Welcome, and blessings on your path.
Spirit Rock is a spiritual training center that welcomes people of all backgrounds and faiths to practice and study the teachings of the Buddha. We are dedicated to bringing the wisdom of the Buddhist tradition to contemporary spiritual seekers at all levels of experience and practice.
Our primary practice is Insight Meditation, or vipassanā, as developed in the great Buddhist traditions of South and Southeast Asia. We serve a diverse and beloved community at our retreat center in the coastal hills north of San Francisco, and online worldwide.
Founded by Jack Kornfield in 1986, we are guided by a lineage of respected teachers with some of the deepest training in Western Buddhism. Our practice and study programs train students to deepen in loving awareness, find freedom from suffering, and engage skillfully with a complex world.
The Practice of Insight Meditation
Insight Meditation is an English translation of the word vipassanā, which means “seeing clearly” in the early Buddhist language of Pāli. There are many different styles of vipassanā meditation, but all develop the inner qualities of mindfulness and lovingkindness. Together these qualities of heart and mind reduce stress, bring clarity, and grow our ability to be present and resilient throughout our lives.
Beginning Meditations on Breath & Body
The Mindfulness of the Buddha
Mindfulness teaches us to be aware of our experience as it unfolds in the present moment, and to understand our emotions, sensations, and thoughts with patience and perspective instead of reactivity.
Explore Mindfulness Practice
Lovingkindness: The Wise Open Heart
Lovingkindness, or mettā, is the Buddhist practice of unconditional friendliness, a powerful antidote to self-hatred, judgment, and discrimination.
Explore Lovingkindness Practice
The Teachings of the Buddha
Insight Meditation grew out of the Theravāda (“Way of the Elders”) school of Buddhism, which has preserved the earliest known collection of the Buddha’s teachings. At the heart of these teachings is a framework for liberation known as the Four Noble Truths, which identifies the causes of suffering, how we can find an unshakeable peace, and how to live from that place of freedom.
The Buddha called his teachings “Dharma,” which means both “wisdom teachings” and “the truth of the way things are.” In our tradition, we practice the Dharma through meditation, study, discussion, and integration of mindfulness and lovingkindness into everyday life.
Learn to Your Heart's Content
Stream our curated collection of guided meditations and Dharma talks, read articles by our diverse teachers, take self-paced courses, and more.
The Spirit Rock Community
The Buddha taught that spiritual friendship is “the whole of the holy life.” Whether meditating together online, connecting in affinity groups, or enjoying the deep stillness of silent retreat together, the heart of Spirit Rock is our community.
We are a “big tent” saṅgha (spiritual community), welcoming seekers of all kinds to practice meditation, study the Dharma, and nurture healing and liberation together. We have ongoing drop-in groups and retreats for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women, and those in recovery, and our teaching body reflects the diversity of our practitioners.
In addition to building community on retreat and practicing together online, Spirit Rock encourages practitioners to connect in peer-led groups called kalyāṇa mitta, which is Pāli for “spiritual friendship.” Volunteering, either in person or online is also a way to give back to the community and deepen in connection with friends on the path.
Experience a Spirit Rock Retreat
Since ancient times, all wise cultures have understood the value of retreat. Time in retreat allows us to step out of the complexity of our life and to listen deeply to our body, heart, and mind. Spirit Rock retreats combine the fertile atmosphere of silence with extensive time for meditation and walks in nature, supported by Buddhist teachings on meditation, well-being, and the path to liberation. Careful guidance and training is offered in meditation and mindfulness. Most of our retreats are suitable for both new and experienced meditation practitioners. When you experience a Spirit Rock retreat, you’ll feel the power of ancient spiritual practices held in a caring, responsive environment.
Starting Your Practice at Spirit Rock
Spirit Rock supports practitioners at every stage of the path to grow a vibrant and nourishing spiritual life. All of our programs weave together meditation, Dharma teachings, and the cultivation of spiritual community.
Shorter online events like drop-ins and one-day retreats introduce you to practice, build community, and explore specific topics. Class series, on-demand courses, and online retreats deepen your understanding through study and focused exploration. And when you’re ready for a deep dive, on-land retreats and the programs of the Dharma Institute support you to devote your full energy to awakening.
We look forward to meeting you on the land or online for a program or community gathering.
