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.