Insight Retreat Center
The Insight Retreat Center (IRC) is IMC’s community-based retreat center just outside of Santa Cruz, CA. We offer silent meditation retreats throughout the year primarily focused on insight meditation (Vipassana) and the liberation teachings of the Buddha.
IRC is entirely supported by a wide community of practitioners, volunteers and donors whose generosity is the foundation for the center. With no paid staff, the running of our retreats expresses the integration of the practice, service and goodwill of our volunteers.
Retreats at IRC are offered freely, as gifts to those who attend. This means there is no cost for retreats. Donations by those who attend our retreats make it possible to pass this gift forward to others who come to IRC.
Please see the [Insight Retreat Center] website for a schedule and more information.
Offsite IRC retreats by IMC Trained Teachers
Since 2024, IRC has started to offer retreats with IMC teachers in other locations. We call these off-site retreats. These are listed on IRC’s website here.
Non-IMC Retreats Organized and Taught by IMC Trained Teachers
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5-Day Insight Retreat with Dawn Neal & Kim Allen: The Body as a Dharma Gateway
Quaker Center, Ben Lomond, CA
October 19-24, 2026: Monday check-in at 2:00 pm, End time: Saturday 11:30 am
The body is a rich resource for Dharma practice. In meditation practice, embodied experience continually opens and deepens as we explore it. Through classical Buddhist teachings, join us to explore how embodied experience supports greater wisdom, compassion, and freedom.
This retreat will take place immersed in the beauty of the ancient redwoods. Our exploration will be within the container of a silent Insight Meditation retreat which includes alternating sitting and walking meditation, instruction, Dharma talks, work meditation, and practice discussions with the teachers. This retreat is suitable for all people with a regular mindfulness meditation practice, including newcomers to residential retreat and experienced practitioners.
The retreat location, the Quaker Center of Ben Lomond, is a rustic retreat center that includes double rooms, campsites, and a beautiful, steep, walk uphill to the meditation hall.
This retreat is offered on a Dana basis by Insight Santa Cruz. Click here for lottery registration (available until 9/14).