Status: Open

Dates: January – December, 2022.
Monthly large group sessions – Saturdays: January 22 (required!), February 26, March 26, April 30, May 21, June 25, July 23, August 27, September 24, October 22, November 19, December 17
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $600 – $1008. Code YL1T22.

REGISTRATION OPENS: Wednesday, August 25 ~9:00 a.m. Pacific Time

Teaching Team: Led by Vinny Ferraro, with Frank Ostaseski and Victoria Cary

CANCELLATION FEES
• $100 cancel fee* – On or before January 18, by 5:00pm PT
• Open credit or tax deductible donation – January 19 until February 27 (after the second class)
• No refunds –  February 28 and beyond
*fees reduced for scholarship participants

QUESTIONS? Please email us. 

1. Dates: Jan – May 2022; Jan 8 & 9 (2 days), Feb 12, March 12, April 9, April 30 & May 1 (2 days).
   Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
   Sliding Scale: $450 – $2,000. Code BP1T22.
   Continuing Education Credits: 18 CE credits available for $180 for psychologists and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors, licensed by the APA, California BBS, BRN, or BCE.*

Visit BPT Program page here.

PREREQUISITE
This training is designed for therapists, educators and those in allied fields. Participants are recommended to have attended at least one (1) multi-day residential retreat or multi-day online retreat with an Insight Meditation teacher or community (e.g. Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Society, Insight Retreat Center, etc.) prior to the start of the training.

DESCRIPTION
Only when one has truly made oneself a patient can one become a healer. In practicing mindfulness meditation and studying Buddhist psychology, we become the patient. So much goodness unfolds from this sincerity. Through our practice, we come to understand ourselves, affirm ourselves, and ultimately, transform ourselves. Our own transformation is then leveraged for the welfare of the people we serve.

The classic description of empathy—to stand in someone else’s shoes—presumes that we already know what it is like to stand in our own shoes. With striking clarity, mindfulness reveals what it’s like to stand in our own experience. The intimacy of this encounter with ourselves provides a basis for deep compassion and accurate empathy. This program is not primarily about learning techniques to add to one’s therapeutic repertoire: it is a recognition that, in an important sense, you are the intervention and cultivation of your own being enhances your effectiveness. Techniques flow from your direct understanding and their power depends on the sincerity of your efforts.

This four-month training for therapists, educators and those in allied fields, will provide an immersion in Buddhist psychology and the meditation practices that illuminate our minds, foster goodness and transform habits that compound suffering. We’ll dive into the scientific research on mindfulness and its increasing prominence in psychotherapeutic interventions exploring data regarding the efficacy of mindfulness and the mechanisms through which mindfulness confers its benefits. The training will examine the convergences and tensions between clinical research and Buddhist psychology and describe ways to integrate mindfulness into treatment. We’ll consider possible contraindications of mindfulness and how to tailor the intervention to individuals. It is an attempt to foster a dialogue between the sacred power of Buddhist practice and the scientific study of health, psychological distress and behavior change. Please join us.

PRE-COURSE WORK
Once accepted into the program, all participants will be given access to Foundational Buddhist Teachings, an online course consisting of five daylong retreats. Students are encouraged to review this course material prior to the class to ensure all participants can join our course with a level of shared understanding regarding foundational Buddhist concepts and terms.

PROGRAM DATES
Program training period is January – May 2021. Specific training dates below.
All meeting times are: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

• Jan 8 & 9 (2 days)
• Feb 12
• March 12
• April 9
• April 30 & May 1 (2 days)

PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
Your participation in this training is important. The cohesion of the group is an important aspect of this training, so participation serves both your own development as well as the group. We ask that you commit to the dates and to participate wholeheartedly.

In addition to course meetings, participants will have opportunities to participate in smaller consult groups with the teacher throughout the program term.

For participants wishing to receive CE credits: In order to receive Continuing Education Credits, participants must attend all sessions live, on time, and in full. Your attendance is tracked carefully to grant your CE credits. Board regulations prohibit partial credit for partial attendance, therefore, incomplete attendance nullifies CE credit eligibility. No exceptions. More information on Continuing Education (CE) credits below.

For participants not wishing to receive CE credits: Attendance at both two-day retreats (January and May) is mandatory. We expect that all participants will also attend each monthly daylong, however, we understand that sometimes there are unavoidable emergencies.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
We generally only offer financial assistance one time a year per person. Choosing the fee you can reasonably afford helps make courses available to all, regardless of ability to pay. No one turned away for lack of funds, as space allows. If you are in need of financial assistance, please email registration@spiritrock.org.

CANCELLATION FEES:
$50 cancel fee* = if cancel >1 week prior to program start
$100 cancel fee* = if cancel between 1 week and 2 days prior to program start
No refunds = if cancel <2 days prior to program start
(*fees reduced for scholarship folks)

QUESTIONS? Please email us.

DATES: Registration open until October 15, 2021. Materials available as soon as you register; August – December, 2021.
Sliding scale: $199 – $1,008. Code SB2N21.

Description:
With a focus on interactive discussion, community building and current events, Sylvia (via video recording) and Heidi (live via Zoom) will share practical, accessible tools to respond to, practice in, and live in these uncharted times with mindfulness, presence, and an open heart. (Re)connect and be nurtured by the support of like-minded sangha, shared stories, and meaningful moments. Join us as we explore how to bring our practice more fully into everyday life and out into the world!

This iteration will be interactive discussion-based, led by facilitating teacher Heidi Bourne, and will include Dharma talks, discussion and reflection, guided meditation, and Q&A.

Course material (included): 11 video-based teachings with Sylvia on how to make your day-to-day experience a basis for mindfulness practice. Filmed at her home, Sylvia offers reflections, teachings, and instructions for everyday experiences such as drinking coffee, driving, preparing food and even walking your dog. Videos recorded in 2014.

With easy, accessible instructions based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness as well as Lovingkindness (Metta) practice, this class offers an opportunity to take your practice off of the cushion and into the world.

COURSE INCLUDES:
• 6 live Zoom sessions with Heidi Bourne (recorded and posted for later viewing)
• 11 recorded video teaching segments with Sylvia Boorstein
• A downloadable course manual

LIVE ZOOM SESSIONS:
6 weeks, Mondays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
October 4 – November 8, 2021
Session dates: Oct 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov 1, 8

REGISTRATION AND ACCESSING COURSE MATERIAL:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to the course page. This course is useful for newer students as well as more experienced meditators who want to refresh their knowledge. The course materials will be available until December 1, 2021. Videos originally recorded in 2014.

Dates: 6 Sundays; September 19 – October 24, 2021; 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
Class dates: September 19, 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24; class time is the same for all 6 Sundays.
Sliding Scale: $108 – $240. Code: TE5C21.
Important Note: All participants must attend the first class meeting. Students are expected to attend at least 4 sessions.

Registration limit: 23 students. Series fills quickly so register early! No late additions unless by teacher approval.

ALL TEENS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND ARE WELCOME

Description:
What would it be like to love yourself, trust yourself, and accept yourself… completely?

To be able to show up fully, in your own unique way?

Come join us! Let’s co-create a safe space to discover and nurture our authentic selves. A community where we can bring forth our joys and sorrows…and have honest conversations about what really matters.

In this six-week teen series, we’ll explore deep practices of mindfulness and lovingkindness…play with art and creativity…and connect through games, discussions, and one-on-one time.

Dates: 8 Sundays, October 3 – November 21, 2021; October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 21
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Sliding Scale: $50-$1008. Our sliding scale options include financial support for our teachers. Code WA1C21.

Registration open until September 30, 2021.

Please Note: This program is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

A Benefit for the East Bay Meditation Center and Spirit Rock’s Dr. Marlene Jones Scholarship Fund
Co-sponsored by Spirit Rock and The East Bay Meditation Center

Designed for self-identified white folx, or for whom whiteness is a significant part of your identity.

Description:
In this course, we will use mindfulness practice, mindful dialogue, and the teachings of the Buddha to investigate the ways in which the conditioning of whiteness creates a barrier to our own freedom, alienating us from ourselves and others. We will seek to uncover the deep nourishment and connection that arise from sustained practice, inspired not just by the urgency of the moment, but by our shared commitment to the long journey to freedom.

We will offer didactic presentations, small and large group discussion, experiential exercises, and recommended readings. We will also invite you into a daily meditation practice designed to support your learning. By gathering in this affinity space, we aim to create the conditions for our own deep learning without placing undue emotional, psychological, and/or spiritual demands on Black, Indigenous, and People of color (BIPOC).

Class objectives:

• Examine the dynamics of privilege and oppression within the framework of nonself and the Four Noble Truths
• Explore the ways in which this work is an integral part of the Buddhist path, bringing us toward greater awareness, (inter)connection, and freedom
• Increase awareness of the ways our behaviors, values, social norms, and leadership practices perpetuate the harm of the status quo, and explore alternatives.
• Develop our capacity to stay present in the difficult experiences and conversations that can bring healing to our minds and hearts.
• Cultivate the commitment to values and connection that are the basis for sustained effort and change.

When we first offered this class at Spirit Rock, many of us were reeling from the recent murder of George Floyd, and deeply stressed by a new level of overt racist rhetoric and behavior at the highest levels of government, while also being inspired by the blossoming of the Black Lives Matter protests. Our collective investigation of whiteness was empowering and enlivening, and many of us finished our time together with a new level of commitment to equity, connection, and inclusion. Much has happened in the last year; so where are we now? What has really changed?

This course is designed as a guided, collaborative exploration for people who self-identify as white, or for whom whiteness is a significant part of their identity. Previous experience with whiteness work and/or meditation is not required in order to benefit from this course, though it is certainly helpful; and we invite those of you who took the class last year to join us on this continuing path. Please bring your beautiful hearts and your open minds to this important exploration.

We ask that you commit to attending at least 6 of the 8 class meetings, because a lot of the value of the class is in the live discussions and Q&A sessions. We will make partial recordings available to participants who need to miss a class.

*Spirit Rock as an organization (including our founding teachers and current faculty) continues to be dedicated to this anti-racist work and these teachings of non-harming and interconnection. In order to do this, we are honored to hold space for various affinity groups (such as womxn, LGBTQIA+, and families) to fully explore, awaken to, and unpack their experience and conditioning in relevant containers. It is particularly important that self-identified white people do this work without causing further spiritual/emotional/psychological/physical harm to the Black, Indigenous, People of Color community – intentionally or unintentionally. We are honored by and grateful to be able to support and share these teachings. Thank you for being part of our sangha as we continue our journey towards a greater awakening of ourselves and each other!

Dates: Wednesday to Wednesday, October 20 – 27, 2021 (7 nights). Code 304R21.
Sliding Scale: $350-$2450, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Departure Time: 11:00 a.m.

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Description:
Do you wish to understand more deeply what mindfulness and awareness are? The Buddha taught mindful awareness as a direct path to liberation.

Mindful awareness allows us to be present with clarity, insight, and equanimity. It is the foundation for wisdom, compassion, and awakening. Though Buddhist teachings offer ways to cultivate mindfulness, we will explore how this quality is naturally available.

In this silent meditation retreat, we will explore this innate quality of awareness – what it is and how to recognize, cultivate, and abide in awareness. We will inquire into what interferes with knowing and stabilizing in mindful awareness both in meditation and in ordinary activity. As mindfulness grows, we will see how this innate wakefulness is available in every moment.

There will be sitting and walking meditation, dharma talks, inquiry, and Q&A. Ideally, participants have attended at least one silent mindfulness retreat.

Scholarship offerings: In returning to the land, we will also be returning to our pre-pandemic scholarship options and policies. All scholarship rates require a minimum fee ($50/night). While we are not able to offer “no one turned away”-type of scholarships for in-person retreats, they are still available for online offerings.

Hemera Fellowships – are you eligible? Learn more…

IMPORTANT – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats.

Teacher(s): Grace Fisher and Friends.
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 suggested). Code 42TM21.

Description:
A meditation group for women to honor the feminine using silent and guided meditation, movement, seasonal rituals on the land, and group exploration in a safe, nurturing environment.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teachers.

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Date & Time: Friday, October 22, 2021; 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $45-$200. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Code TR1D21.
Continuing Education Credits: This program offers 5 CE credits for $50 for licensed psychologists, health & wellness coaches, and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors.*

Please Note: This retreat is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Description:
Concentration and serenity meditation (samatha) is one of three major practices of the Buddhist path, which also includes sīla and vipassanā. In concentration practice, we return awareness to one object of meditation to the exclusion of everything else, unifying the mind stream. The practice reveals, with heightened clarity, our habitual patterns that cause us to suffer on and off the cushion, a process called “purification of mind.”
 
As we build capacity to turn away from these patterns, a laser-like awareness can develop potentially leading to profound serenity, stillness, joy, and the meditative absorptions known as jhanas.
 
This daylong retreat offers an overview of samatha as taught in the lineage of Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw of Burma. Topics include: the practice path, the relationship of samatha and vipassanā, purification of mind, and working with striving. There will be meditation periods and instruction, silence, and teaching including Q&As.

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Teacher(s): Dawn Mauricio
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 43BV21.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s).

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Open to all self-identified BIPOC

Description:
The Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Sangha is a weekly gathering of self-identified BIPOC practitioners that provides a safe place to meditate and explore the dharma. As a beloved community, this sangha supports exploration of the dharma in light of our experiences. Together we will cultivate an environment that welcomes diverse voices and builds community.

All levels of experience are welcome.

Date & Time: Sunday, October 24, 2021; 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $55-$275. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Code AY1B21.

Please Note: This retreat is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

A Benefit for Open Gate Sangha and Spirit Rock’s Scholarship Fund

Description:
We live in a world of ideas, assumptions, and ever-competing dogmas. To simply leap from one belief to another perpetuates the endless sorrow of humanity. There is no greater tool for conscious evolution than the art and spirit of inquiry.

Questioning our opinions, assumptions, beliefs, and ingrained identity is essential to all forms of spiritual transformation. To engage in the dynamic act of living with a questioning mind, grounded in the silence and stillness of meditation, is the doorway to transformation
of the heart and mind.

This daylong retreat will be an exploration of the art and spirit of inquiry and meditation, as we leap beyond the immense content of consciousness that humanity continues to accumulate. When we step out of this conglomeration of conditioning, we arrive at a freedom and love that is our own salvation, and the potential salvation of humanity.

As this is a benefit program, our “no one turned away” scholarships are not available for this specific program.

Teacher(s): Tuere Sala
Sliding Scale: $0 – 108. Code 43ML21.

Join us for “Spirit Rock Live: Monday Nights with Jack Kornfield and Friends”!

For over 35 years now, the Monday Night sitting group at Spirit Rock has been a welcoming refuge to gather, hear the teachings of the Buddha, and practice insight meditation together as a community. The program includes a 30-40 min guided meditation, a short break, and a dharma talk. Learn more here.

This program is broadcast via Zoom with Closed Captions available. If you are unable to join us on this day and would like a recording to view later, please register before the end of the day on the night of the program (US Pacific Time). You will have ~90 days from the original program date to watch.

Teacher(s): Heidi Bourne
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 43WM21.

Description:
Program includes a 30-45-min sitting period, a talk, and a practice-oriented discussion. Suitable for beginners, as well as engaged practitioners.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s).

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Teacher(s): Grace Fisher and Friends.
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 suggested). Code 43TM21.

Description:
A meditation group for women to honor the feminine using silent and guided meditation, movement, seasonal rituals on the land, and group exploration in a safe, nurturing environment.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teachers.

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Dates: Saturday to Sunday, October 30-31, 2021
Times: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $40-$200. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Code AJ1M21.

Description:
“By our willingness to mourn, we slowly acknowledge, integrate, and accept the truth of our losses. Sometimes the best way to let go is to grieve.” – Jack Kornfield

Grief can visit our hearts in many forms and for many reasons. Losses of death, identity, relationships, aging, and other unnamed disappearances can beckon grief to shroud the heart.

Through the practices of community gathering, inner reflection, and alignment with Earth-based practices, we will create a sacred space to touch into the places where grief resides. We will tenderly invite the heart to reclaim joy and to open to the hidden gifts of sorrow and loss.

The weekend retreat for self-identified BIPOC will unfold with an opening ritual, Dharma practice, healing meditations, time with nature, and noble silence.

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Teacher(s): Tuere Sala
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 44BV21.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s).

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Open to all self-identified BIPOC

Description:
The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Sangha is a weekly gathering of self-identified BIPOC practitioners that provides a safe place to meditate and explore the dharma. As a beloved community, this sangha supports exploration of the dharma in light of our experiences. Together we will cultivate an environment that welcomes diverse voices and builds community.

All levels of experience are welcome.

Dates: January – December, 2022.
Monthly large group sessions – Saturdays: January 22 (required!), February 26, March 26, April 30, May 21, June 25, July 23, August 27, September 24, October 22, November 19, December 17
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $600 – $1008. Code YL1T22.

REGISTRATION OPENS: Wednesday, August 25 ~9:00 a.m. Pacific Time

Teaching Team: Led by Vinny Ferraro, with Frank Ostaseski and Victoria Cary

CANCELLATION FEES
• $100 cancel fee* – On or before January 18, by 5:00pm PT
• Open credit or tax deductible donation – January 19 until February 27 (after the second class)
• No refunds –  February 28 and beyond
*fees reduced for scholarship participants

QUESTIONS? Please email us. 

1. Dates: Jan – May 2022; Jan 8 & 9 (2 days), Feb 12, March 12, April 9, April 30 & May 1 (2 days).
   Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
   Sliding Scale: $450 – $2,000. Code BP1T22.
   Continuing Education Credits: 18 CE credits available for $180 for psychologists and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors, licensed by the APA, California BBS, BRN, or BCE.*

Visit BPT Program page here.

PREREQUISITE
This training is designed for therapists, educators and those in allied fields. Participants are recommended to have attended at least one (1) multi-day residential retreat or multi-day online retreat with an Insight Meditation teacher or community (e.g. Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Society, Insight Retreat Center, etc.) prior to the start of the training.

DESCRIPTION
Only when one has truly made oneself a patient can one become a healer. In practicing mindfulness meditation and studying Buddhist psychology, we become the patient. So much goodness unfolds from this sincerity. Through our practice, we come to understand ourselves, affirm ourselves, and ultimately, transform ourselves. Our own transformation is then leveraged for the welfare of the people we serve.

The classic description of empathy—to stand in someone else’s shoes—presumes that we already know what it is like to stand in our own shoes. With striking clarity, mindfulness reveals what it’s like to stand in our own experience. The intimacy of this encounter with ourselves provides a basis for deep compassion and accurate empathy. This program is not primarily about learning techniques to add to one’s therapeutic repertoire: it is a recognition that, in an important sense, you are the intervention and cultivation of your own being enhances your effectiveness. Techniques flow from your direct understanding and their power depends on the sincerity of your efforts.

This four-month training for therapists, educators and those in allied fields, will provide an immersion in Buddhist psychology and the meditation practices that illuminate our minds, foster goodness and transform habits that compound suffering. We’ll dive into the scientific research on mindfulness and its increasing prominence in psychotherapeutic interventions exploring data regarding the efficacy of mindfulness and the mechanisms through which mindfulness confers its benefits. The training will examine the convergences and tensions between clinical research and Buddhist psychology and describe ways to integrate mindfulness into treatment. We’ll consider possible contraindications of mindfulness and how to tailor the intervention to individuals. It is an attempt to foster a dialogue between the sacred power of Buddhist practice and the scientific study of health, psychological distress and behavior change. Please join us.

PRE-COURSE WORK
Once accepted into the program, all participants will be given access to Foundational Buddhist Teachings, an online course consisting of five daylong retreats. Students are encouraged to review this course material prior to the class to ensure all participants can join our course with a level of shared understanding regarding foundational Buddhist concepts and terms.

PROGRAM DATES
Program training period is January – May 2021. Specific training dates below.
All meeting times are: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

• Jan 8 & 9 (2 days)
• Feb 12
• March 12
• April 9
• April 30 & May 1 (2 days)

PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
Your participation in this training is important. The cohesion of the group is an important aspect of this training, so participation serves both your own development as well as the group. We ask that you commit to the dates and to participate wholeheartedly.

In addition to course meetings, participants will have opportunities to participate in smaller consult groups with the teacher throughout the program term.

For participants wishing to receive CE credits: In order to receive Continuing Education Credits, participants must attend all sessions live, on time, and in full. Your attendance is tracked carefully to grant your CE credits. Board regulations prohibit partial credit for partial attendance, therefore, incomplete attendance nullifies CE credit eligibility. No exceptions. More information on Continuing Education (CE) credits below.

For participants not wishing to receive CE credits: Attendance at both two-day retreats (January and May) is mandatory. We expect that all participants will also attend each monthly daylong, however, we understand that sometimes there are unavoidable emergencies.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
We generally only offer financial assistance one time a year per person. Choosing the fee you can reasonably afford helps make courses available to all, regardless of ability to pay. No one turned away for lack of funds, as space allows. If you are in need of financial assistance, please email registration@spiritrock.org.

CANCELLATION FEES:
$50 cancel fee* = if cancel >1 week prior to program start
$100 cancel fee* = if cancel between 1 week and 2 days prior to program start
No refunds = if cancel <2 days prior to program start
(*fees reduced for scholarship folks)

QUESTIONS? Please email us.

DATES: Registration open until October 15, 2021. Materials available as soon as you register; August – December, 2021.
Sliding scale: $199 – $1,008. Code SB2N21.

Description:
With a focus on interactive discussion, community building and current events, Sylvia (via video recording) and Heidi (live via Zoom) will share practical, accessible tools to respond to, practice in, and live in these uncharted times with mindfulness, presence, and an open heart. (Re)connect and be nurtured by the support of like-minded sangha, shared stories, and meaningful moments. Join us as we explore how to bring our practice more fully into everyday life and out into the world!

This iteration will be interactive discussion-based, led by facilitating teacher Heidi Bourne, and will include Dharma talks, discussion and reflection, guided meditation, and Q&A.

Course material (included): 11 video-based teachings with Sylvia on how to make your day-to-day experience a basis for mindfulness practice. Filmed at her home, Sylvia offers reflections, teachings, and instructions for everyday experiences such as drinking coffee, driving, preparing food and even walking your dog. Videos recorded in 2014.

With easy, accessible instructions based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness as well as Lovingkindness (Metta) practice, this class offers an opportunity to take your practice off of the cushion and into the world.

COURSE INCLUDES:
• 6 live Zoom sessions with Heidi Bourne (recorded and posted for later viewing)
• 11 recorded video teaching segments with Sylvia Boorstein
• A downloadable course manual

LIVE ZOOM SESSIONS:
6 weeks, Mondays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
October 4 – November 8, 2021
Session dates: Oct 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov 1, 8

REGISTRATION AND ACCESSING COURSE MATERIAL:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to the course page. This course is useful for newer students as well as more experienced meditators who want to refresh their knowledge. The course materials will be available until December 1, 2021. Videos originally recorded in 2014.

Dates: 8 Sundays, October 3 – November 21, 2021; October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 21
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Sliding Scale: $50-$1008. Our sliding scale options include financial support for our teachers. Code WA1C21.

Registration open until September 30, 2021.

Please Note: This program is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

A Benefit for the East Bay Meditation Center and Spirit Rock’s Dr. Marlene Jones Scholarship Fund
Co-sponsored by Spirit Rock and The East Bay Meditation Center

Designed for self-identified white folx, or for whom whiteness is a significant part of your identity.

Description:
In this course, we will use mindfulness practice, mindful dialogue, and the teachings of the Buddha to investigate the ways in which the conditioning of whiteness creates a barrier to our own freedom, alienating us from ourselves and others. We will seek to uncover the deep nourishment and connection that arise from sustained practice, inspired not just by the urgency of the moment, but by our shared commitment to the long journey to freedom.

We will offer didactic presentations, small and large group discussion, experiential exercises, and recommended readings. We will also invite you into a daily meditation practice designed to support your learning. By gathering in this affinity space, we aim to create the conditions for our own deep learning without placing undue emotional, psychological, and/or spiritual demands on Black, Indigenous, and People of color (BIPOC).

Class objectives:

• Examine the dynamics of privilege and oppression within the framework of nonself and the Four Noble Truths
• Explore the ways in which this work is an integral part of the Buddhist path, bringing us toward greater awareness, (inter)connection, and freedom
• Increase awareness of the ways our behaviors, values, social norms, and leadership practices perpetuate the harm of the status quo, and explore alternatives.
• Develop our capacity to stay present in the difficult experiences and conversations that can bring healing to our minds and hearts.
• Cultivate the commitment to values and connection that are the basis for sustained effort and change.

When we first offered this class at Spirit Rock, many of us were reeling from the recent murder of George Floyd, and deeply stressed by a new level of overt racist rhetoric and behavior at the highest levels of government, while also being inspired by the blossoming of the Black Lives Matter protests. Our collective investigation of whiteness was empowering and enlivening, and many of us finished our time together with a new level of commitment to equity, connection, and inclusion. Much has happened in the last year; so where are we now? What has really changed?

This course is designed as a guided, collaborative exploration for people who self-identify as white, or for whom whiteness is a significant part of their identity. Previous experience with whiteness work and/or meditation is not required in order to benefit from this course, though it is certainly helpful; and we invite those of you who took the class last year to join us on this continuing path. Please bring your beautiful hearts and your open minds to this important exploration.

We ask that you commit to attending at least 6 of the 8 class meetings, because a lot of the value of the class is in the live discussions and Q&A sessions. We will make partial recordings available to participants who need to miss a class.

*Spirit Rock as an organization (including our founding teachers and current faculty) continues to be dedicated to this anti-racist work and these teachings of non-harming and interconnection. In order to do this, we are honored to hold space for various affinity groups (such as womxn, LGBTQIA+, and families) to fully explore, awaken to, and unpack their experience and conditioning in relevant containers. It is particularly important that self-identified white people do this work without causing further spiritual/emotional/psychological/physical harm to the Black, Indigenous, People of Color community – intentionally or unintentionally. We are honored by and grateful to be able to support and share these teachings. Thank you for being part of our sangha as we continue our journey towards a greater awakening of ourselves and each other!

Teacher(s): Kittisaro
Sliding Scale: $0 – 108. Code 44ML21.

Join us for “Spirit Rock Live: Monday Nights with Jack Kornfield and Friends”!

For over 35 years now, the Monday Night sitting group at Spirit Rock has been a welcoming refuge to gather, hear the teachings of the Buddha, and practice insight meditation together as a community. The program includes a 30-40 min guided meditation, a short break, and a dharma talk. Learn more here.

This program is broadcast via Zoom with Closed Captions available. If you are unable to join us on this day and would like a recording to view later, please register before the end of the day on the night of the program (US Pacific Time). You will have ~90 days from the original program date to watch.

Teacher(s): Heidi Bourne
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 44WM21.

Description:
Program includes a 30-45-min sitting period, a talk, and a practice-oriented discussion. Suitable for beginners, as well as engaged practitioners.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s).

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Dates: Wednesday to Wednesday, November 3-10, 2021 (7 nights). Code 306R21.
Sliding Scale: $350-$2450, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Departure Time: 11:00 a.m.

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Prerequisite: Completion of a mindfulness meditation class or retreat (online or in-person) and a regular mindfulness practice.

Description:
We will train in three interrelated modes of practice. First, we will settle and stabilize our minds and bodies, becoming more concentrated, through sitting and moving forms of meditation, including regular Qigong.

As we settle, we will become better able to closely examine our experience of our bodies, thoughts, and emotions, and the general patterns of experience, on the personal and universal levels. We will see more clearly when we are reactive, when we suffer, and when there is a thick sense of self. Plus, we will learn to be more with the impermanent flow of experience.

We will also tune in more, as we settle and see, to an increasingly unconfined and luminous awareness beyond reactivity, which is a source of freedom, wisdom, and compassion in retreat practice and in daily life.

Scholarship offerings: In returning to the land, we will also be returning to our pre-pandemic scholarship options and policies. All scholarship rates require a minimum fee ($50/night). While we are not able to offer “no one turned away”-type of scholarships for in-person retreats, they are still available for online offerings.

IMPORTANT – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats.

Teacher(s): Grace Fisher and Friends.
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 suggested). Code 44TM21.

Description:
A meditation group for women to honor the feminine using silent and guided meditation, movement, seasonal rituals on the land, and group exploration in a safe, nurturing environment.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teachers.

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Date & Time: Friday, November 5, 2021; 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $45-$200. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Code JS2D21.
Continuing Education (CE) credit available:
This program offers 4 CE credits for $40 for psychologists, health & wellness coaches, and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors, licensed by the APA, NBHWC, California BBS, BRN, or BCE.*

Please Note: This retreat is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Description:
Anxiety has many root causes ranging from the psychological to the physiological to the historical. No matter the origin, the distress and discomfort are palpable and understandable.

This workshop will explore a variety of ways to approach, meet and be with anxiety as it presents in the body – along with a cultivation of kind understanding about the mental and emotional challenges it presents.

Along with meditation, we’ll soothe the nervous system, and learn to read the signals of anxiety in the body, before they take hold of the mind.

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Tentative Schedule: (subject to change)
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Welcome and settling
10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Seated and standing practice
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Context and didactic teaching, short practices interspersed
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. Q&A
12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch and rest break
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Practices, Q&A, short breaks and closing

Date & Time: Saturday, November 6, 2021; 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $45-$200. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Code OS3D21.
Continuing Education Credits: This program offers 6 CE credits for $60 for psychologists, health & wellness coaches, and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors, licensed by the APA, NBHWC, California BBS, BRN, or BCE.*

Please Note: This retreat is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Description:
We make decisions every day—from seemingly inconsequential choices to larger ones that can affect the course of our life. How can the Dharma guide our choices to support integrity and both individual and collective well-being?

In this daylong program, we’ll explore a range of practical tools for making decisions that incorporate meditation, reflection, intuition, and inquiry. You’ll learn how to navigate the choices in your life with more confidence, clarity and ease, as well as how to find more balance with the results of the decisions you make. Our day will include periods of silent meditation, movement, writing, and interactive exercises.

Clinicians will learn several conceptual frameworks to understand the decision-making process; how to identify and strengthen key mental qualities that support making decisions; as well as guided practices to share with clients for making clear decisions.

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Teacher(s): Vimalasara, MA
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 45BV21.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s).

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Open to all self-identified BIPOC

Description:
The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Sangha is a weekly gathering of self-identified BIPOC practitioners that provides a safe place to meditate and explore the dharma. As a beloved community, this sangha supports exploration of the dharma in light of our experiences. Together we will cultivate an environment that welcomes diverse voices and builds community.

All levels of experience are welcome.

Date & Time: Sunday, November 7, 2021; 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $45-$200. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Code AC1D21.

Please Note: This retreat is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Open to self-identified women

Description:
Inspire your imagination and unleash your stories in an immersive day of creative writing, meditation, mindful movement, and embodied energy practices. Like meditation, writing is a powerful way to wake up to the ordinary and extraordinary moments of our human lives.

But for centuries, women’s stories have often been excluded from the spiritual canon – dismissed as too ordinary, too emotional, too wild, or too messy to convey awakening wisdom.

We’ll use embodied meditation practices to settle our minds and open our hearts to write from a deeper place. Mindful movement practices will cultivate inner listening and unclog pathways of creative energy. Writing prompts will awaken the river of memory and imagination.

Through sharing our stories without judgement or critique, we will connect with ourselves, each other, and the heart of life.

All those who identify as women are welcome.

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Teacher(s): Thanissara
Sliding Scale: $0 – 108. Code 45ML21.

Join us for “Spirit Rock Live: Monday Nights with Jack Kornfield and Friends”!

For over 35 years now, the Monday Night sitting group at Spirit Rock has been a welcoming refuge to gather, hear the teachings of the Buddha, and practice insight meditation together as a community. The program includes a 30-40 min guided meditation, a short break, and a dharma talk. Learn more here.

This program is broadcast via Zoom with Closed Captions available. If you are unable to join us on this day and would like a recording to view later, please register before the end of the day on the night of the program (US Pacific Time). You will have ~90 days from the original program date to watch.

Date(s): 6 Tuesdays; November 9 – December 14, 2021 (Nov 9, 16, 23, 30; Dec 7, 14)
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. US Pacific Time (same time for each session)
Sliding Scale: $75-$600. Code JB1C21.

Please Note: This retreat is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Description:
This training will help you learn how to build personal, group, and community “transformation resilience” for the global climate emergency. Learn mindfulness skills to go beyond logistics and help organize neighborhoods to respond to climate and other disasters at the psychological level and reduce trauma.

You will learn: 

• Basic “Presencing” (mindfulness practices) and “Purposing” (compassionate action) skills that help you and others calm the mind, body, and emotions, and find meaning, direction, and realistic hope
• How to take responsibility for promoting Transformational Resilience by organizing Resilience Coordinating Councils
• How to build universal literacy about personal and collective Transformational Resilience that prevents and heals mental health and psycho-social-spiritual problems.
• How to motivate organizations to build a culture of Transformational Resilience, by having them incorporate resilience principles and practices 

We will also incorporate methods to cultivate awareness of, and address, racial and cultural biases to prevent and repair social injustices and inequalities.

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Teacher(s): Sylvia Boorstein
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 45WM21.

Description:
Program includes a 30-45-min sitting period, a talk, and a practice-oriented discussion. Suitable for beginners, as well as engaged practitioners.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s).

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Teacher(s): Grace Fisher and Friends.
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 suggested). Code 45TM21.

Description:
A meditation group for women to honor the feminine using silent and guided meditation, movement, seasonal rituals on the land, and group exploration in a safe, nurturing environment.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teachers.

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Date & Time: Friday, November 12, 2021; 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $45-$200. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Code DA1D21.
Continuing Education (CE) credit available: This program offers 4 CE credits for $40 for psychologists, health & wellness coaches, and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors, licensed by the APA, NBHWC, California BBS, BRN, or BCE.*

Please Note: This retreat is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Description:
By changing our habits of movement, we awaken the body; by changing our habits of thinking, we awaken the mind. We can then join in the dance of existence with more freedom and ease. This daylong combines mindfulness meditation with sessions of Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® lessons, the brilliant sensory-motor approach to re-educating the neuromuscular system. Meditation will alternate with guided Feldenkrais movement lessons, allowing the techniques to support each other and enhance mind-body connection and well-being. There will be time for discussion.

The workshop is appropriate for beginning and experienced students of either mindfulness meditation or The Feldenkrais Method®

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Tentative Schedule: (subject to change)
10:00-10:10 am Introduction
10:10-10:40 am Feldenkrais movement lesson
10:40-11:00 am Discussion and meditation
11:00-11:30 am Feldenkrais movement lesson
11:30-11:40 am Break
11:40 am-12:00 pm Discussion and meditation
12:00-1:00 pm Lunch
1:00-1:15 pm Meditation
1:15-1:45 pm Feldenkrais movement lesson
1:45-1:55 pm Break
1:55-2:20 pm Discussion and meditation
2:20-2:45 pm Feldenkrais movement lesson
2:45-3:00 pm Discussion and closing meditation

Dates: Friday to Wednesday, November 12-17, 2021 (5 nights). Code 308R21.
Sliding Scale: $250-$1750, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Departure Time: 11:00 a.m.

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Description:
Come explore the deep well-being and peace available from learning to live with awareness and understanding the Dharma deeply. Join us to develop a clear, kind presence of mind and heart that can support becoming a more wise, balanced, compassionate human being. This retreat will emphasize a relaxed continuity of attention in sitting, walking, eating and all other daily activities.

We will enter into a contemplative Buddhist retreat period, simplifying our lives by letting go of reading, writing, cellphones, computers, sexual activity and recreational drugs/alcohol to help settle our minds and hearts. The retreat will be supported by guided meditations, Dharma talks, and time for questions in small groups.

Note: Dharma is for everyone but intensive silent retreat is only recommended for those with sufficient psychological stability. This retreat is not appropriate for those with recent trauma, fragile mental health, or who cannot be in silence for 5 nights.

Scholarship offerings: In returning to the land, we will also be returning to our pre-pandemic scholarship options and policies. All scholarship rates require a minimum fee ($50/night). While we are not able to offer “no one turned away”-type of scholarships for in-person retreats, they are still available for online offerings.

Hemera Fellowships – are you eligible? Learn more…

IMPORTANT – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats.

Dates: Saturday & Sunday, November 13-14, 2021
Times: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $75-$600. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Code PB1M21.
Continuing Education Credits: This program offers 10 CE credits for $100 for psychologists, health & wellness coaches, and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors, licensed by the APA, NBHWC, California BBS, BRN, or BCE.*

Description:
At the end of life, no one wishes they had bought nicer things or read more social media posts. In our fast paced, goal-driven lives, we strive for meaningful connection with ourselves and others.

The simple practice of gratitude can awaken us to the outrageous beauty of life force already pulsing all around us. Gratitude is an antidote to our mind’s fear, opening the door to humility, reverence, and even devotion. It can permeate our deepest fears from eco-anxiety to sickness and loss. With gratitude and awe, we meet the world and feel the wonder and connection to the earth and all beings with the energy to transform and accept what is needed.

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Tentative Daily Schedule: (subject to change)
10:00-10:30 a.m. Opening meditation
10:30-11:00 a.m. Talk
11:00-11:45 a.m. Activity
11:45-12:30 a.m. Walking meditation
12:30-1:30 a.m. Lunch
1:30-2:00 a.m. Movement
2:00-2:30 a.m. Talk
2:30-3:15 a.m. Breakout groups
3:15-3:45 a.m. Large group discussion
3:45-4:00 a.m. Closing and dedication of merit

Teacher(s): Devin Berry
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 46BV21.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s).

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Open to all self-identified BIPOC

Description:
The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Sangha is a weekly gathering of self-identified BIPOC practitioners that provides a safe place to meditate and explore the dharma. As a beloved community, this sangha supports exploration of the dharma in light of our experiences. Together we will cultivate an environment that welcomes diverse voices and builds community.

All levels of experience are welcome.

Teacher(s): Kaira Jewel Lingo
Sliding Scale: $0 – 108. Code 46ML21.

Join us for “Spirit Rock Live: Monday Nights with Jack Kornfield and Friends”!

For over 35 years now, the Monday Night sitting group at Spirit Rock has been a welcoming refuge to gather, hear the teachings of the Buddha, and practice insight meditation together as a community. The program includes a 30-40 min guided meditation, a short break, and a dharma talk. Learn more here.

This program is broadcast via Zoom with Closed Captions available. If you are unable to join us on this day and would like a recording to view later, please register before the end of the day on the night of the program (US Pacific Time). You will have ~90 days from the original program date to watch.

Teacher(s): Donald Rothberg
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 46WM21.

Description:
Program includes a 30-45-min sitting period, a talk, and a practice-oriented discussion. Suitable for beginners, as well as engaged practitioners.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s).

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Teacher(s): Grace Fisher and Friends.
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 suggested). Code 46TM21.

Description:
A meditation group for women to honor the feminine using silent and guided meditation, movement, seasonal rituals on the land, and group exploration in a safe, nurturing environment.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teachers.

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Date & Time: Friday, November 19, 2021; 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $45-$200. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Code MC3D21.
Continuing Education (CE) credit available: This program offers 5.5 CE credits for $55 for psychologists, health & wellness coaches, and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors, licensed by the APA, NBHWC, California BBS, BRN, or BCE.*

Please Note: This retreat is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Description:
Have you noticed the negative effects of self-judgment. If you wish to be more free from the torment of the inner critic, this daylong is good medicine. During our day together, you will learn:

• How to recognize judging thoughts;
• Learn to deal effectively with inner critic attacks;
• How to distinguish between negative judgment and wise discernment and discrimination;
• The importance of self-acceptance, self-compassion and metta as an antidote to the critic;
• The need and role of humor in helping us with the critic;
• Cultivating forgiveness in response to judgment.

The day will be a combination of talks, and interactive exercises, mindfulness and loving kindness techniques and practices and is open to new and experienced students. This will be a practical and experiential course taught with lightness, compassion and humor and the need to not take ourselves too seriously.

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Dates: Friday to Sunday, November 19-28, 2021 (9 nights). Code 310R21.
Sliding Scale: $450-$3150, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Departure Time: 11:00 a.m.

Lottery Applications Open: August 27th – September 12th (two weeks!)

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Description:
In these overwhelming times, let’s deepen refuge, as well as reconnect with community and our shared roots within the sacred web of life. This will be a time of contemplation and remembrance as we journey through the grief of so much loss and the hope of the human spirit, offering thanks for the beauty of this world.

Within contemplative quietude, supported by calm and insight meditation in a mindful, gentle retreat container, we will draw from teachings and practices that enable timelessness and openings into the heart medicine of love and compassion.

The retreat will source from a synthesis of the Theravada Elder’s Way and Mahayana practices and teachings around Quan Yin’s compassionate Bodhisattva Path. This includes mantras, chanting, and ceremony. The retreat concludes with a Quan Yin Compassion Ceremony.

In addition to Dharma talks, meditation instructions, and daily yoga sessions, there will be small group meetings with the teachers.

IMPORTANT – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats. Subject to change.

Financial Information:
Sliding Scale: $450-$3,150; 9 nights including food and lodging.
Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports Spirit Rock, staff, and your fellow practitioners. Any amount offered above the Base rate is a tax deductible donation to Spirit Rock, and your generosity will enable and support the participation of others. These fees do not include dana for the teachers.

Benefactor – $3,150
Sustainer – $2,250
Base – $1,575
Mudita/Karuna Scholarship (for anyone who needs financial assistance, including fixed income folks) – $450*
BIPOC Scholarship (for Black, Indigenous, and/or Persons of color) – $450*
Young Adult Scholarship (for young adults age 18-26 years) – $450*

*Scholarship offerings: In returning to the land, we will also be returning to our pre-pandemic scholarship options and policies. All scholarship rates require a minimum fee ($50/night). While we are not able to offer “no one turned away”-type of scholarships for in-person retreats, they are still available for online offerings.

Date & Time: Saturday, November 20, 2021; 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $20-$108. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Code FR2D21.

Please Note: This retreat is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Open to Trans, GNC/GB, Two Spirit, and Gender Expansive Community who may invite close ones to attend. We ask that allies only attend as a guest of a trans or gender expansive identified person.

Description:
Please join us for our 5th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance event at Spirit Rock. On this day, as we honor our ancestors and celebrate our own lives, we welcome members of the transgender, Two-Spirit, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, non-binary, and beyond-gender community to gather for silent meditation, mindful movement, and heart-centered practices.

These practices will be offered in silence, balanced with discussions and community-building group exercises that nurture radical connection, joy, and resilience.

This year, we will feature music by Amber Field Music, movement with Richelle Donigan, inspiring storytelling by Drïan Juarez, and dharma talks lead by teachers JD Doyle and Fresh “Lev” White.

No meditation experience is necessary. For this memorial event, we ask that any allies be accompanied by a community member.

Please note we will allow time for lunch and other breaks during the day.

You are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Teacher(s): Leslie Booker
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 47BV21.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s).

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Open to all self-identified BIPOC

Description:
The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Sangha is a weekly gathering of self-identified BIPOC practitioners that provides a safe place to meditate and explore the dharma. As a beloved community, this sangha supports exploration of the dharma in light of our experiences. Together we will cultivate an environment that welcomes diverse voices and builds community.

All levels of experience are welcome.

Date & Time: Sunday, November 21, 2021; 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $45-$200. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Code PM3D21.
Continuing Education Credits: This program offers 6 CE credits for $60 for psychologists, health & wellness coaches, and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, and nurses, licensed by the APA, NBHWC, California BBS, or BRN.*

Please Note: This retreat is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Description:
The art of forgiveness begins with connecting to the heart. The practice involves learning skills such as metta, mindful acknowledgment, and compassion. Practicing these skills enables you to free yourself from painful identification with past events.

This is a day to bring remorse or grief about past actions and move beyond feelings of guilt and shame. Likewise, if someone has wronged you, you will be guided toward holding them accountable without closing your heart. Additionally, forgiveness practice will move you toward clarity and acceptance for the ways you have let yourself down.

Practicing forgiveness allows you to move from a heavy, remorseful heart and a reactive mind to a heart that’s light but still feels regret and a mind that is calm and clear.

The day will consist of sitting and walking meditation, instruction in the art and practice of forgiveness, a forgiveness ceremony, and include periods of guided silent practice.

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Teacher(s): Jack Kornfield, PhD
Sliding Scale: $0 – 108. Code 47ML21.

Join us for “Spirit Rock Live: Monday Nights with Jack Kornfield and Friends”!

For over 35 years now, the Monday Night sitting group at Spirit Rock has been a welcoming refuge to gather, hear the teachings of the Buddha, and practice insight meditation together as a community. The program includes a 30-40 min guided meditation, a short break, and a dharma talk. Learn more here.

This is a Livestream program with Closed Captions available. If you are unable to join us on this day and would like a recording to view later, please register before the end of the day on the night of the program (US Pacific Time). You will have ~90 days from the original program date to watch.

View a recording of Spirit Rock Live: Monday Nights with Jack Kornfield & Friends…

Teacher(s): Donald Rothberg
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 47WM21.

Description:
Program includes a 30-45-min sitting period, a talk, and a practice-oriented discussion. Suitable for beginners, as well as engaged practitioners.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s).

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Date & Time: Friday, November 26, 2021; 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $45-$200. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Code SP1D21.

Please Note: This retreat is offered online only. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Description:
Gratitude seats us into the fullness of the present moment and all that we have. Mindfulness, yoga asana, mudra, and meditation are techniques that support the embodiment of gratitude for everything that this beautiful world offers us. Through gratitude we can come into alignment with the dharma of interconnectivity and awe. Be prepared to do yoga asana designed to sustain mindfulness rather than athletic competencies. The day will weave together periods of silence, practice and teachings.

Tentative General Schedule:
The morning will have yoga asana, meditation and a dharma talk.
Lunch will be from 12:30 – 1:30 pm.
After lunch will be reclining meditation, slow stretching, meditation and a talk. There will be opportunities for Q&A.

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Teacher(s): Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith, MBA
Sliding Scale: $0 – $108 ($15 – $30 Suggested). Code 48BV21.

Our sliding scale options for this drop-in program include financial support for our teacher(s).

Online: We are offering this program online only via Zoom so you can join us remotely. We invite you to try this creative form of practice as we take care of one another and respond skillfully to COVID-19.

Open to all self-identified BIPOC

Description:
The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Sangha is a weekly gathering of self-identified BIPOC practitioners that provides a safe place to meditate and explore the dharma. As a beloved community, this sangha supports exploration of the dharma in light of our experiences. Together we will cultivate an environment that welcomes diverse voices and builds community.

All levels of experience are welcome.

Dates: Monday to Sunday, November 29-December 5, 2021 (6 nights). Code 312R21.
Sliding Scale: $300-$2100, PLUS a donation to the teacher(s).
Arrival Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Departure Time: 11:00 a.m.

RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!

Description:
The foundational Buddhist meditation practices are the collecting and clarifying of the mind, and cultivating the conditions for Insight. On this retreat we will look carefully and practice creating the conditions that allow the meditation practice to flourish and wisdom to arise. Specific guidance will be given around the different aspects of practice will be offered with an emphasis on the practitioner knowing what and why they are doing the practice they are and what the results that may follow. Open to all interested meditators with a willingness to investigate and experiment with their practice approaches.

Scholarship offerings: In returning to the land, we will also be returning to our pre-pandemic scholarship options and policies. All scholarship rates require a minimum fee ($50/night). While we are not able to offer “no one turned away”-type of scholarships for in-person retreats, they are still available for online offerings.

Hemera Fellowships – are you eligible? Learn more…

IMPORTANT – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats.

Teacher(s): Ayya Anandabodhi
Sliding Scale: $0 – 108. Code 48ML21.

Join us for “Spirit Rock Live: Monday Nights with Jack Kornfield and Friends”!

For over 35 years now, the Monday Night sitting group at Spirit Rock has been a welcoming refuge to gather, hear the teachings of the Buddha, and practice insight meditation together as a community. The program includes a 30-40 min guided meditation, a short break, and a dharma talk. Learn more here.

This program is broadcast via Zoom with Closed Captions available. If you are unable to join us on this day and would like a recording to view later, please register before the end of the day on the night of the program (US Pacific Time). You will have ~90 days from the original program date to watch.

Dates: January – December, 2022.
Monthly large group sessions – Saturdays: January 22 (required!), February 26, March 26, April 30, May 21, June 25, July 23, August 27, September 24, October 22, November 19, December 17
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. US Pacific Time
Sliding Scale: $600 – $1008. Code YL1T22.

REGISTRATION OPENS: Wednesday, August 25 ~9:00 a.m. Pacific Time

Teaching Team: Led by Vinny Ferraro, with Frank Ostaseski and Victoria Cary

CANCELLATION FEES
• $100 cancel fee* – On or before January 18, by 5:00pm PT
• Open credit or tax deductible donation – January 19 until February 27 (after the second class)
• No refunds –  February 28 and beyond
*fees reduced for scholarship participants

QUESTIONS? Please email us. 

1. Dates: Jan – May 2022; Jan 8 & 9 (2 days), Feb 12, March 12, April 9, April 30 & May 1 (2 days).
   Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
   Sliding Scale: $450 – $2,000. Code BP1T22.
   Continuing Education Credits: 18 CE credits available for $180 for psychologists and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors, licensed by the APA, California BBS, BRN, or BCE.*

Visit BPT Program page here.

PREREQUISITE
This training is designed for therapists, educators and those in allied fields. Participants are recommended to have attended at least one (1) multi-day residential retreat or multi-day online retreat with an Insight Meditation teacher or community (e.g. Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Society, Insight Retreat Center, etc.) prior to the start of the training.

DESCRIPTION
Only when one has truly made oneself a patient can one become a healer. In practicing mindfulness meditation and studying Buddhist psychology, we become the patient. So much goodness unfolds from this sincerity. Through our practice, we come to understand ourselves, affirm ourselves, and ultimately, transform ourselves. Our own transformation is then leveraged for the welfare of the people we serve.

The classic description of empathy—to stand in someone else’s shoes—presumes that we already know what it is like to stand in our own shoes. With striking clarity, mindfulness reveals what it’s like to stand in our own experience. The intimacy of this encounter with ourselves provides a basis for deep compassion and accurate empathy. This program is not primarily about learning techniques to add to one’s therapeutic repertoire: it is a recognition that, in an important sense, you are the intervention and cultivation of your own being enhances your effectiveness. Techniques flow from your direct understanding and their power depends on the sincerity of your efforts.

This four-month training for therapists, educators and those in allied fields, will provide an immersion in Buddhist psychology and the meditation practices that illuminate our minds, foster goodness and transform habits that compound suffering. We’ll dive into the scientific research on mindfulness and its increasing prominence in psychotherapeutic interventions exploring data regarding the efficacy of mindfulness and the mechanisms through which mindfulness confers its benefits. The training will examine the convergences and tensions between clinical research and Buddhist psychology and describe ways to integrate mindfulness into treatment. We’ll consider possible contraindications of mindfulness and how to tailor the intervention to individuals. It is an attempt to foster a dialogue between the sacred power of Buddhist practice and the scientific study of health, psychological distress and behavior change. Please join us.

PRE-COURSE WORK
Once accepted into the program, all participants will be given access to Foundational Buddhist Teachings, an online course consisting of five daylong retreats. Students are encouraged to review this course material prior to the class to ensure all participants can join our course with a level of shared understanding regarding foundational Buddhist concepts and terms.

PROGRAM DATES
Program training period is January – May 2021. Specific training dates below.
All meeting times are: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

• Jan 8 & 9 (2 days)
• Feb 12
• March 12
• April 9
• April 30 & May 1 (2 days)

PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
Your participation in this training is important. The cohesion of the group is an important aspect of this training, so participation serves both your own development as well as the group. We ask that you commit to the dates and to participate wholeheartedly.

In addition to course meetings, participants will have opportunities to participate in smaller consult groups with the teacher throughout the program term.

For participants wishing to receive CE credits: In order to receive Continuing Education Credits, participants must attend all sessions live, on time, and in full. Your attendance is tracked carefully to grant your CE credits. Board regulations prohibit partial credit for partial attendance, therefore, incomplete attendance nullifies CE credit eligibility. No exceptions. More information on Continuing Education (CE) credits below.

For participants not wishing to receive CE credits: Attendance at both two-day retreats (January and May) is mandatory. We expect that all participants will also attend each monthly daylong, however, we understand that sometimes there are unavoidable emergencies.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
We generally only offer financial assistance one time a year per person. Choosing the fee you can reasonably afford helps make courses available to all, regardless of ability to pay. No one turned away for lack of funds, as space allows. If you are in need of financial assistance, please email registration@spiritrock.org.

CANCELLATION FEES:
$50 cancel fee* = if cancel >1 week prior to program start
$100 cancel fee* = if cancel between 1 week and 2 days prior to program start
No refunds = if cancel <2 days prior to program start
(*fees reduced for scholarship folks)

QUESTIONS? Please email us.

DATES: Registration open until October 15, 2021. Materials available as soon as you register; August – December, 2021.
Sliding scale: $199 – $1,008. Code SB2N21.

Description:
With a focus on interactive discussion, community building and current events, Sylvia (via video recording) and Heidi (live via Zoom) will share practical, accessible tools to respond to, practice in, and live in these uncharted times with mindfulness, presence, and an open heart. (Re)connect and be nurtured by the support of like-minded sangha, shared stories, and meaningful moments. Join us as we explore how to bring our practice more fully into everyday life and out into the world!

This iteration will be interactive discussion-based, led by facilitating teacher Heidi Bourne, and will include Dharma talks, discussion and reflection, guided meditation, and Q&A.

Course material (included): 11 video-based teachings with Sylvia on how to make your day-to-day experience a basis for mindfulness practice. Filmed at her home, Sylvia offers reflections, teachings, and instructions for everyday experiences such as drinking coffee, driving, preparing food and even walking your dog. Videos recorded in 2014.

With easy, accessible instructions based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness as well as Lovingkindness (Metta) practice, this class offers an opportunity to take your practice off of the cushion and into the world.

COURSE INCLUDES:
• 6 live Zoom sessions with Heidi Bourne (recorded and posted for later viewing)
• 11 recorded video teaching segments with Sylvia Boorstein
• A downloadable course manual

LIVE ZOOM SESSIONS:
6 weeks, Mondays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
October 4 – November 8, 2021
Session dates: Oct 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov 1, 8

REGISTRATION AND ACCESSING COURSE MATERIAL:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to the course page. This course is useful for newer students as well as more experienced meditators who want to refresh their knowledge. The course materials will be available until December 1, 2021. Videos originally recorded in 2014.