There is no cost for classes, special events or daylong retreats at IMC. Donations are welcome.
Most of these year-long events require an application or pre-registration to receive the Zoom links and materials.
Please see the IMC Calendar for special events, daylong retreats and all other events at IMC.
Mindfulness Meditation and Practice Circle for Black-Identified Practitioners
With Anne Roise and Karin Wilkinson
February 12 – March 12, 2022 – Five Saturdays
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM PT
This five-session program provides a safe and supportive space for Black-identified people to begin, refresh and strengthen their mindfulness meditation and practice to support everyday experiences. The sessions sequentially build on each other beginning with mindfulness of breathing, followed by mindfulness of the body, emotions, and thinking, and will conclude with a discussion on self-care in the midst of the current health pandemic, and social and racial injustices. The group’s time together will include meditation, facilitated discussion and an opportunity to share and connect with each other.
To register and receive the Zoom link for the program, click on the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qcumuqDgiGtaumwIuSkHiwtTX4-mfP3uH
Anne Roise has been a Zen practitioner since 1971 when she left Canada as a teenager to study with her first teacher, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. She is currently the Director of Programs and Online Operations at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and completed the Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program through the Sati Center. She was lay ordained in the Soto Zen tradition in 2021. Anne serves on the boards of Mindful Schools and the San Francisco Zen Center. She has a graduate degree in City Planning from MIT and is a Certified Life Coach.
Karin Wilkinson is a transformational mindfulness-based coach. She is a teacher and weekly mindfulness facilitator at The Center for Mindful Living, which is a part of Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW). Karin is on the faculty at Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development where she teaches mindfulness and meditation
Karin is certified by the International Mindfulness Teachers Association. She is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior’s Training for Mindfulness Facilitation program. She has a Certificate of Completion in Compassion Cultivation Training from the Compassion Institute, Stanford University.
Ongoing Class on the Middle Length Discourses with Gil Fronsdal and Diana Clark
With Gil Fronsdal and Diana Clark
Intermittent Thursdays, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Pacific time with an optional Q&A period 4:30 – 5:00pm
A Sati Center program; On Zoom
This ongoing course will provide a progressive and systematic study of the Middle Length Discourses (Majjhima Nikāya), one of the most important collections of the Buddha’s teachings. The series will be organized thematically with 3-4 weeks devoted to discussing discourses related to each theme.
The themes covered will be Relating to the Teachings, Faith, the Path, the Buddha, Karma, Rebirth, Effort and Training, Training in Community, Happiness and Sensuality, Mindfulness, Concentration, Wisdom, Attainments and Nibbana.
First theme: Introduction to the Middle Length Discourses – Aug 5
Second theme: Relating to the Teachings – Aug 19, 26, and Sept 9, 2021
Third theme: Faith – Sept 30, Oct 14, Oct 21, Oct 28, 2021
Fourth theme: The Path – Nov. 11, 18, Dec. 9, and 16, 2021
Fifth theme: The Buddha – Jan 6, 13, 20, 27, Feb 3, 10, 2022
Sixth theme: Karma – Feb 24, Mar 10, Mar 17, Mar 31
Seventh theme: Rebirth – Apr 7, Apr 28, May 5
Eighth theme: Effort and Training – May 26, June 2, June 16
(You are welcome to register and join the course at any time; attendance at preceding classes is not required)
Participants will be expected to have read and reflected on the readings assigned for each class. Study guides will be provided to lay the foundation of informed readings of the texts. The classes will be devoted to both short lectures on the assigned readings and discussion.
The dates will be intermittent depending on when the instructors are available.
The course is suitable for people who have acquired a good understanding of the basic Buddhist teachings and practices. It is designed for people who have the time and motivation to read the assigned readings before class.
We will be referring to Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi’s, The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications) translation of the suttas.
Please register here. You will receive an invitation to our Google Classroom that contains the assignments, the study guides and links for Zoom meetings and audio recordings for each class.
Questions? You can email: majjhima@sati.org
Eightfold Path Program on Zoom (2021-2022)
Taught by Tanya Wiser, Ying Chen, Chris Clifford, David Lorey
Offered on Zoom, registration/application required, see details below. Applications to have a personal mentor are due by Aug. 31, 2021. Registration to attend without mentoring will remain open.
2021-22 Sundays 1:00-3:30pm Pacific Time unless otherwise noted
- Sep 5 – Introduction to the Program
- Oct 3 – View
- Nov 7 – Intention
- ( Nov 21 1:00-2:00 Optional Drop-in Discussion Session)
- Dec 5 – Speech
- Jan 16 – Action
- ( Feb 06 1:00-2:00 Optional Drop-in Discussion Session)
- Feb 13 – Livelihood
- Mar 6 – Effort–This March meeting will be a hybrid of Zoom and LIVE! at IMC for locals, with a potluck social tea afterwards 3:30-5:00.
- ( Mar 27 1:00-2:00 Optional Drop-in Discussion Session)
- Apr 10 – Mindfulness
- May 15 – Concentration
- (May 29 1:00-2:00 Optional Drop-in Discussion Session)
- June 25 Saturday 9:30 to 4:30 Concluding Daylong Retreat – also on Zoom
The Buddha’s most explicit path of practice is the Eightfold Path— a set of eight practical approaches to bring Buddhist practice into the width and depth of our lives. The Eightfold Path Program is an introduction to each of the Eightfold factors so participants will discover how to apply each set of practices in ways that are personally meaningful.
Pre-requisite: completion of IMC’s Introduction to Meditation course or the equivalent.
All are welcome to attend the Sunday sessions above. Please register to receive zoom links and course materials by email. A longer application is required to be assigned a mentor in addition to the group meetings. Mentoring slots may fill. The form for both purposes is: registration/application.
The program has the following elements:
- 2-1/2 hour monthly meetings that include teachings, meditation, and discussions.
- Readings, reflections and practices for each month.
- A monthly one-hour personal meeting with an Eightfold Path mentor (if you apply for this) to discuss one’s practice and reflections on the Eightfold Path factors.
- Four optional drop-in Discussion/Q&A sessions for anyone, but especially for those with no personal mentor.
- Ends with a one-day Eightfold Path retreat on Zoom.
Contact eightfoldpath@insightmeditationcenter.org with questions.
The Equivalence of Ethics and Enlightenment with Gil Fronsdal, Diana Clark and Max Erdstein (2021-22)
Two Options:
Note: IMC is not open for in-person meetings at this time. This course will be held online on Mondays 9:00-3:30 with Gil, Diana and Max and on Saturdays 9:00-11:15 with Diana.
On Mondays 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Sept 27, Oct 25, Nov 22, Dec 20, Jan 17, Feb 14, March 14, April 4
Abbreviated, alternate Online class using same readings, reflections, and assignments as the Monday class with access to audio recordings of in-person Dharma talks.
On Saturdays, 9:00 – 11:15 am taught by Diana Clark
Oct 2, Oct 30, Dec 4, Dec 18, Jan 22, Feb 19, Mar 19, Apr 9
Join us as we explore the inherent union of ethics and awakening; that is, how the Buddha’s path to awakening is an ethical path, that awakening itself is an ethical awakening, and that the awakened life is an ethical life. This eight-month program, starting in September 2021 and ending in April 2022, provides experienced practitioners an opportunity to delve into some of the deeper teachings of our Buddhist tradition within a community of other committed practitioners. The program includes required bi-weekly readings and writing of short reflective essays monthly.
To apply, please fill out the application by August 23, 2021. Notification of acceptance will be by August 30, 2021. Later application submissions will be considered, space permitting. Participation in this program is by selection. UPDATE: You’re welcome to apply after the August 23rd deadline.
The Monday classes will include talks, guided meditations, small group discussions, and Q&A. The online Saturday classes on Zoom will be abbreviated, relying on the students having already listened to the talks from the Monday class. The Saturday class will emphasize small group discussions (Zoom breakout rooms) and Q&A.
IMC wishes to create a safe environment for everyone. We are asking participants for the in-person Monday class to be vaccinated. Unvaccinated individuals are encouraged to take the Saturday online class.
Prerequisites: at least five years of committed insight meditation practice, five seven-day (or longer) silent vipassana retreats, and completion of IMC’s Eightfold Path Program or its equivalent.
This is one of the three-year-long programs for experienced practitioners offered at IMC. The three programs are focused on the three Buddhist trainings: Ethics, Samadhi, and Wisdom. In 2022-23 we will offer the Deepening Meditation Program (samādhi), and in 2023-24 we will offer Entering the Stream (Wisdom).
Senior Sangha Group: Enjoying our Aging
Taught by David Cohn, Fiona Barner, and Robert Cusick
On Zoom
Monthly on Third Thursdays from 11am to 1 pm.
Suzuki Roshi was asked, “Why do you practice?” He laughed and said, “To enjoy my old age.” Please join us as we create a dharma-based community of IMC seniors of all ages. Everyone is welcome. We will cultivate enjoying our journey through the vicissitudes and blessings of aging with kindness and wisdom practices. There will be guided meditations, talks, and discussions on topics that support aging with ease and contentment.
Please fill out this short form to be added to the email list for class materials and announcements and class Zoom links: form
For questions, email imc.seniorsanghagroup@gmail.com.