About the Insight Recovery Sangha

Meets on the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm ET.

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The Insight Recovery Sangha will meet monthly on Zoom and is for anyone (self-identified) who is working with strong cravings or addictions. We will meditate, hear short dharma talks related to Buddhist teachings and recovery, and share candidly with each other in community. The purpose of this group is to foster community and learn how to apply teachings on mindfulness, compassion and wisdom to our recovery program. 

The emphasis will be on how craving causes suffering and how cultivating insight into the nature of craving can greatly ease our suffering, and help us lead more peaceful and contented lives. We have no affiliations with any other organizations and this is not a 12-Step group, although various known addiction recovery modalities may be referred to from time to time.

This group is open to everyone. There is no need to qualify for membership when you introduce yourself to the group. However, we do believe this group will work best for those committed to a life free from substance abuse and harmful addictive behaviors.

The teachers, Walt Opie and Dalila Bothwell, will serve as group facilitators, dharma teachers, and sangha (community) members. Over time, there will be guest teachers, as well.

Choose a Contribution

Upcoming Dates

January 20, 2026

February 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

April 21, 2026

Meet Your Teaching Team

Walt Opie

Walt Opie (he/him) is a dharma teacher in the insight meditation tradition who has been in recovery for over three decades. He was first introduced to insight meditation in 1993 and began sitting regular residential retreats in 2005. Currently, his most influential teachers include Sayadaw U Tejaniya, Bhikkhu Analayo, Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, Guy Armstrong, and Gil Fronsdal. Walt is a graduate of the recent IMS Teacher Training Program, as well as Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leaders program. He has led sitting groups for people in recovery and served as a volunteer teacher in several California prisons for many years. He teaches around the U.S. at centers including Sacramento Insight Meditation, Cambridge Insight Meditation Center, New York Insight Meditation Center, Spirit Rock, and Insight Meditation Society. His website is www.waltopie.com.

Dalila Bothwell

Dalila Bothwell’s (she/her) Dharma-meditation practice lives at the intersection of love for community, land, justice, and 12-step recovery. The granddaughter of Claudia and Gussie Pearl, she finds refuge and hope in the liberation teachings of revolutionary lovers - from the Buddha to bell hooks.  During her nearly decade-long tenure as a director for New York Insight Meditation Center, she learned the priceless value of sangha and the role relationships play in embodying the teachings and in creating kinder human beings. Dalila is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders Program and currently mentors with Ten Percent Happier and the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. She has served with the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Insight Meditation Society, and Dharma communities throughout the US.

FAQ

  • Subscription Pricing Model

    We’re introducing a simple subscription model for our sanghas so those who wish to offer financial support for IMS programming have an easy way to do so. Your contribution directly sustains our teachers, our staff, and the ongoing development of IMS Online. As always, the $0 tier remains available so that practice stays accessible to everyone. This subscription fee is separate from teacher dana, which is also greatly appreciated but voluntary.

  • Recordings

    To help create a safe space for the vulnerability that arises in our sanghas and the desire to make these "community-centered," which is more authentically a live experience, recordings will be unavailable.

  • Refunds

    IMS Online offers full refunds through the last day of a live program. Refunds for this program can be processed until December 15, 2026. Refunds can only be applied to the card that was used for the purchase. Please reach out to [email protected] with any refund or cancellation requests.

  • Additional Questions

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