The Insight Meditation Center is delighted to announce that we have purchased a property for our new retreat center! The building sits on 2.8 beautifully landscaped acres in a quiet semi-rural residential area of Scotts Valley, less than an hour drive from our center in Redwood City. The 20,000 square feet includes 16 bedrooms, 17 bathrooms, a commercial kitchen, 4,000 sq ft. of decking, a modular cottage, and over 6,000 sq. ft. of undeveloped space upstairs.

We now seek contributions to renovate and build out the property. Contributions will allow us to:

• Create private rooms for 40 retreatants and a restroom and shower facility.
• Create a meditation hall and walking-meditation area, offices and interview rooms inside the existing building.
• Renovate the kitchen and dining room.
• Utilize green building methods and solar energy, and drought-tolerant native landscape.
• Fulfill county requirements for additional parking and upgrading the septic system.
• Purchase the adjoining 38-acre forest preserve and create walking trails and contemplation areas.

Retreats Offered Freely: Dana is the Buddhist word for giving. It is in the spirit of generosity that the Insight Meditation Center (IMC) continues a 2500-year-old Buddhist tradition of providing the teachings freely to all who are interested. Just as IMC is supported, the Retreat Center will also be supported by donations, volunteers, participants, and other gifts of generosity, allowing us to continue to offer our retreats freely without cost and to teach the Dharma in a field of goodwill.

Volunteer Program: We plan to create a program for our volunteer staff that will offer a rich environment to study the Dharma, meditate, and practice the path of service.

We took possession of the property on June 1st, 2011. The big task for the next several months is raising the funds for the remodeling needed to convert it into a retreat center. Ideally, all the renovations would be completed before we start offering retreats. We are currently working with an architect on construction documents, which will then go through an approval process with the county. We hope to begin our renovation by November, and complete it by August 2012.

Fundraising Progress Our goal is to raise $2.3 million. We have raised $1,500,000.  Thank you to all who have contributed! Updates Dharma Movie Night at IRC Help Prepare for the Renovation! IRC Update

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