Updates
November 2025
Dear Friend,
The Buddha taught all who came to him without expecting anything in return. IMC and IRC follow this example by offering teachings and practice opportunities freely. By removing financial barriers, we create an environment where generosity and gratitude flourish naturally— ideal conditions for Dharma learning and inner transformation.
This practice of dana—giving freely—provides a unique opportunity for spiritual growth. Practitioners learn to receive teachings as gifts rather than commodities. Teachers discover the joy of sharing their knowledge and practice without grasping for remuneration. Volunteers find meaning and inspiration in service given freely, without obligation or expectations. And when we encounter our attachments around security, worthiness, and trust in this interplay of giving and receiving, our practice helps us find freedom.
For four decades, IMC has cultivated an inspired and inspiring culture of generosity. We have steadily grown—this year celebrating the graduation of 15 new Dharma teachers! We have doubled the number of people benefitting from IRC retreats by expanding to include online options. With this and more, we have wonderful opportunities to continue growing in programs, practice opportunities, and teachings.
IMC and IRC’s wellbeing and growth—past, present, and future—are built on this culture of generosity. With this end-of-year letter, we invite you to support all the good flowing from our two centers. Donations offered freely, with happiness and goodwill, are a great and auspicious gift!
With much gratitude,
To make an online donation and explore more ways to donate go to
insightretreatcenter.org/donations
Donations to IMC and IRC are tax-deductible.
Thank you for your support
(Posted November 5, 2025)
IRC offers Online Work Days for those who would like to
- Connect, practice and reflect with the growing IRC online sangha
- Have a container in which to practice with activity and tasks through a self-chosen work meditation in their home “monasteries.”
- Get something done around the house
Online Work Day Schedule (Pacific time)
9:00 Welcome
9:10 Sit
9:30 Opening Circle, with possible breakout groups
10:00 Work period in your home or garden
10:45 Sit
11:10 Community reflections and discussion
11:30 Close
2025 Online Work Days
- Saturday, Aug 9, 2025
- Saturday, Oct 18, 2025
- Saturday, Dec 13, 2025
- Saturday, Feb 7th, 2026
If you would like to join us for the next Online Work Day, please RSVP here so we know how many to expect. We will send a Zoom link and instructions a few days before the gathering.
For notifications for all upcoming online sangha events, please fill out this form.
(Posted April 24, 2025)
All are welcome to join us for days of sangha service and dharma friendship. We recommend being vaccinated and please RSVP. You have the option of wearing a mask indoors if you’d like.
Workday Schedule:
9:00 – 9:30 Social Time
9:30 – 9:50 Meditation
9:50 -10:00 Opening Circle
10:00 -12:15 1st Work Period
12:15 – 1:00 Vegetarian Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 2nd Work Period
2:30 – 3:00 Meditation and Dedication of Merit
Can’t work the full day? That’s fine! Signing up does not require you to attend the entire schedule. We appreciate any time you can offer.
2025 Saturday Work Days
- November 15
- December 13
2026 Saturday Work Days
- January 24
- February 14
- March 14
- April 11
- May 23
- June 20
- July 25
- August 8
- October 3
- November 7
- December 12
(Posted April 23, 2025)
Insight Retreat Center is now offering residential retreats at a variety of other locations. To accommodate the large number of yogis who apply for our retreats, we have partnered with other retreat centers to expand our offerings.
Click here to see our additional Off-site Retreats or visit our “Residential Retreats” drop-down menu to explore these Off-Site Retreat options.
(Posted December 6, 2024)
Multiday Online Retreats:
Multiday Insight Retreats on Zoom are opportunities to engage in full-time mindfulness training. The daily schedule includes periods of sitting and walking meditation, instructions, dharma talks, and practice discussion with teachers. Silence is maintained throughout most of the retreat. Online Retreatant and/or Auditor spaces are available for the following retreats:
-
- 1 week Online Hybrid via Zoom Insight Retreat with Gil Fronsdal & TBD, & Online Practice Discussions with Kodo Conlin: November 16 to 23, 2025
Register for Multiday Online Retreats here.
Daylong Online Retreats:
The Daylong Online Retreats on Zoom are held mostly in silence, including periods of sitting and walking meditation, instructions, a dharma talk, and an opportunity to ask questions of the teacher. They are suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners. You can view upcoming Online Daylongs below:
- 12/20/25 Daylong Online Retreat with bruni dávila
Register for Daylong Online Retreats here.
(Posted December 6, 2024)
This group is a joint program of Insight Santa Cruz and Insight Retreat Center.
Hosted at Insight Santa Cruz 740 Front St., suite 240.
Monthly on 2nd Thursdays, 7:30-8:30pm (January 9, February 13, March 13, 2024). Starting in April, we will be meeting both in the center and online.
Our monthly practitioner-led People of Color Dharma Friends gathering is intended to be a place of belonging, offering a supportive place for BIPOC to practice meditation and explore the Buddha Dharma. We will have a 30-minute guided meditation, followed by a 30-minute mindful check-in on a Dharma theme. Facilitated by Thina Ollier and Tony Arañes or guest facilitators. Anyone who identifies as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) is welcome to attend.
(Posted December 5, 2024)
Dear Friend,
Thank you for your participation in IMC and IRC’s offerings. Your engagement—whether it’s listening to our talks, participating in our meditation and training sessions, attending our retreats, or meeting with a teacher or mentor—is invaluable to our success. Your engagement in our programs has inspired and encouraged us to continue to expand what we offer.
We founded IMC with the motto, “Donations follow the practice.” This guiding principle has led us to prioritize creating new practice and teaching opportunities whenever the opportunity arises.
As our community of teachers, practitioners, and volunteers grows, so does our ability to offer more practice opportunities. Looking ahead, this includes offering more residential retreats, online programs, training programs, access to teachers and mentors, programs for different sub-communities within IMC, and satellite groups in other locations.
It’s truly inspiring to see how many people benefit from all that IMC and IRC offers. It inspires me to continue building upon the phenomenal foundation of all that we have grown up to become. And it inspires me to end this year-end letter where it began:
With thanks for your continued participation in IMC and IRC’s offerings.
With warmth and appreciation,
Gil Fronsdal
https://www.insightretreatcenter.org/donations/
(Posted December 5, 2024)
Gil’s new book available: “Everything is Practice: A Guide for Insight Meditation Retreats”
In this new book, Gil describes how to practice with the many facets of retreats including preparing for and leaving a retreat, Dharma talks, practice discussions, sleep, pain, meals, silence, and mindful attitudes. This book is a detailed and practical guide to understanding what to expect while on retreat, from a perspective of mindfulness. Available on Amazon.
(Posted April 25, 2024)