Special Events

Fridays, 9:30am to 3:30pm

Each of these Dharma Practice days will focus on one of the 7 factors of Awakening through teachings, meditation, and discussion. Everyone is welcome. Bring lunch.

The dates for this event are:

• October 2, 2009: Mindfulness
• November 6, 2009: Investigation
• December 4, 2009: Energy
• January 22, 2010: Rapture
• February 26, 2010: Tranquility
• April 23, 2010: Concentration
• May 21, 2010: Equanimity
• June 4, 2010: Develop & Incorporate

Third Sundays of the month, 7 to 8:30pm

February 21: Martina Schneider

March 21: Spring Washam

Kate Janke started her meditation practice in 2004 at IMC. In 2005 she went to Thailand for six months to deepen her meditation practice in Southeast Asia sitting long retreats. This was a transformative experience that has propelled her to make Buddhist practice central to her life. Currently, Kate co-leads a Kalyana Mitta group for young adults and is one of the founders of the Saturday Night Sangha sitting group in the East Bay. She is also in the Dedicated Practitioners Program at Spirit Rock. Kate works as the Coordinator for James Baraz’s Awakening Joy Course and her next adventure in spreading the dharma is as a mindfulness teacher in the Oakland Public Schools through the Mindfulness and Education Project.

Martina Schneider has been a student of the Dharma since 1996. She has done long-term intensive meditation practice at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massachusetts. She has also practiced in India and was ordained as a nun in Burma. In recent years, Martina has worked in a soup kitchen and served as part of the Zen Hospice Project. At the present time, she is studying psychology and teaches mindfulness to children in elementary schools. She is currently in teacher training with Jack Kornfield.

Spring Washam is a meditation teacher and co-founder of the East Bay Meditation Center. She has practiced meditation intensively since 1997 with many teachers and is known for her joyful heart and loving spirit. She pioneer s bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to youth and communities of color.  Spring is a Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader and leads a weekly sitting group in Oakland. She is in teacher training with Jack Kornfield at Spirit Rock Meditation Center.

Wednesdays, February 17, 24, March 3, 10, 17, 7:30 to 9pm

This series is for those beginners who have taken a basic mindfulness meditation instruction class and would like to take the next step in building and supporting their practice.  Come to this six-week discussion group on developing mindfulness practice.  There will be a 20 minute sitting, a review of the basic teachings, and lots of discussion.  The class will review the basic instructions in mindfulness meditation, discuss the five hindrances to meditation, and there will be an introduction to the Four Noble Truths. For those who have been practicing from one day to 6 months.

(Householder Retreat)

Sunday to Saturday, March 7 – 13

Integrating practice into our daily lives can be difficult. Many of us need support for this challenging but rewarding aspect of practice. We will integrate formal practice and Dharma discussion with daily life by surrounding our usual workweek and workdays with practice & discussion. A half-day retreat with instructions and discussion on Sunday, ending with a daylong retreat on the following Saturday. During the week, meet morning and evening.
You may participate in any part of the program.
• Sunday 3/7, 1:30 to 5pm
• Monday-Friday 3/8 – 3/12, mornings: 7:30 to 9am
• Monday-Friday 3/8 – 3/12, evenings: 7:30 to 9pm
• Saturday 3/13: 9:30am to 4:30pm, Daylong Retreat

Saturday, March 13, 9:30am to 4:30pm

Taught in the style of U Tejaniya, an approach to mindfulness emphasizing relaxation and careful attention to the attitude one has toward one’s experience; mindfulness in the context of one’s daily life.

Saturday, March 20, 9am to 5pm

Based on an examination of early discourses found in the Buddhist Pali Canon, we will explore the question: “What did the Buddha teach that was distinctively and originally his own?” By differentiating the Buddha’s Dhamma from the ideas of Indian religion and metaphysics that prevailed at his time we will seek to uncover a clearer sense of the Buddha’s message and then consider what relevance it still has for people living in the modern world. The day will be divided between talks, sitting meditation and discussion.

Stephen Batchelor was a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan and Korean Zen traditions. Known for his secular and agnostic approach, he teaches Buddhist meditation and philosophy worldwide. Author of the bestselling Buddhism without Beliefs, his most recent publication is Confession of a Buddhist Atheist.

Tuesday, March 23, 7:30 to 9pm

Join the contributors to IMC’s latest publication “Passing It On” in an evening gathering. The authors will comment about their creative contributions and their practices.

“Passing It On” is a collection of writing and art by lay practitioners connected with the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California.  It shows that helpful teaching can be found in the ordinary lives of lay practitioners.   The collection celebrates our everyday lives, but not in a way that ignores its complexity. The personal essays, short stories, poetry, and art explore the challenges we face and the moments when we rise to meet those challenges.

“Passing It On” publishes the work of emerging and established artists who are striving to be thoughtful and awake.   The collection invites readers to consider an array of ideas and then to join the conversation by submitting work for future editions.  In the 2500 year-old tradition of dana “generosity” the collection is offered freely at http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/books-articles/passing-it-on/ in HTML and PDF.

Saturday, April 3, 9am to 4:30pm

Forgiveness is something we do for ourselves; it is the act of not shutting someone out of our hearts. But how do we forgive the unforgiveable? Forgiveness is a way to let go of the pain, anger and fear we carry from harm that was done to us or by us. The day will be devoted to Buddhist practices on forgiveness through meditation, discussion and reflection.

Daniel Bowling is a mediator and teaches negotiation and mediation at Hastings and Osgoode Hall Law Schools. He has written numerous conflict resolution publications, including Bringing Peace into the Room: The Personal Qualities of the Mediator and their Impact on Conflict Resolution. He co-founded the first mediation organization in SC, where he practiced law. He was general counsel for Kripalu Yoga Center, founded the Kripalu Yoga Teachers Association, and taught a course in yoga philosophy and meditation, ‘Life is Transformation.’  A Harvard Law graduate, he has practiced yoga and meditation since 1976, and started teaching in 1983.

Maria Straatmann, a former scientist and businesswoman, has been a student of Vipassana meditation since 1996.  She is a graduate of the Sati Center Buddhist Chaplaincy Program and End of Life Counselor training with Metta Institute; volunteers with Zen Hospice Project, and facilitates Commonweal’s Heart Disease Support Group. Maria also serves as IMC Program Director and on its Chaplaincy Council. She is a Spirit Rock Buddhist Ritual Minister.

Third Friday of the Month Evenings, 7pm to 9pm

On the Monastic Evenings one or more Theravadan nuns will be offering traditional Buddhist chanting, silent or guided meditation, and sharing the Dhamma from the heart. This may take the form of a Dhamma reflection, Dhamma dialogue, taking refuge, or questions and answers. The Saranaloka Foundation was established in 2004 to support nuns from Chithurst and Amaravati monasteries in England to come to the United States to teach. With the blessing of the Forest Sangha, the nuns’ community is now setting up a permanent monastery here in the United States. They currently live at the Aloka Vihara in San Francisco. www.saranaloka.org.

Saturday, April 17, 9am to 5pm

Right mindfulness and right concentration, together with right effort, form the concentration-aggregate of the noble eightfold path. Although these factors are often discussed separately, the Pali discourses show that the Buddha meant for them to form a unified practice. This course—through talks, readings, discussions, and meditation—will explore what these factors means and how they can be brought together in a mutually supportive and nourishing way.

Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Geoffrey DeGraff) is an American monk of the Thai forest tradition. After graduating from Oberlin College in 1971 with a degree in European Intellectual History, he studied meditation under Ajaan Fuang Jotiko in Thailand, himself a student of the late Ajaan Lee, and ordained in 1976.   In 1991 he traveled to the hills of San Diego County, USA, where he helped  establish Metta Forest Monastery, where he is the abbot. He is a prolific writer and translator.  Many of his works can be found online at www.accesstoinsight.org.

Saturday, April 24, 2010, 9am to 4:30pm

This day is for all who wish to nurture creative engagement in their lives, and in their writing and visual arts practices. We’ll explore movement and stillness to cultivate the development of mindfulness and the flow of creative expression. Please bring materials for writing and drawing, and a lunch.

Carolyn is a poet and writer who facilitates creativity retreats and workshops. She works with groups and individuals. She has been practicing Buddhist and other meditative forms for over 30 years and teaches dharma in the Vipassana Insight and Soto Zen traditions.

Friday, April 30, 9:30am to 1pm

During this class we will study the Brahmajala Sutta, the first discourse from the Digha Nikaya. In this profound discourse, the Buddha describes sixty-two speculative views about the nature of the self and the world. All these speculative views are shown to lead away from freedom; the Buddha points to the craving and agitation that underlie them. Finally, the Buddha teaches the way out of the net of speculative views through the development of wisdom. A translation of this sutta can be found online at: http://www.knowbuddhism.info/2009/01/what-teaching-is-not-brahmajala-sutta.html

Saturday, May 1, 2010, 9am to 12:30pm

In this mini-retreat, we will awaken our bodies, minds and hearts to the present moment. We will integrate yoga, breathwork, meditation, metta (loving kindness), and relaxation and let these practices inform and deepen one another. The morning is appropriate for beginners and those with more experience. Our aim is not perfect poses or perfect meditation, but to connect deeply with ourselves and allow the emergence of our innate wisdom, capabilities, joy, tranquility and compassion.

Terry has been teaching yoga at the Insight Meditation Center (IMC) for over ten years. She trained in Iyengar style yoga and is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader Program. She also teaches yoga and meditation at the California Yoga Center in Palo Alto. Her teaching is gentle, supportive, and sensitive to individual students’ abilities.

Please bring a large towel and yoga sticky mat and sitting cushion if you have them. If you don’t, mats and cushions will be available for you to use.

Sunday, May 9, 12:30pm – 4:30pm

Wisdom Healing Qigong – activating life energy for self-healing and the healing of others……

Through gentle movement, visualization, sound and conscious intention, Qigong is an experiential way to address the underlying causes of life’s challenges, using the totality of the body and its connection with emotion, mind and spirit. We will share the skill and practice of transmitting chi for curing the incurable and healing others without depleting your own chi. It will enhance your well-being, spiritual awareness and creativity.

Master Mingtong Gu, an internationally recognized teacher and healer, received his training from a variety of Grandmasters in China, Tibet and at the world’s largest Qigong hospital. Receiving an MA in Math and Fine Arts in the US, Master Gu has also studied Taichi, Yoga and Buddhist Meditation. He is the founder of the Chi Healing Center and Wisdom Healing Foundation and has taught Qigong to thousands of people in the USA, China and Europe.

Wednesdays May 12 – June 2, 7:30-9:00 pm

Loving-kindness meditation involves developing goodwill toward oneself and others. It is an important Buddhist practice in its own right, and it is a valuable compliment to mindfulness meditation. The practice brings many benefits, including greater self-understanding, goodwill, and inner stability. The four week series will systematically present the classic instruction for cultivating loving-kindness.

Saturday, May 15, 2010, 9am to 4:30pm

This is a daylong retreat with alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, instruction in mindfulness practice, particularly in mindfulness of the body and a dharma talk. It is recommended for both beginners and experienced practitioners. No interviews. Bring lunch.

Sunday, May 23, 11 to 11:30am

Time for an informal discussion, an opportunity to ask questions of Gil.

Sunday, May 23, 10-10:45am

Vesak – Buddha’s Birthday Celebration.
During the first part of the Sunday morning Dharma Talk, we will have a Vesak celebration to honor the Buddha’s birthday. Families with children are encouraged to attend.Come with cut flowers at 10:00 to decorate pagoda (in the IMC parking lot) 10:30 Procession into meditation hall for Buddha’s Birthday celebration.

Saturday, June 12, 2010, 6am – 9pm

This is a great opportunity for a full day of immersion in silent Dharma Practice. 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. Interviews with Gil will be available. The sign up sheet will be placed on the table next to the Dana box next to the entrance. You are welcome to come for the entire day or drop in for any part of the retreat. If you come for only part of the retreat, please enter the meditation hall only at the beginning of a scheduled sitting. If you come while a sit is in progress, sit in one of the chairs in the outer hall. Bring breakfast and lunch. Light supper provided.

Saturday, June 26, 2010, 9:00am – 4:30pm

During this daylong, we will explore mindfulness of breathing by connecting with the experience of breathing through the whole body. This style of practice encourages a relaxed focus on the experience of the breath.

Saturday, July 17, 2010, 9:30am – 3:30pm

A Day of Sutta Study on the Buddha’s First Three Discourses

Friday, August 6, 9am to 5pm

The entirety of the Buddha’s teaching is encapsulated in the first three discourses he delivered after his enlightenment. In this day of study we will cover all three suttas in detail, exploring how they weave together to inform each other and create a complete description of Dharma teaching and practice.

Richard Shankman has been a meditator since 1970 and teaches at dharma centers and groups throughout the Bay Area. He is a co-founder of the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies and the Community Partnership for Mindfulness in Education, and the author of The Experience of Samadhi: An In-Depth Investigation of Buddhist Meditation.

Saturday, August 7, 2010, 9:00am – 4:30pm

Taking in the Good – Weaving Positive Emotions, Optimism, and Resilience into the Brain and Self Rick Hanson shows how to use the brain’s machinery of memory to get at the essence of beneficial change in the process of personal growth: the internalization of positive experiences. Drawing on recent discoveries about neuroplasticity, he will present a simple, four step process that weaves positive experiences into the structure of the brain and the fabric of the self.

Rick Hanson, Ph.D. is a psychologist, author, and teacher. He began Buddhist practice in 1974, with an emphasis on using householder life for steadiness of mind, insight, and opening the heart. Rick sat on the Board of Spirit Rock Meditation Center for nine years and is a graduate of the Community Dharma Leaders program. He teaches workshops at Sati Center, Spirit Rock, CIIS, Kripalu, and New York Insight. He co-founded the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom. See: www.rickhanson.net. He and his wife have a young adult daughter and son.

Sunday, August 22, 11 to 11:30am

Please join a conversation with Kim Allen, IMC’s board president. Topics could include volunteering at IMC, our culture and way of doing things, or our practice. Questions are welcome.

Saturday, September 11, 2010, 9:00am – 4:30pm

This is a daylong retreat with alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, instruction in mindfulness practice, particularly in mindfulness of the body and a dharma talk. It is recommended for both beginners and experienced practitioners. No interviews. Bring lunch.

Gil is the primary teacher for the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA; he has been teaching since 1990. He has practiced Zen and Vipassana in the U.S. and Asia since 1975, was a Theravada monk in Burma in 1985, and in 1989 began training with Jack Kornfield to be a Vipassana teacher. He ordained as a Soto Zen priest at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982, and in 1995 received Dharma Transmission from Mel Weitsman, the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center. In 1998 he received a PhD in Religious Studies from Stanford University. Gil teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center where he is part of its Teachers Collective. He is a husband and a father of two boys.