Upcoming Events

At Spirit Rock with Tuere Sala, Dawn Scott and Matthew Brensilver, PhD

Beneath the fragmentation and pain of this time, something is rumbling deep in our minds. It is as if the tectonic plates are moving inside us, but we don’t know exactly where everything will land. How can we stabilize ourselves and leverage the moment to understand the Dharma more deeply and soften our hearts more fully?

This Insight retreat will explore the power of goodness amidst the intensity of our human condition. The pāramīs serve to guide our hearts: generosity, morality, renunciation, wisdom, energy, patience, truthfulness, resolution, lovingkindness, and equanimity. These forces of goodness do not erase suffering, but guide us towards wisdom and compassion.

Traditional meditation instruction will be combined with a spirit of lovingkindness and silent sitting and walking meditation, Dharma talks, and small group practice meetings with teachers. This retreat is open to new and experienced meditators.

Teachers: Phillip Moffitt, Dana DePalma, and Tuere Sala

As a support for Insight meditation, the Nine Bodies teachings and meditations presented in this online retreat offer a new means for tracking and classifying meditative experiences which can help you stay present with whatever arises. These explorations may also increase the clarity and specificity of your mindfulness and enable the arising of insight. In this time of great uncertainty, strengthening our practice in these ways allows us to respond skillfully to the challenges that confront us and our world.

This Nine Bodies retreat will systematically explore a set of teachings about the nature of consciousness that were first transmitted to Phillip Moffitt by the Himalayan yoga master Sri Swami Premvarni Balyogi twenty years ago. They are the basis for Phillip’s book: Awakening through the Nine Bodies. The practice starts by focusing on the consciousness that arises in the physical body and then presents a series of meditations for exploring ever more subtle levels of consciousness. These teachings and meditations are intended to help you be more empowered in your Insight meditation practice.

This retreat is specifically designed as an online offering. It combines the dedicated practice time of a residential retreat while supporting yogis with family members and/or other responsibilities. The format is configured to maximize its effectiveness as a virtual retreat during this extraordinary time of shelter-in-place. It provides each of us the opportunity to integrate formal meditation and daily life practice. Each day there will be two guided meditations, time for walking/daily activities, independent sitting in the communal virtual hall, and a dharma talk. During the course of the retreat, there will be two small group practice meetings and a limited number of individual sign-up opportunities.

Please note that each teaching session and guided meditation of the retreat is a building block for the next teaching session and guided meditation. Due to this progressive building process, please plan on attending all teaching sessions. We understand that due to the home retreat aspect of this offering, you may need to skip a walking meditation or other non-essential part of the retreat. We ask that you consider carefully whether you can commit to attending all of the active teaching sessions and one small group practice meeting each day of the retreat.

This retreat is for yogis that have a committed practice and the ability to sit multiple times a day over a seven-day period. We strongly suggest that as a prerequisite, you have attended a minimum of two 5-night retreats or one 9-night retreat. This retreat is not recommended for students who are experiencing acute depression or grief or other strong mental challenges.

Normally, we meet Sundays, 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Bayview Room of the St. Luke Presbyterian Church. During The Pandemic, all meetings are live-streamed.  Please click here for details on how to connect to our Virtual Sangha.

hosted by Spirit Rock

The art of forgiveness begins with connecting to the heart. The practice involves learning skills such as metta, mindful acknowledgment, and compassion. Practicing these skills enables you to free yourself from painful identification with past events.

This is a day to bring remorse or grief about past actions and move beyond feelings of guilt and shame. Likewise, if someone has wronged you, you will be guided toward holding them accountable without closing your heart. Additionally, forgiveness practice will move you toward clarity and acceptance for the ways you have let yourself down.

Practicing forgiveness allows you to move from a heavy, remorseful heart and a reactive mind to a heart that’s light but still feels regret and a mind that is calm and clear.

The day will consist of sitting and walking meditation, instruction in the art and practice of forgiveness, a forgiveness ceremony, and include periods of guided silent practice.

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

*Recording Note: You will have ~90 days from the original program date to view the program. If you would like access to the recording, you must register by the deadline above. The recording will be available in ~10 days after the program.

Marin Sangha is a mindfulness meditation (vipassana) group in Marin County that puts special emphasis on living the dharma in daily life. The evening’s agenda includes guided meditations, mindful movement or walking meditation, and insightful talks that draw upon various aspects of the Buddha’s teachings. Sangha means “community.” Since our inception in 1998, Marin Sangha has been committed to creating a safe and welcoming community where dharma students can come and explore how Buddhist teachings might unfold in their everyday lives. We invite students of all levels of meditation experience and beginners are especially welcome.

Normally, we meet Sundays, 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Bayview Room of the St. Luke Presbyterian Church. During The Pandemic, meetings have been live-streamed.  Please click here for details on how to connect.