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2027 February Insight Meditation 1-Month Retreat - Application

February 2 - March 1, 2027
Silent meditation retreat On-Land

An extended retreat period offers the rare opportunity for sustained, dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instructions will follow the traditional Four Foundations of Mindfulness, influenced by the teachings of Mahasi Sayadaw and other Theravãda (Insight Meditation) traditions, and will be supported by a variety of skillful means. The teachings will encompass training in the heart qualities of lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, with a daily schedule structured around periods of silent meditation, guided instructions, Dharma talks, practice meetings with teachers, and optional mindful movement.

This retreat is also suitable for practitioners who wish to exclusively develop concentration (samādhi) through mindfulness of breathing or lovingkindness (mettā) practice, with individual guidance by the teachers.

These extended retreats (as with all retreats at Spirit Rock) are NOT open for self-guided retreats.

Before you apply

You must have already completed at least 14 nights of silent residential retreat time. This retreat time must include a minimum of two (2) silent residential retreats, each of six (6) nights or longer.

Other Important Notes About Prerequisites: These retreats must have been led by Spirit Rock, IMS, or IRC teachers, or other recognized Insight Meditation teachers. Previous retreats must be silent residential retreats and have a similar format to this retreat, with instructions, practices, and talks focused on Insight Meditation. Online retreats do not qualify for these retreat prerequisites. When applying, you will need to provide the teachers’ names, dates, location, length (# of nights), and style of the retreats.

Teacher Dāna

Please note that registration fees do not include teacher dana. At the end of the retreat, there will be an invitation to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.

Meet the Teaching Team

Tara Mulay, JD

Tara Mulay, JD

Teacher

Tara Mulay has been practicing Insight Meditation since 2003. She was trained and authorized to teach by the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, and serves on the Board of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California.

Tempel Smith

Tempel Smith

Teacher

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. Tempel serves on the Spirit Rock Guiding Teachers Committee (GTC), has lead the Dedicated Practitioners Program (DPP), frequently teaches one of the month-long retreats at Spirit Rock, and a 3-month online practice intensive for daily life practice. He has lead pilgrimages to India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, and has trained in Somatic Experiencing (SE), Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS), and Mindfulness Base Stress Reduction (MBSR).

Tuere Sala

Tuere Sala

Teacher

Tuere Sala is a Guiding Teacher at Seattle Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock Retreat Center and has practiced Vipassana meditation for over 30 years. Tuere has been teaching since 2010, assisting others in establishing and maintaining a daily practice.

Anushka Fernandopulle

Anushka Fernandopulle

Teacher

Anushka Fernandopulle has trained for over 35 years in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. Her teaching is informed by nature, arts, political engagement and modern urban life. She also works as a leadership coach and organizational consultant, influenced by a BA in anthropology/religion from Harvard and an MBA from Yale.

Devin Berry

Devin Berry

Teacher

Devin Berry is a Core Guiding Teacher at the Insight Meditation Society and a residential retreat teacher at IMS and Spirit Rock. A meditator since 1999, his practice is rooted in long-term retreat practice and the mettā and vipassanā teachings of the Insight Meditation tradition. A storyteller at heart, Devin teaches at community saṅghas nationally and internationally, drawing from lived experience and a deep love of the Dharma.

Rasika Link (Movement Teacher)

Movement

Rasika has been teaching mindful movement on long retreats at Spirit Rock since 2001. Her classes integrate simple asana shapes and movements with a concentration in feeling, sensing, noticing and knowing what the body reveals moment to moment. She lives in Portland, OR and teaches three mindful movement classes a week.

Namu (Teacher in Training)

Namu (Teacher in Training)

Teacher in Training

Namu is an explorer of consciousness in this brief interval between birth and death. He has practiced in various traditions across Myanmar, Thailand, India, Nepal, and the U.S. His curiosity about how much freedom and beauty is possible continues to guide his practice and what he shares with others.

Rae Houseman (Teacher in Training)

Rae Houseman (Teacher in Training)

Teacher in Training

Rae Houseman is a meditation teacher who has been practicing for more than 20 years and has a depth of practice in both the Insight Meditation and Vajrayana traditions. Rae believes that the practice is a powerful support for opening to our essential nature and living a more authentic life.

Helpful Info & FAQs

Cancellation Policy

Single-Month Retreat Cancellation Fees:*

  • $125: On or before 12 weeks
  • $250: 8-12 weeks before
  • $500: 6-8 weeks before
  • $750: 4-6 weeks before
  • No refunds: less than one month before (applies to ALL participants)

*Fees reduced 50% for scholarship participants, excluding last tier.

Two-Month Retreat Cancellation Fees:*

  • $175: On or before 12 weeks
  • $350: 8-12 weeks before
  • $600: 6-8 weeks before
  • $850: 4-6 weeks before
  • No refunds less than one month prior (applies to ALL participants)

*Fees reduced 50% for scholarship participants, excluding last tier.

Switching Fees - Monthlongs Only:
If you need to cancel and would like to switch to another monthlong, the following fee will apply in lieu of the above cancellation fee. Switching is all dependent upon available space in the retreat you are switching to. It is not guaranteed. If you cancel after switching, the regular cancellation fees will apply.

  • $100 fee = non-scholarship participants
  • $50 fee = scholarship participants

Payment Plan Option

Payment plans are available to everyone! Installments can only be set up on a credit cards, and some debit cards (we only accept VISA, Mastercard, or Discover).

You can either pay in full or pay a 30% deposit when you register. If you choose the deposit option, the remaining balance will be automatically charged monthly in equal installments using the same card you used to pay your deposit. The payment will debit on the 'same date' of the month that you paid your deposit. Full payment is due 1 MONTH prior to the retreat start.

Let us know if you need to adjust a debit date or if you need to update your credit card. Any adjustments need to be done well in advance of a scheduled debit date. We are not able to 'reverse' a charge once it has been processed.

COVID and Other Illnesses

  • While on retreat, participants live closely together and are in shared spaces; so it is very important that everyone takes steps to minimize the transmission of colds, flu, or other infectious diseases. We ask individuals who are sick to please stay home! Notify the registration department as soon as possible; cancellation fees will apply. 
  • Spirit Rock does not require proof of vaccination or compulsory testing for COVID, if you feel uncertain about this policy participants are encouraged to wear a mask for your own personal comfort, but it is not required. In advance of your retreat, please consider wearing a mask while en route to Spirit Rock via public transportation of any kind. Be mindful of attending large public gatherings where the risk of exposure is increased. If you have cold or flu-like symptoms, take a COVID test, and please reconsider coming on retreat.
  • We suggest everyone practice diligent hand hygiene (20 seconds of handwashing as often as practical).
  • If a practitioner (or teacher) becomes sick while on retreat, they will be asked to mask, and if serious, leave the retreat. We will also ask that they take a COVID antigen self-test onsite, and if they test positive for COVID-19, they must exit the retreat. We will not be able to offer a refund for mid-retreat exits.

Room Occupancy

We have double and single occupancy rooms. Many of our rooms are single occupancy (only 16 of 80 rooms are double occupancy). We offer a limited number of "guaranteed single room" rates which guarantees a single room while generously helping to support scholarships and all we do here at Spirit Rock. The remaining single rooms are not exclusive to the top end of the sliding scale; however, they are initially prioritized for those with serious medical needs.

Participation and Attendance Guidelines

Explore the practice of being on retreat - Learn more here.

  • This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings. Explore "How Retreat Works"
  • Preparing for Your Retreat
  • We strongly encourage you to read the sub-section "Retreat Guidelines and Agreements" so you understand what is required of you as a participant on this silent retreat.
  • Review a general outline of a Retreat Schedule.
  • If you have "never meditated" before, we recommend attending two to three daylong programs first! Then "graduate" to longer retreats like a 4- or 5-night retreat.
  • We would be happy to help guide you and set you up for success, please contact the Registration Department so we may have a conversation. We want you to be prepared.

Scholarship Offerings and Types

Spirit Rock Meditation Center offers several categories of scholarship types for residential retreats. Scholarship rates are limited to those with significant financial need. A scholarship application is required to be considered for any scholarship rate below. We have many requests for scholarships and cannot honor all requests. Visit our Scholarship FAQs at the bottom of the Financial Support page.

Muditā/Karuṇa Scholarship Rate: 

  • Muditā: supports any individual who has significant financial need; this includes everyone, especially our low-income folks and elders (65+) on fixed incomes; or young adults who have 'aged out' of the Young Adult rate.
  • Karuṇa: supports individuals who have significant financial need and have a serious medical condition(s), or life-threatening illness.

Dr. Marlene Jones People of Color Scholarship Rate: supports individuals who have significant financial need and who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of color.

Toni Ko Scholarship Rate: supports individuals who have a significant financial need, are 27-55 years old, AND are attending their FIRST silent residential retreat (limited to a 6-night retreat only) at Spirit Rock. This scholarship is a one-time award. This has a $50 reservation fee that is fully refunded upon retreat attendance.

Present Parent Scholarship Rate: supports parents or legal guardians (grandparents, relatives, or foster parents) from low-to-modest income backgrounds wanting to attend a residential retreat who are actively raising children under the age of 18 in their home, with special priority given to single parents. It is available for most standard residential retreats (9 nights or less) and only once per calendar year. It is not available for the following: monastic retreats, family retreats, monthlong retreats, or any training programs with residential retreats. This has a $50 reservation fee that is fully refunded upon retreat attendance.

Young Adult Scholarship Rate: supports individuals who have significant financial need and who are between the age of 18-26 years old. If all the Young Adult rates are sold out, you may select one of the above options that may also apply to you.

Renunciate Monastics: Monastics in the Buddhist traditions are invited to attend Spirit Rock retreats without cost. Monastic discounts can be extended only to one having taken vows and abiding as a renunciate, living exclusively on donations and having no form of income through work or other sources. You will need to provide the name of the monastery you are affiliated and the lead teacher or abbot you practice under. To learn more, contact the Registration Dept at: [email protected].

*Maximum annual scholarship limit is two per calendar year; this limit is not a guarantee.