Links and Other Resources

Retreat Centers in the Insight tradition

Three US Buddhist centers in the Insight tradition where sangha members have practiced.  These offer many residential retreats and programs throughout the year:

Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Woodacre, California   www.spiritrock.org

Insight Meditation Society (IMS), Barre, Massachusetts    www.dharma.org

Insight Retreat Center (IRC), Santa Cruz, California  www.insightretreatcenter.org

Neighboring Sanghas

In Ventura – Insight Meditation of Ventura – a sangha led by teacher Susan Pembroke  www.insightventura.net

In San Luis Obispo  –  White Heron Sangha –  www.whiteheronsangha.org

In Los Angeles – InsightLA –  www.insightla.org

Online Audio and Text Resources

Dharma Seed:  thousands of talks by hundreds of Buddhist teachers, for download or listen free.  www.dharmaseed.org

AudioDharma (affiliated with Insight Meditation Center, Gil Fronsdal’s center in Redwood City) has thousands of talks given at IMC by many teachers, also free.  www.audiodharma.org

Dhammatalks.org (talks by American Theravadin monk Thanissaro Bhikkhu) also free www.dhammatalks.org

Access to Insight  www.accesstoinsight.org – A vast library of writings on Theravadin Buddhism and primary texts in translation.

Some Recommended Books for Beginning Meditators

Mindfulness in Plain English, by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

This book is available as a free download in several places online.  Search for it on Google.  In paperback from Wisdom Publications.

A Path with Heart, by Jack Kornfield.  Bantam/Doubleday

Insight Meditation: the Practice of Freedom, by Joseph Goldstein.  Shambala Classics

Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation, by Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield.  Shambala Classics

Buddhism without Beliefs, by Stephen Batchelor.  Riverhead Books

Lovingkindness, the Revolutionary Art of Happiness, by Sharon Salzberg.  Shambala Classics

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times, by Pema Chodron.  Shambala Library

Peace is Every Step, by Thich Nhat Hanh.  Bantam Books

Huge library of writings on Theravadin Buddhism and primary texts in translation.

Dharma Lending Library

Several Sangha members have donated dharma books for lending. The library is in the small Chapel at the Unity Church, where the Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday night sitting groups meet. Please feel free to borrow, read, and return books on an honor system. Book donations are welcome.