You are warmly welcomed, exactly as you are. Our annual BIPOC retreat invites practitioners of all levels to explore and rest in the sacred meeting place of the heart and the natural world. Drawing on the brahmavihāras—mettā (lovingkindness), karuṇā (compassion), muditā (joy), and upekkhā (equanimity)—we will let the living elements be our teachers. Earth grounds us in belonging; water flows through our grief and tenderness; fire illuminates our joy and resilience; air reminds us of our breath and interdependence; and space holds it all with boundless openness. Together, these rich inner and outer landscapes become a pathway to freedom—a practice for the whole of life.
During our time together, you’ll experience silent seated and walking practice, along with the presence of saṅgha. Come let your roots grow deeper in the blessings of the three jewels (the ability to awaken, the teachings, and spiritual community), aligning with the living elements of connection.
This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings.
Choose your rate
We offer our retreats on a sliding scale to make the Dharma accessible to all.
By selecting the highest rate you're able to afford, you help support Spirit Rock's ability to offer lower rates and meet the growing number of scholarship requests. Your generosity sustains our nonprofit mission and ensures that these teachings of lovingkindness and wisdom remain available to everyone.
Maximum generosity.
Helps the dharma remain accessible to all.
Generous support.
Helps the community and teachings.
Our standard rate.
The foundation of our community.
Partially subsidized.
Made possible by community generosity.
Needs-based assistance
Scholarships are limited to those with significant financial need.
If you need a scholarship to attend, we encourage you to select the scholarship rate that best aligns with you and your financial circumstances.
For those who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color and need financial assistance to attend a program.
One-time award for new meditators (age 27–55) with financial need attending their first silent residential retreat (ever!) - available only on 6-night retreats.
For young adults (ages 18–26) experiencing financial need who wish to attend a program and deepen their practice.
For parents or legal guardians (grandparents, relatives, or foster parents) from low to modest income households who are actively raising children under the age of 18 in their home, with special priority given to those who are single parenting.
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.
Noliwe Alexander has been a student of Vipassana meditation for over 20 years. Throughout this time of deep devotion to the Dharma, Noliwe has become a dedicated practitioner, meditation teacher of various retreats and sitting groups, day-longs and class series programs. She dedicates her BuddhaDharma practice and teachings to the BiPOC, LGBTQIA+, At Risk and Elder communities.
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 (IMS) and IMC. bruni is drawn to and inspired by long retreat practice and Dharma in daily life.
Pawan Bareja, PhD has practiced vipassanā meditation since 2001. She is a Spirit Rock trained teacher with a keen interest in empowering students with practices to resolve their stress and trauma using mindfulness, Buddhist psychology, and neuroscience. She is the author of Reignite Your Power: Resolving Trauma Using Mindfulness.
Solwazi teaches mindfulness meditation classes and leads meditation retreats throughout the U.S. and the world. He has practiced mindfulness meditation for over 25 years, focusing on Vipassana since 2003. He is a graduate of Spirit Rock's Community Dharma Leaders' Training and Spirit Rock's four-year Retreat Teacher Training.
Born on the unceded Ohlone lands of Yelamu (San Francisco, CA), Kimi is currently based in unceded Ohlone Territory in Huchiun (Oakland, CA). They can be found seeking refuge on the water, learning from plant allies medicine, and building ecosystems of community care with their Kajukenbo martial arts community.
Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith is a spiritual teacher and leader with years of silent retreat practice. She has spent many years undertaking contemporary Upasika vows, living as a lay renunciate and studying the Dharma. Ramona Lisa is honored to be in the current cohort of the IMS/Spirit Rock Teacher Training.
Gina LaRoche was introduced to Insight Meditation on her first retreat in 2010. Deeply transformed by the Dharma, Gina integrates its teachings into her daily life and work. She is a graduate of CDL5, founding teacher of Elm Community Insight (CT), and she co-holds the monthly POC sit at CIMC (MA).
Ronya is the founding teacher of Asheville Insight Meditation group. She has been practicing mindfulness meditation since 1985, has sat on two years on retreats, and had experience as a Theravada Buddhist nun. Born in Kuwait of Palestinian-American descent and raised in Islamic faith, Ronya values justice and equality.
*Fees reduced for serious illness or death in family
**Monthlong retreats and Dharma Training programs have specific and very different cancellation policies. Refer back to your confirmation email for this information.**
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 2 weeks 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.
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.
What is a Retreat Commuter?
A retreat commuter is a practitioner who attends a full residential retreat, including all meals, but they are not provided with overnight accommodations. Instead practitioners stay in their own home, or find local accommodations at their own expense. A shared resting area is provided during the day while on campus for the retreat located below the main hall. The retreat commuter is expected to attend the entire retreat just like residential retreatants. Special reduced rates are available for retreat commuters. An added benefit of a retreat commuter, is that you could be offered a residential spot on opening day due to a very last minute cancellation. Additional fees will be due if this option is accepted.
The retreat commuter option will only become available once the retreat is full with a waitlist. However, if your personal circumstances preclude you from attending a residential retreat (staying overnight), please reach out to us as we may be able to offer you a commuter spot sooner and we would be happy to have a conversation with you. ("Personal circumstances" could be situations like if you are a sole caregiver, or parent w/young children where you need to be home each night, for example.)
Prerequisite for Commuters:
You must have attended at least one weeklong silent residential retreat (5-7 nights) in Insight (vipassanā) meditation PRIOR to attending this retreat. Online retreat experience is not eligible for this prerequisite.
If you have questions about being a retreat commuter, please email [email protected]
Explore the practice of being on retreat - Learn more here.
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:
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.