About this IMS Online Retreat

Wednesday, November 25, 2026 - Sunday, November 29, 2026

This insight meditation retreat will emphasize quieting the mind, opening the heart and developing clarity and depth of practice. Traditional meditation instruction will be combined with a spirit of lovingkindness.

We will follow a simple schedule with silent sitting and walking meditation and Dharma talks. Both new and experienced meditators are welcome.

This online experience will be a livestream of the Thanksgiving Insight Retreat retreat with Tuere Sala, Bhante Buddharakkhita and Shelly Graf. Meditation instructions and Dharma talks will be broadcast live from the IMS Meditation Hall. Please note that there is no direct interaction with the onsite teachers during this online retreat.

This retreat begins on Wednesday, November 25 at 7:15 pm ET and concludes Sunday, November 29 at 10:45 am ET. A full home retreat schedule and instructions will be offered. 

Click here to view an example home retreat schedule.




This registration page is for the online version of this retreat. If you would like to register for the in-person version of this retreat, click here to view the Retreat Center schedule.

Choose your enrollment fee

Meet Your Teaching Team

Tuere Sala is a Guiding Teacher at Seattle Insight Meditation Society and the founding teacher of the Capitol Hill Meditation Group. She is a retired prosecuting attorney who has practiced Vipassana meditation for over 30 years.  Tuere believes that urban meditation is the foundation for today’s practitioner’s path to liberation.  She is inspired by bringing the Dharma to nontraditional places and is a strong advocate for practitioners living with high stress, past trauma and difficulties sitting still.  Tuere has been teaching since 2010 and has a long history of assisting others in establishing and maintaining a daily practice.


Bhante Buddharakkita was born in Uganda, Africa. He first encountered Buddhism in 1990 while studying in India. He was ordained as a Theravada Buddhist monk by the late Sayadaw U Silananda in 2002 at the Tathagata Meditation Center in San Jose, California. He then spent eight years under the guidance of Bhante Henepola Gunaratana at the Bhavana Society, West Virginia. Founder and Abbot of the Uganda Buddhist Center in Uganda, Bhante is a Visiting Professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York, USA. He is also a Spiritual Advisor to the Global Buddhist Relief in New Jersey. Since 2005, Bhante has been teaching meditation in Africa, Australia, Europe, Asia, South America and the United States. His book, Planting Dhamma Seeds: The Emergence of Buddhism in Africa, tells the story of his religious and spiritual work in Africa. He is also the author of Sowing Seeds of Peace: Mindfulness Meditation for Finding Peace Within, a practical guide to mindfulness in your daily life.


Shelly Graf has been practicing in the Insight Meditation tradition and has called Common Ground their spiritual home since 2003. They are a graduate of Insight Meditation Society’s four-year teacher training program and lead residential retreats at IMS and other retreat centers nationally. Shelly currently serves alongside Mark Nunberg as one of Common Ground’s Guiding Teachers. Shelly has an interest in integrating the teachings of the Buddha as deeply as possible into the fabric of our lives and as such, they have a special interest in waking up to whiteness as part of a complete path of awakening. Whatever Shelly’s role may be, they will always be a grateful student of Buddhist Practice first.

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 on November 25, 2026 at 5:00 pm ET.

  • 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 November 29, 2026. 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].