Offsite Retreat Schedule
- Indoor Retreats & Nature Retreats: Some of the retreats listed below will be held indoors; others may be nature retreats and be held outdoors. Please read retreat descriptions carefully.Â
- Cost: Retreats are offered freely at no cost to anyone who participates. Most of the financial support for IRC comes from donations participants offer at the end of retreats. Their generosity is what allows others to participate in future retreats.
- Deposit: A refundable deposit via credit card is required to reserve a space in the retreat. Your card will only be charged if: (1) you are accepted into the retreat and cancel after the cancellation deadline, (three weeks before the start of the retreat), or (2) you are accepted into the retreat and do not attend.
- For more information, contact the person whose email is provided in the individual retreat listing.
1 day The Gifts of Sangha: Empathic Connection and the Refuge of Spiritual Friendship. A Day of Practice with Matthew Brensilver (in Berkeley!)
December 6, 2025 - Hours: Saturday check-in is from 9:45 am (PT) to 10:00 am (PT) End time: Saturday 4:00 pm (PT)
Please join us for a day of silence, reflection and the nourishment of spiritual friendship. Sangha – the community of Buddhist practitioners – is indispensable on our path. It is said that the dharma is transmitted from warm hand to warm hand. The intensity of the world requires that we have places of refuge, where the sincerity and good will of others soothes our hearts. Sangha is such a refuge.
The day will include silent and guided meditation periods, walking meditation, a dharma talk and opportunities for dialogue. All are welcome.
Location: 1606 Bonita Ave, Berkeley, CA - Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, Fellowship Hall
Deposit ($30) will NOT be charged unless you do not attend (while being accepted to the retreat) and do not cancel before the cancellation deadline 11.15.2025.
Lunch: Please bring a lunch; alternatively, there are many restaurants two blocks away.
Sitting Gear: There will be chairs at the venue. If you would like to sit on the floor, or need more sitting gears to sit in a chair, please bring your own sitting gears with you.
Note: There is NO lottery for this daylong retreat. Please ignore any automated emails that mention lotteries.
APPLY ONLINE - Registration opened October 8, 2025 - Login or Register for Carpooling
- Questions: Contact the Registrar: Soohee, soohee@insightretreatcenter.org
6 day Insight Meditation Retreat
with Matthew Brensilver and Dana DePalma at Big Springs Retreat Center outside of Sierra City, CA
May 23 to 28, 2026 - Hours: Saturday check-in is from 1:00 pm (PT) to 3:00 pm (PT) End time: Thursday 11:30 am (PT)
A silent Insight meditation retreat with a daily schedule of alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, instruction, dharma talks, work meditation, and practice discussions with teachers. Suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners.
Photos: https://www.bigspringsretreat.org/gallery
Registration opens January 23, 2026 - please check back then
- Your application and $200 deposit must be received by 2/13/26 to be entered in the lottery. Applicants will be notified about 3 weeks later if they have been Accepted or are on the Waiting List. Subsequent applications will be added to the Waiting List. Your deposit will only be charged if you are accepted to the retreat and cancel after 5/2/26.
- Questions: Contact the Registrar: Yanli, yanli@insightretreatcenter.org