, April 16, May 21, 11:00am – 12:15pm In-person only, in the IMC conference room Parents are invited to practice together in a warm and caring community, supporting each other as we raise thriving children of all ages. Meetings will include meditation, mindful speech and listening, and have plenty of time for sharing. Our meetings start at 11:00am, 15 minutes before Dharma Rocks, on the third Sunday of each month….

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February 25: Earth Care Meeting: Earthworm Practice in the Anthropocene with Ayya Santacitta

February 25: Earth Care Meeting: Earthworm Practice in the Anthropocene with Ayya Santacitta

Saturday, February 25, 2023, 8:30 – 10:00 am on Zoom Ayya Santacitta of the Alokha Earth Room in San Rafael will speak on  “Earthworm Practice in the Anthropocene.” The anthropocene denotes the current geological age, viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment. Our current interlocking crises reveal themselves increasingly as a crisis of humility of the human species and the only way out is to come back down to…

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February 25: Everything Included — Mindfulness Meditation Daylong Retreat

February 25: Everything Included — Mindfulness Meditation Daylong Retreat

 led by Kodo Conlin Saturday, February 25, 2023, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm In-person at IMC To support the maturation of mindfulness through instruction and continuity, you are invited to join this day of practice. Alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation will be offered, as well as light guidance on mindfulness of breathing, body, emotions, thoughts and choiceless attention. Brief one-on-one meetings with the teacher to talk about your meditation practice will be available. Recommended for new and experienced practitioners. Bring Lunch….

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Extra Morning Sit with Matthew Brensilver Feb 14 – 17

Extra Morning Sit with Matthew Brensilver Feb 14 – 17

Four Mornings: February 14 – February 17, 2023: 8:00 – 8:45am Streamed live on YouTube led by Matthew Brensilver We will have an extra sit in the morning this week. Schedule 8:00 am — Lightly guided meditation 8:30 am — Brief Dharma Talk Please join us!

New Series: Establishing a Mindfulness Practice starts Thursday February 9, 2023

New Series: Establishing a Mindfulness Practice starts Thursday February 9, 2023

led by Tanya Wiser and Dawn Neal Three Thursdays: February 9 – 23, 2023 6:30 – 800pm In-person only at IMC In this class, we provide a brief introduction to some foundational teachings of the Buddha, guidance, and skillful tips to support you in establishing or deepening your mindfulness practice.  Classes will include guided meditation, dharma talks, and group discussions. These are  rich opportunities to ask questions of teachers and to relate with other sangha members. Classes are appropriate for…

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Sunday, March 12: In-Person IMC Community Meeting with Gil

Sunday, March 12: In-Person IMC Community Meeting with Gil

Sunday March 12, 2023: 11:00 am 12:00 pm In-Person at IMC Everyone is welcome to participate in a community meeting with Gil on Sunday, March 12 for a discussion of the current state of IMC and a vision for IMC’s continued development as shaped by post Pandemic changes. No sign-up required. We will have a similar IMC community meeting online on Sunday, April 16 from 11 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Feb 4 Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Daylong Retreat with bruni dávila

Feb 4 Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Daylong Retreat with bruni dávila

Location: In-person only at IMC Date: Saturday, February 4th, 9:00am – 4:30pm Offered by: bruni dávila This daylong retreat will include guided meditations, dharma talks, and alternating periods of sitting and walking. Instructions and guidance on mindfulness of breathing, body, emotions, thoughts, and open attention will be provided. This daylong retreat is an opportunity to strengthen mindfulness, develop concentration, practice with the IMC community, and ask a teacher questions. This daylong is appropriate for beginners and those with more experience….

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January Earth Care Meeting: New Year and New Resolve: Caring for the Planet

January Earth Care Meeting: New Year and New Resolve: Caring for the Planet

Saturday, January 28, 2023, 8:30 – 10:00 am on Zoom January’s meeting will include a brief meditation and an orientation to today’s topic followed by break-room and large-group discussion. Our reflection to start: Do not try to save the whole world or, do anything grandiose. Instead, create a clearing in the dense forest of your life and wait there, patiently until the song that is your life falls into your own cupped hands and you recognize and greet it. Only…

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January 28: Embodying the Seven Factors of Awakening Daylong Retreat

January 28: Embodying the Seven Factors of Awakening Daylong Retreat

 led by  Andrea Castillo and Dawn Neal Saturday, January 28, 2023, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm In-person at IMC Practicing mindfulness on retreat is a foundation for maturing and integrating insight meditation. This experiential daylong retreat offers instruction in mindfulness practice. Through periods of sitting, walking, guided movement activities, and Q&A, we will explore teachings on the seven factors of awakening. Join us in cultivating these important supports along the path of mindfulness. It is recommended for both beginners and experienced practitioners.  Bring lunch.  COVID…

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Black Practitioners Meditation and Wisdom Circle

Black Practitioners Meditation and Wisdom Circle

With Anne Roise Five Saturdays: January 28  – February 25, 2023 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Pacific Time On Zoom This five-session series provides a safe and supportive space for Black practitioners to begin, refresh and strengthen their meditation and daily mindfulness practice. The sessions focus on the intersection of Buddhism and Black collective wisdom as the teachings of the Buddha are explored in the context of our unique experiences and expressions. The framework for the series is the Divine…

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Día de retiro presencial en el IMC Sábado 11 de febrero, 2023

Día de retiro presencial en el IMC Sábado 11 de febrero, 2023

con Andrea Castillo y Sandra Sanabria Sábado 11 de febrero, 2023, de 9:30 am a 4:30 pm Dirección: 108 Birch Street, Redwood City, CA 94062 Experimentando los siete factores del despertar. En este día de retiro investigaremos los Siete factores del despertar: atención plena; investigación; energía; alegría; tranquilidad; concentración y ecuanimidad. Nuestra intención será experimentar cada factor de manera directa en nuestro cuerpo, mente y corazón. Lo haremos a través de charlas breves, meditaciones sedentes, caminando y movimiento libre. No…

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Naturalistic Buddhism

Naturalistic Buddhism

Naturalistic Buddhism Dhammadasa Gil Fronsdal   Note: This essay is an expanded version of a paper titled “Natural Buddhism” that appeared in the 2014 issue of the Insight Journal.  That original paper was first developed from one of 20 presentations made at the BCBS conference on Secular Buddhism held in March of 2013.   As a Buddhist teacher, I am often asked to identify the form of Buddhism with which I am associated. While, most broadly, I identify myself with…

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