Napa Valley Insight Meditation

Daylong Retreat: The End of Craving with Cheryl Slean
2018-04-21 03:00 - 09:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
The End of Craving:
A Practical Workshop-Retreat
April 21 2018, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
The Buddha taught that freedom from suffering can be realized simply by letting go of craving. Sounds good, but simple doesn’t necessarily mean easy! In practice we find that “letting go of craving” is a multifaceted learning process that involves recognizing craving in its many forms (what’s the difference between craving and wholesome desire?), viewing it correctly (not as a failing but as a natural human process), and learning to work with it skillfully. Ultimately, it’s compassion that lets go of craving: the wisdom of learning to see, and to meet, the authentic human needs at the core of craving’s pull.
This daylong meditation workshop will offer reflections, meditation skills and some group process presenting a clear practice path to understand and release craving. This work goes beyond personal development to improve our relationships and transform how we live in the world. Anyone who’s had an introduction to mindfulness meditation is welcome to join us for this day of skill-building and insight. Please bring writing materials and a bag lunch.
What to bring: Please bring a lunch, beverage and appropriate clothing for outside walking meditation
Suggested Donation: $25 – $75
No one turned away for lack of funds
All levels of experience welcomed!
For More Information Contact
Barbara Dondero at barbdondero@gmail.com
Cheryl Slean has been practicing Buddhist meditation intensively since 1995, including hundreds of days of silent retreat. She was authorized to teach in 2007 and currently serves on the Teachers’ Councils at Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Center and Insight Community of the Desert. She teaches classes and residential retreats at spiritual, secular, health and business venues worldwide including Seattle Insight, Mindful Schools, Foundations Recovery Network, Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center, Santa Monica Hospital, Google LAX, New Life Foundation (Thailand) and many others. Cheryl is also a writer, filmmaker and educator working in the arts and sustainability, and is co-executive producer of VisionLA Climate Action Arts.

Blessings For the Earth: Standing Together on Sacred Ground: Lori Stelling + Kit Long
2018-04-24 12:00 - 13:30
You are warmly welcomed to gather together this Tuesday, April 24th, from 7:00pm – 8:30pm, for an evening of practice focused upon our relationship with the Earth. This special night will include gently guided sitting meditation, optional walking meditation (over the tea break), inquiry into our individual and collective sense of connection and/or disconnection with this living planet, and metta practice for the Earth.
As we experience the impact of global warming, pollution, water shortages, droughts, floods, wildfires, and other extreme conditions, how do we refrain from going numb? How do we stand together, on this sacred ground we call “Earth”, with access to a clear mind and an open heart? What inspires the inner determination to include the Earth in our practice of non-harming? In what ways can we connect as spiritual friends to support one another in facing the challenges of our times and in caring for the natural world that is our home?

Meditation and Discussion: Forrest Hill
2018-05-01 12:00 - 13:30
Forrest Hill will facilitate this evening’s meditation and discussion. Forrest has been practicing Insight Meditation since 2004 and is a founding member of Napa Valley Insight Meditation. He is a graduate of the Community Dharma Leaders Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and has been teaching classes on mindfulness meditation and Buddhist philosophy since 2011.
Our evening sittings generally begin with a 30 minute meditation, followed by a short break for tea and greetings. The Facilitator will then give a short talk on relevant themes and lead a group discussion. All levels of experience are welcome.

Meditation and Discussion: Mike Coughlin
2018-05-08 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-06-12 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-07-03 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-07-31 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-09-11 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-10-02 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-10-30 12:00 - 13:30
Mike Coughlin will facilitate this evening’s meditation and discussion. Mike has been practicing mindfulness in the vipassana tradition for over a decade. He has received training in Buddhism and mindfulness through Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Mindful Schools and is currently enrolled in UCLA’s Certification in Mindfulness Facilitation program.

Our evening sittings generally begin with a 30 minute meditation, followed by a short break for tea and greetings. The Facilitator will then give a short talk on relevant themes and lead a group discussion. All levels of experience are welcome.

Special Guest: Syra Smith
2018-05-15 12:00 - 13:30
On Tuesday May 15th, at 7:00 Napa Valley Insight Meditation will host a presentation by Syra Smith.
Syra is Founder and Curator for Oakland’s Dana Cafe, a monthly gathering offering transformational teachings at no cost to participants. She co-leads and organizes East Bay Meditation Center’s weekly Teen Sangha and is a mindfulness and meditation instructor with the Mind Body Awareness Project. Syra graduated East Bay Meditation Center’s yearlong Commit to Dharma program in 2011 and is a current participant in Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s 2 year Community Dharma Leaders training program.
Our evening sittings generally begin with a 30 minute meditation, followed by a short break for tea and greetings. The Facilitator will then give a short talk on relevant themes and lead a group discussion. All levels of experience are welcome.
NVIM meets at Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists (1625 Salvador Ave, Napa CA). All levels of experience are welcomed.

Meditation and Discussion: Lori Stelling
2018-05-22 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-07-17 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-08-14 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-09-04 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-10-09 12:00 - 13:30
Lori Stelling will facilitate this evening’s meditation and discussion. Lori has practiced Insight Meditation since 2002. She has completed Insight Meditation Center’s 9-Month Eightfold Path Program and is currently engaged in year-long Buddhist studies through Dharmagiri and Dr. Rick Hanson’s Foundations of Well-Being Program.

Our evening sittings generally begin with a 30 minute meditation, followed by a short break for tea and greetings. The Facilitator will then give a short talk on relevant themes and lead a group discussion. All levels of experience are welcome.

Meditation and Discussion: Forrest Hill
2018-05-29 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-06-26 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-07-24 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-08-21 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-09-25 12:00 - 13:30, 2018-10-23 12:00 - 13:30
Forrest Hill will facilitate this evening’s meditation and discussion. Forrest has been practicing Insight Meditation since 2004 and is a founding member of Napa Valley Insight Meditation. He is currently enrolled in the Community Dharma Leaders Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
Our evening sittings generally begin with a 30 minute meditation, followed by a short break for tea and greetings. The Facilitator will then give a short talk on relevant themes and lead a group discussion. All levels of experience are welcome.

Special Guest: Shahara Godfrey
2018-06-05 12:00 - 13:30
Napa Valley Insight Meditation hosts a talk by Buddhist teacher, humanitarian, artist and meditation instructor Shahara Godfrey.
Trained in the Theravada Buddhist tradition for over 20 years, Dr. Godfrey has also been influenced by spiritual teachers from various cultures and traditions as well as the creative arts. She is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leadership Program, the Path of Engagement Program and holds a PhD in humanities with a focus on transformative learning and change from the California Institute of Integral Studies. A self-taught mixed-media artist, she has exhibited in the Bay Area, Oregon, Washington, Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Meditation and Discussion: Lori Stelling
2018-06-19 12:00 - 13:30
Lori Stelling will facilitate this evening’s meditation and discussion. Lori has practiced Insight Meditation since 2002. She has completed Insight Meditation Center’s 9-Month Eightfold Path Program and is currently engaged in year-long Buddhist studies through Dharmagiri and Dr. Rick Hanson’s Foundations of Well-Being Program.

Our evening sittings generally begin with a 30 minute meditation, followed by a short break for tea and greetings. The Facilitator will then give a short talk on relevant themes and lead a group discussion. All levels of experience are welcome

Special Guest: Bruce Pardoe
2018-07-10 12:00 - 13:30
On Tuesday July 24th, Napa Valley Insight Meditation will host a presentation by Bruce Perdoe.
Bruce has practiced Vipassana meditation for over ten years including numerous 1, 2 & 3 month retreats at Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock. He has been on pilgrimage and practiced in Asia and has sat numerous extended solo retreats. All combined he has spent more than one and a half years in silence.
Bruce is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders Program. Bruce expresses his wonder for awakening and dharma in direct, joyous and experiential teachings. His focus on sensory feeling to convey wisdom derives from his years of Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement and Hakomi Body-Centered Psychotherapy experience. He also draws extensively upon his deep experience with both Advaita and the path of devotion to complement and enrich his offerings.

Special Guest: Andrew Chaikin
2018-08-07 12:00 - 13:30
On Tuesday August 7th, Napa Valley Insight Meditation will host a presentation by Andrew Chaikin.
Andrew has practiced in the Theravada tradition since 2001. He has taught dharma, meditation and mindfulness in many settings: the wilderness, prisons, corporations, even the U.S. Congress. He is passionate about bringing heart-based wisdom into everyday life.
He leads a weekly sitting group in San Francisco called Heart Camp, and has worked with adults, teens and kids at Spirit Rock and IMC. He is the Coordinating Teacher of the meditation and yoga program at the San Francisco County Jail – part of an award-winning restorative justice program. He has toured the world as musician Kid Beyond, bringing ancient wisdom into modern rock and electronic music.
Andrew is a Spirit Rock-authorized Community Dharma Leader, a graduate of their Dedicated Practitioners Program – and a certified teacher of Search Inside Yourself, the mindful leadership course born at Google. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University in Providence, RI.

Special Guest: Jill Satterfield
2018-08-28 12:00 - 13:30
On Tuesday August 28th, Napa Valley Insight Meditation will host a talk by Jill Satterfield.
Jill is an international mindfulness and meditation teacher, wellness program director, speaker and coach. Jill’s integration of mindfulness and embodiment practices include yoga, yoga therapy and contemplative psychology. She has been in the field of integrative healthcare for over 35 years.
Jill is the founder of Vajra Yoga + Meditation, a synthesis of meditation and mindfulness of the body practices from the Buddhist tradition. She is also the founder and Director of the School for Compassionate Action: Meditation, Yoga and Educational Support for Communities in Need.
Jill is a founding faculty member of Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s Mindful Yoga and Meditation Teacher Training, UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center trainings, the Somatic Yoga Therapy Training in Marin California, and guest teaches in many others. She has been featured in the New York Times, More, Crains, Yoga Journal, UK’s Yoga Magazine, Happinez Magazine of Holland and Tricycle Magazine, Shambhala Sun amongst others.
NVIM meets at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Napa (1625 Salvador Ave). All levels of experience are welcomed.

Special Guest: Syra Smith
2018-09-18 12:00 - 13:30
On Tuesday Sept 81th, at 7:00 Napa Valley Insight Meditation will host a presentation by Syra Smith.
Syra is Founder and Curator for Oakland’s Dana Cafe, a monthly gathering offering transformational teachings at no cost to participants. She co-leads and organizes East Bay Meditation Center’s weekly Teen Sangha and is a mindfulness and meditation instructor with the Mind Body Awareness Project. Syra graduated East Bay Meditation Center’s yearlong Commit to Dharma program in 2011 and is a current participant in Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s 2 year Community Dharma Leaders training program.
Our evening sittings generally begin with a 30 minute meditation, followed by a short break for tea and greetings. The Facilitator will then give a short talk on relevant themes and lead a group discussion. All levels of experience are welcome.
NVIM meets at Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists (1625 Salvador Ave, Napa CA). All levels of experience are welcomed.

Daylong Retreat with Jill Satterfield - Cultivating Our Inner Awareness: The Practices and the Benefits
2018-09-29 03:00 - 09:00
On Saturday September 29th, Napa Valley Insight Meditation will host a daylong retreat with guest teacher Jill Satterfield.
Cultivating Our Inner Awareness: The Practices and the Benefits
Both ancient contemplative practices and modern science tell us that exteroception, perception of the outside world, coupled with the ability to know and track what’s occurring internally called interoception supports an emotional and mental landscape of ease, confidence and presence. Called inner and outer awareness in contemplative traditions, these skills offer the capacity to recognize how our environment, conversations, job, and daily stressors affect us at the deepest level – and how to benefit from this information.
To cultivate inner awareness is to increase our capacity to be compassionate, sensitive and receptive to ourselves and to others. Being internally aware gives us an array of possibilities – for self regulation and care, for reflection and then action in the world and as a tool to be more available and present for others.
This day will include the practices of:

Breathing techniques to cultivate kindness and spaciousness
Mindfulness of the body practices while seated, standing, walking and lying down
Inner awareness practices while in conversations with others

Inquiry and discussion into:

How to be and the benefits of connecting to ourselves and others without expectation
How and why internal awareness is an antidote to depression and anxiety
How inner awareness betters presence with others
How inner awareness is a skillful means to cultivate compassion

For more information about Jill go to: JillSatterfield.org

Special Guest: Kevin Griffin
2018-10-16 12:00 - 13:30
On Tuesday October 16th, Napa Valley Insight Meditation will host a talk by Kevin Griffin, author Buddhist teacher and innovator in the field of addiction treatment.
Kevin is a longtime Buddhist practitioner who trained as a Community Dharma Leader at Spirit Rock. He is the author of One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps and the forthcoming God, Buddha, and the Path of Recovery. A co-founder of the Buddhist Recovery Network, he teaches regularly at Spirit Rock, as well as at treatment centers, Buddhist centers, professional conferences, and colleges across the U.S. Kevin has been a member of the Spirit Rock Family Program for ten years.
