Sittings & Talks

Sittings & Talks

There is no cost for classes, events and retreats at IMC. Donations are welcome. No pre-registration is required unless otherwise stated.

The session starts with seated meditation, followed by a dharma talk (talk on Buddhist teaching and practice). For the name of the speaker, please refer to the calendar. All are welcome.


Weekly Sittings

Monday Evening Sitting & Talk
7:30 to 9:00 pm
A 45-minute sitting is followed by a 45-minute dharma talk. Led by Gil Fronsdal or occasional guest teachers.

Tuesday Morning Sitting & Talk
9:30 to 11:00 am
A sitting is followed by a talk with time for questions. Led by Andrea Fella or occasional guest teachers.

Tuesday Evening, Dharma in Spanish, Sitting & Talk
7:30 to 9:00 pm
A sitting is followed by a talk with time for questions. Led by Andrea Castillo.

Wednesday Morning Half-Day Retreat
9:30 am to 12:15 pm
Alternating sitting and walking meditation. Led by Gil Fronsdal or occasional guest teachers. You may attend any part of the morning. Interviews available when led by Gil and occasionally others. Bring lunch for informal discussion afterwards.

  • 9:30 – 10:15 am Sitting
  • 10:15 – 11:00 am Walking
  • 11:00 – 11:45 am Sitting
  • 11:45 – 12:00 pm Dharmette (Brief talk)
  • 12:00 – 12:15 pm Temple cleaning

Wednesday Early Evening Happy Hour: Loving-kindness and Brahmavihara Practice
May 2017: 5:30-6:30 pm
June 2017 and henceforth: 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Join us as for an hour of gladdening the mind and heart!  We will practice and discuss the teachings on loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, known as the Brahmaviharas. Our hour together will start with a brief introduction to the week’s topic, followed by a 30-minute guided meditation and conclude with discussion and a question and answer period. Led by Diana Clark and Nikki Mirghafori.

Thursday Evening Sitting & Talk
7:30 to 9:00 pm
A sitting is followed by a talk with time for questions, led by Andrea Fella or occasional guest teachers.

Sunday Morning Sittings & Talk
8:30 to 10:45 am
Led by Gil Fronsdal or occasional guest teachers.

  • 8:30 – 9:10 am First Sitting
  • 9:10 – 9:25 am Walking Meditation
  • 9:25 – 10:00 am Second Sitting
  • 10:00 – 10:45 am Talk
  • 11:00 am Vegetarian potluck brunch, last Sunday of the month. All are welcome. Please call IMC at (650) 599-3456 and leave a message or email  contact@insightmeditationcenter.org if you have any questions.

At Home In The World: Dharma Evenings for People in Their 20s and 30s
Sunday evenings 7:30 – 9pm (no meeting on second Sundays)

At Home in the World is a Dharma practice group which is aimed at addressing themes relevant to people in their 20s and 30s and includes guided meditations, dharma talks, and group discussions. We have a friendly and vibrant ongoing community, and all are welcome to drop in at any time. Led by Max Erdstein and guest teachers.


Monthly Sittings

LGBTQueer Sangha
Second Sundays of the month 7:30pm to 9pm (in conference room)

A peer-led sitting group open to all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, intersex and queer individuals. Please email imcqueersangha@gmail.com for more information.

Mindful Parenting Series
Second Fridays of the month from 7:00pm to 8:30pm (except June, July & August)

The Mindful Parenting Series is an opportunity for parents to practice in community with mindful speech and listening, to meditate together, and to hear from local dharma teachers who also practice mindful parenting and mindfulness with children. The monthly series will alternate between sessions lead by local dharma teachers/ leaders, and sessions devoted to parent discussion groups. Facilitated by Patty McLucas and Liz Powell. No pre-registration required.

 


 

Support Groups

For more information about the support groups offered at IMC, visit our Support Groups page.