The only thing that makes sense is kindness. Equanimity in the mind really depends on having enough balance to know that whatever is happening now is not happening because of yesterday. It's happening because of everything that has ever happened in this whole world. Every individual is heir to their own karma. There are no enemies and no villains—this is just life unfolding, and the only thing we can do is to be kind. We can be kind to ourselves and everybody we meet so that in this whole pained world, we don't add any fuel to the fire of enmity.
Sylvia Boorstein, PhD
Residential Retreat Teacher
Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, has been teaching Dharma and mindfulness meditation since 1985. She is a founding Spirit Rock teacher, a psychologist, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is particularly interested in emphasizing daily life as mindfulness practice and including informed citizenship and social activism as integral to spiritual maturation. Her books include: It's Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness; Don't Just Do Something, Sit There: A Mindfulness Retreat; That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist; Pay Attention for Goodness' Sake: The Buddhist Path of Kindness and Happiness Is an Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful Life.
Sylvia Boorstein's Upcoming Programs
Retreat | Online | Hybrid
Wednesday, January 1 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Welcome the New Year With Intention, Determination, and Joy
Celebrate 2025’s arrival as we respond to the fundamental question, “What, in challenging times, keeps the mind alert and buoyant, and the heart hopeful and generous?” Together we’ll explore the practices that have sustained us throughout the last year and the lessons we’ve learned. We’ll share stories, Dharma, meditation instructions and practice periods, guided mindful movement, and music. Please join us as we, in the words of the Buddha, “Move into the future with confidence.”
Sylvia Boorstein
Retreat | On-Land | Hybrid
Wednesday, January 1 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Welcome the New Year With Intention, Determination, and Joy
Celebrate 2025’s arrival as we respond to the fundamental question, “What, in challenging times, keeps the mind alert and buoyant, and the heart hopeful and generous?” Together we’ll explore the practices that have sustained us throughout the last year and the lessons we’ve learned. We’ll share stories, Dharma, meditation instructions and practice periods, guided mindful movement, and music. Please join us as we, in the words of the Buddha, “Move into the future with confidence.”
Sylvia Boorstein
Retreat | On-Land
January 10 - January 17, 2025 | Friday - Friday | 7 nights
Mettā Retreat: Teachings and Practices to Cultivate a Wise, Awakened, and Responsive Heart
Join the Waitlist. Mettā, or lovingkindness, practice is the cultivation of the intention of benevolence as the orientation of our heart and mind. It is also a path to wisdom. We develop our capacity for mettā through meditation in order for it to manifest in our daily lives. Mettā practice strengthens self-confidence, self-acceptance, and steadiness of mind and heart, revealing our fundamental disposition toward kindness. We’ll be joined on one day of the retreat by Sylvia Boorstein, a beloved long-time teacher of mettā.
Donald Rothberg
Gullu Singh
Diana Winston
Anushka Fernandopulle
Sylvia Boorstein
Jonathan Relucio
Ronya Fakhoury Banks
Upcoming Drop-Ins
Drop-in | Online
Wednesday, January 8 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Wednesday Morning Meditation & Talk
Our Wednesday Morning Meditation & Talk is led by Sylvia Boorstein, Donald Rothberg, Heidi Bourne, or other guest teachers. This group welcomes beginners and experienced practitioners to explore the Dharma.
Drop-in | Online
Wednesday, January 15 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Wednesday Morning Meditation & Talk
Our Wednesday Morning Meditation & Talk is led by Sylvia Boorstein, Donald Rothberg, Heidi Bourne, or other guest teachers. This group welcomes beginners and experienced practitioners to explore the Dharma.
Drop-in | Online
Wednesday, January 22 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Wednesday Morning Meditation & Talk
Our Wednesday Morning Meditation & Talk is led by Sylvia Boorstein, Donald Rothberg, Heidi Bourne, or other guest teachers. This group welcomes beginners and experienced practitioners to explore the Dharma.
Drop-in | Online
Wednesday, January 29 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Wednesday Morning Meditation & Talk
Our Wednesday Morning Meditation & Talk is led by Sylvia Boorstein, Donald Rothberg, Heidi Bourne, or other guest teachers. This group welcomes beginners and experienced practitioners to explore the Dharma.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Sylvia Boorstein through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.
