On-Land Retreat

Naturally Arising Samādhi [Concentration]

The Buddha emphasized Samādhi practice as one aspect of the Eightfold Path. It can bring joy to your practice and lead to the skillful use of pleasure in the meditative process.  This retreat develops concentration through specific meditative practices that utilize the mind’s natural capacity to become collected and unified. The focus will be on both developing concentration and exploring the experience of a concentrated and contented mind as a natural, mysterious, and beneficial phenomena. Teachers will also give instructions for utilizing concentration during Insight practice. The primary teaching method will be two daily guided meditations, each 45-60 minutes long. Participants are strongly encouraged to listen to guided meditations and a short talk by Phillip Moffitt explaining this naturally-arising approach to Samādhi practice. This retreat will be held in noble silence except for the guided meditations, talks, and teacher-led practice support meetings.

Teaching Team

Phillip Moffitt

Phillip Moffitt

Teacher

Phillip Moffitt is a Buddhist meditation teacher and writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also the founder and president of Life Balance Institute where he trains leaders and professionals in how to skillfully make major transitions in their lives.

Dana DePalma, MFT

Dana DePalma, MFT

Teacher

Dana DePalma is a Stewarding Teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Guiding Teacher at Dharma Ground, an organization she co-founded. She specializes in teaching Nine Bodies Insight, a method of practice which utilizes specific teachings on the structure of consciousness to balance, refine, and empower one’s Insight Meditation practice.

Tuere Sala

Tuere Sala

Teacher

Tuere Sala is a Guiding Teacher at Seattle Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock Retreat Center and has practiced Vipassana meditation for over 30 years. Tuere has been teaching since 2010, assisting others in establishing and maintaining a daily practice.

Alex Haley

Alex Haley

Teacher

Alex Haley has practiced meditation for more than 25 years, including many multi-month retreats. He teaches at Minneapolis Insight Meditation Community and online through Dharma Ground. He graduated from the SRMC/IMS/IRC training program and is the former mindfulness faculty lead at the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing.

Ying Chen, PhD

Ying Chen, PhD

Teacher

Ying Chen practiced primarily under the guidance of Gil Fronsdal. Ying is a graduate of the Sati Center Chaplaincy program and Local Dharma Leader program from Insight Meditation Center. She currently facilitates the support group for people living with illness and co-lead Asian Dharma Circle.

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