Napa Valley Insight Meditation

An Evening with Richard Shankman
2026-07-28 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
Richard Shankman has been a meditator since 1970 and teaches internationally. He is the guiding teacher of the Metta Dharma Foundation, a non-residential meditation center in Berkeley, CA that offers a weekly meditation group, as well as monthly daylongs, classes, workshops, and residential retreats. Richard is the co-founder of Mindful Schools, a leading organization training educators to learn mindfulness and teach it to youth. He is also co-founder of the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies. Richard is the author of The Experience of Samadhi: An In-Depth Investigation of Buddhist Meditation (Shambhala Publications, 2008), and The Art and Skill of Buddhist Meditation (New Harbinger Publications, 2015). Learn more about Richard at: http://richardshankman.org/about/
COVID Recommendations For Gathering Safely
(recommended by https://covid19.ca.gov “Current Safety Measures”):

If you have recently been exposed to COVID, it is recommended that you wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID without symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days and wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID and have symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days; and then do not return until your symptoms are mild, improving, and you are fever-free for at least 24 hours. Wear a mask indoors through Day 10.

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-07-30 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-07-30/
NVIM will continue to host our Thursday morning meditations by Zoom. Morning meditation is led by Debbie Darrin, and others, and begins promptly at 9:00am. All are welcome.
Thursday morning sits begin with an inspirational reading, followed by a 30-minute mostly silent meditation period and a short 10-minute period in which individuals may comment on their own practice while the group listens in silence.
To receive the Zoom link one day in advance, sign up for our mailing list at: https://napainsight.org/contact/newsletter/

Meditation & Discussion with Forrest Hill
2026-08-04 19:00 - 20:30 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
The evening will be led by Forrest Hill. Forrest has been practicing Insight Meditation since 2004, starting at the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland CA. He is the founding member of Napa Valley Insight Meditation (NVIM) and has served as a facilitator at NVIM since its inception in 2011. Forrest is a graduate of the two-year Community Dharma Leaders Program, a Buddhist teacher training program sponsored by Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He is also a singer-songwriter and over the past ten years has released 6 albums inspired by the dharma and his meditation practice. He has a PhD from MIT in Biological Oceanography and currently works as a socially responsible financial advisor.
COVID Recommendations For Gathering Safely
(recommended by https://covid19.ca.gov “Current Safety Measures”):

If you have recently been exposed to COVID, it is recommended that you wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID without symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days and wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID and have symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days; and then do not return until your symptoms are mild, improving, and you are fever-free for at least 24 hours. Wear a mask indoors through Day 10.

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-08-06 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-08-06/

An Evening with Special Guest Ayya Santacitta
2026-08-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
Ayya Santacitta was born in Austria and did her graduate studies in Cultural Anthropology, focusing on dance, theatre and ritual. She also worked in avant-garde dance theatre as a performer and costume designer. In 1988 she met Ajahn Buddhadasa in southern Thailand, who sparked her interest in Buddhist monastic life. She trained as a nun in England and Asia from 1993 until 2009, primarily in the lineage of Ajahn Chah. Since 2002, she has also received teachings in the lineage of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Ayya Santacitta co-founded Aloka Vihara in 2009 and received Bhikkhuni Ordination in 2011. She is committed to Gaia as a living being and resides at Aloka Earth Room (https://alokavihara.org/aloka-earth-room/), currently located in San Rafael, CA.
To learn more about Ayya Santacitta go to: https://alokavihara.org/
COVID Recommendations For Gathering Safely
(recommended by https://covid19.ca.gov “Current Safety Measures”):

If you have recently been exposed to COVID, it is recommended that you wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID without symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days and wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID and have symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days; and then do not return until your symptoms are mild, improving, and you are fever-free for at least 24 hours. Wear a mask indoors through Day 10.

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-08-13 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-08-13/

Meditation & Discussion with Mike Coughlin
2026-08-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
This Tuesday evening sangha will be led by Mike Coughlin. Mike is a public school administrator, trained mediator, and has been practicing mindfulness in the vipassana tradition for over 15 years. He has received training through Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Mindful Schools and is a Certified Mindfulness Facilitator through the Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior at the University of California, Los Angeles. Mike has over 20 years of experience working with high-risk youth, most specifically in residential and day treatment programs, as well as years of mediation experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution.
COVID Recommendations For Gathering Safely
(recommended by https://covid19.ca.gov “Current Safety Measures”):

If you have recently been exposed to COVID, it is recommended that you wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID without symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days and wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID and have symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days; and then do not return until your symptoms are mild, improving, and you are fever-free for at least 24 hours. Wear a mask indoors through Day 10.

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-08-20 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-08-20/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-08-27 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-08-27/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-09-03 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-09-03/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-09-10 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-09-10/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-09-17 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-09-17/

Special Guest Art Jolly
2026-09-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
Art Jolly has been practicing insight meditation since the 1990s, most of that time under the guidance of Phillip Moffitt. In addition to having attended numerous retreats, he also completed Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioners Program, Community Dharma Leaders Program, and Advanced Practitioners Program. In 2003 he spent five months as a monk in Burma, which was a transformative experience for him. In addition to leading his own meditation group for many years, he has taught at Marin Sangha, East Bay Meditation Center and other groups around the San Francisco Bay Area.
COVID Recommendations For Gathering Safely
(recommended by https://covid19.ca.gov “Current Safety Measures”):

If you have recently been exposed to COVID, it is recommended that you wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID without symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days and wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID and have symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days; and then do not return until your symptoms are mild, improving, and you are fever-free for at least 24 hours. Wear a mask indoors through Day 10.

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-09-24 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-09-24/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-10-01 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-10-01/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-10-08 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-10-08/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-10-15 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-10-15/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-10-22 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-10-22/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-10-29 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-10-29/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-11-05 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-11-05/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-11-12 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-11-12/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-11-19 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-11-19/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-11-26 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-11-26/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-12-03 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-12-03/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-12-10 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-12-10/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-12-17 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-12-17/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-12-24 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-12-24/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2026-12-31 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2026-12-31/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2027-01-07 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2027-01-07/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2027-01-14 09:00 - 10:00 | https://napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2027-01-14/
