About the Nature Sangha

Meets monthly the first Tuesday of each month

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm ET

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A monthly gathering open to anyone inspired by and drawn to practicing in and with the natural world.

 Thai Forest Meditation teacher Ajahn Chah said, "If you know nature, you'll know Dhamma. If you know Dhamma, you'll know nature." Deepening our relationship with the natural world can support our knowing more intimately Nature as teacher, refuge and path. Join us as we will explore monthly themes that include nature as Dhamma, practicing in nature, ecological activism, climate grief and more.

Sessions may include guided meditation, reflection, Dharma discussion and an opportunity for questions and responses. 

Choose a Contribution

Upcoming Dates

January 6, 2026 with Yong Oh

February 3, 2026 with Cara Lai

March 3, 2026 with Jeanne Corrigal

Meet Your Teaching Team

Yong Oh

Yong is a Dharma Council teacher at the Durango Dharma Center and a core teacher for Sacred Mountain Sangha, and is also a visiting teacher for other community centers across North America. He teaches retreats at the Insight Meditation Society, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Big Bear Retreat Center, and Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center. He is a graduate of the 4-year Insight Meditation Society Retreat Teacher Training program, Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s 2-year Community Dharma Leaders program, and the Sacred Mountain Sangha 2-year Dharmapala training, taught by his primary teachers Kittisaro and Thanissara. Yong is also a retired acupuncturist, is passionate about Nature and Dharma, and has particular interests in devotional expression, supporting caregivers, and offering teachings to communities of color in the Dharma.

Cara Lai

Cara Lai has spent most of her life in pursuit of meaning and happiness, which landed her on a cushion for much of her adult life. Throughout many mind-body adventures including many long-term retreats, she has explored the concentrated mind, chronic illness, the value of pleasure, the power of maternal energy, and connection to the earth. In the past, Cara has worked as an artist, wilderness guide, social worker and psychotherapist. Now she finds herself intently focused on the dharma path, practicing both on and off the cushion in unconventional ways, and using intuition as her guide. She tries her best to teach from the most authentic and vulnerable place she can muster, and is still learning about the contentment of simply existing.

Jeanne Corrigal

Jeanne Corrigal has been practicing since 1999, is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader Program, and the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community. Jeanne is a member of the mixed heritage Métis Nation, one of three Indigenous communities recognized in Canada. One of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee. She is a graduate of the 2017-2021 IMS Teacher Training Program.

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 22, 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].