18-Night Retreat: Summer Lovingkindness & Insight Retreats

This 18-night silent meditation retreat at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, joins two nine-night programs into one continuous training: a Lovingkindness Retreat followed by an Insight Retreat. It is meant for experienced practitioners who are ready for a longer commitment and want to develop the heart and wisdom practices of Theravada Buddhism side by side. The teaching team includes Tempel Smith, Anushka Fernandopulle, John Martin, Bonnie Duran and bruni dávila, with Marcy Reynolds as movement teacher.

What to Expect

The two retreats are designed to complement one another. The first nine nights are given to lovingkindness practice and the four brahmavihāras: mettā (universal friendliness), karunā (compassion), muditā (altruistic joy) and upekkhā (equanimity). You receive guided instruction, and the heart-centered practice builds samādhi, or concentration. The teachers explore how these practices purify the heart and ease suffering, and how they support both inner peace and engagement with the world.

The second nine nights turn to vipassanā, or insight meditation. Through sustained observation of mind and body, you investigate impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and non-self, the direct seeing that loosens the ignorance behind cycles of suffering. The aim is for insight to rest on the settled, compassionate presence built in the first half.

Both halves are silent, apart from teacher-led Q&A, small group meetings and other practice meetings. Movement practice is facilitated throughout. The retreat closes on the final morning with departure.

The Teaching Team

Tempel Smith teaches mindfulness, insight and metta meditation, with an emphasis on Buddhist psychology, neuroscience and mind-body awareness. He spent a year as a monk in Myanmar with Sayadaw U Pandita and Pa Auk Sayadaw. He serves on the Spirit Rock Guiding Teachers Committee, has led the Dedicated Practitioners Program, and often teaches one of the month-long retreats at Spirit Rock.

Anushka Fernandopulle has trained for over 35 years in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. Her teaching is informed by nature, the arts, political engagement and modern urban life. She also works as a leadership coach and organizational consultant, and brings mindfulness into the workplace.

John Martin has been devoted to Dharma practice since 2001 and is Co-Chair of the Spirit Rock Guiding Teachers Council. He teaches vipassanā, mettā and LGBTQI-themed retreats, and supports practitioners in bringing practice into daily life.

Bonnie Duran, DrPH, met the Dharma in 1982 and has received teachings from many Western, Thai, Burmese and Tibetan teachers. She graduated from the IMS/SRMC retreat teacher-training program, sits on the Guiding Teachers Council, and is professor emeritus at the University of Washington.

bruni dávila has practiced Insight Meditation and Zen since 1995 and teaches mettā and vipassanā retreats in English and Spanish. She was trained and empowered to teach by the Insight Meditation Society and IMC, and is drawn to long retreat practice and Dharma in daily life.

Marcy Reynolds leads movement. She began studying vipassanā in 1994, has facilitated classes and retreats since 2003, and has taught Qigong since 1997, emphasizing Dr. Bingkun Hu's teachings and Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong.

The Setting

The retreat takes place at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, in Marin County, California, with sessions held in the Upper Meditation Hall. Rooms are shared doubles or single rooms. Single rooms are guaranteed at the highest sliding scale rate and otherwise depend on availability, with priority given to medical needs. A commuter option exists for those who prefer to stay locally or at home. It requires prior attendance at a five-night silent residential retreat. Meals are included and vegetarian and plant-based options are offered. Transportation to Spirit Rock is not included. Arrival is on a Wednesday afternoon and departure is on a Sunday morning.

Before You Go

You need to have completed at least one silent, residential insight meditation retreat of nine nights or more. Online retreats do not count. Registration asks for your previous retreat experience, including teachers, location, length and style. The retreat is offered in English and Spanish.

Fees are on a sliding scale, with needs-based scholarships available, and payment plans are offered. Teacher dāna is not part of the registration fee. At the end of the retreat there is an invitation to offer dāna to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.