Sunday, December 7, 2025

9:00 am - 4:00 pm ET

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There are so many doorways into the dharma because the dharma is so many things. The Buddhist path is a process of self-understanding, dramatically refining the map of our inner landscape, simultaneously clarifying the inner life of others.  It is a path of love, beginning with our sincerity and culminating in our devotion to the welfare of others. Insight meditation responds to the vicissitudes of life - the ultimately ungovernable tides of pleasure and pain - by cultivating equanimity and a sense of inner refuge. It is a path of peace, and peace is the only thing that doesn’t fatigue the heart.  

During this daylong retreat, we’ll explore the foundational teachings of insight meditation and learn several approaches to meditation practice. The day will include dharma talks, guided and silent meditation and time for questions and dialogue. This daylong is designed to orient newer practitioners to the path. All are welcome.


Choose your enrollment fee

Meet Your Teacher

Matthew Brensilver

Matthew Brensilver, PhD, MSW, is a member of the Guiding Teachers Committee and Board of Directors at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He previously served as Program Director for Mindful Schools, and for more than a decade, was a core teacher at Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society. He lectures at UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center about the intersections between mindfulness and mental health. Before committing to teach meditation full-time, he spent years doing research on addiction pharmacotherapy at the UCLA Center for Behavioral and Addiction medicine. He is the co-author of two books about meditation for adolescents.

More Information

  • Equity Pricing Model

    As one part of our ongoing effort to expand access to the teachings of the Buddha, all IMS Online programs feature equity-based registration fees, including the opportunity to self-select a low-cost scholarship rate. No-fee enrollment is available for those who request a fee-waiver at [email protected], no questions asked. Our system supports the cultivation of a dynamic and inclusive community and is made possible by our generous donors and those who choose to support other students by contributing at the “Benefactor” level.

  • Registration Deadline

    Registration for this program closes at 8:00 am ET on December 7, 2025.

  • Program Recordings

    This program will be recorded and made available for on-demand viewing after the live sessions. On-demand videos will be available to registered participants only for 90 days.

  • Refunds

    IMS Online offers full refunds through the last day of a live program. Refunds for this program can be processed until December 7, 2025. Refunds can only be applied to the card that was used for the purchase. Please reach out to [email protected] with any refund requests. 

  • Additional Questions

    If you have additional questions please contact us at [email protected].