As we go through this path, a natural inclination arises to want to go toward sīla, toward harmlessness of being, because it feels right. It feels good. It allows us to be with the flow of how things are instead of fighting against it. The Buddha talks of virtue as “a blessing supreme,” and that it supports a mind to be unshakable, sorrowless, stainless, and secure. I imagine this bed of sīla, of virtue, in which we—our mind, our body—is allowed to rest and relax in a blessing supreme.
Kate Munding
Residential Retreat Teacher
Kate Munding sits on the Spirit Rock Guiding Teachers Council and is the guiding teacher for Assaya Sangha, a women's Buddhist meditation community-based in the San Francisco East Bay. Along with teaching retreats and daylong at Spirit Rock and other retreat centers, Kate is a teacher for Spirit Rock's Family Days and Family Retreats. In addition to her Dharma teaching, Kate has been a mindfulness educator in schools since 2008. She is the co-founder and main teacher for Now Children. Now Children is a unique online learning environment designed to network, train, and provide professional development to educators and mindfulness teachers who want to bring mindfulness-based curriculum to kids. This work's nexus is based on the belief that mindfulness is not just a bandaid but a transformative technique that can help steer future generations towards a more conscious and compassionate future. When she's not teaching, Kate loves being mom to her young son. She lives with her family in the San Francisco East Bay.
Kate Munding's Upcoming Programs
Retreat | On-Land
March 8 - March 9, 2025 | Saturday - Sunday | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Freeing the Hindered Mind: The Dharma of Working with Challenging Emotions and Mind States
Open to all self-identified women. Life is often complicated and challenging, making it easy to feel lost or disconnected from our spiritual path. However, the Buddha taught that difficult emotions and challenging mental states aren’t obstacles to the path to happiness; they are integral parts of it. This two-day meditation and Yoga retreat is designed to guide practitioners through a series of experiential exercises aimed at building courage, resilience, and clarity when dealing with difficult emotions and traditional Buddhist hindrances.
Family | On-Land
Sunday, April 13 | 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Spring Family Day
Family Days are a wonderful opportunity to spend the day connecting with your children, yourself and a community of supportive peers. Come play, share, learn, and open your heart!
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Kate Munding through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.