What underlies the sense of I am somebody who needs to do something in order to awaken in the future, is the sense that practice has a beginning point. Then you travel: you travel and practice. You come to a lot of retreats, and then you get over here, finally! Finally you’re awake: you’ve become somebody who’s no longer confused. I want to point out that this is a story. I love the linear story, but it can be such a hook. Do you see how it can play into becoming? I’m somebody here, and I’m gonna get over here. That’s what becoming is about. I’m somebody and then I’ll become somebody else. It’s all rooted in the sense of self. And it’s the assumptions that get created around it that start to entangle the mind.
Brian Lesage
Residential Retreat Teacher
Brian Lesage has practiced Buddhist meditation since 1988 and has taught meditation since 2000. He has studied in the Zen, Theravāda, and Tibetan schools of Buddhism. He was ordained in the Rinzai Zen tradition in 1996. His training in vipassanā Meditation includes doing extended meditation retreats in Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, and India as well as numerous retreats in the U.S. He leads retreats and teaches meditation courses nationwide. Brian also has a private practice in Somatic Experiencing, which is a naturalistic approach to healing trauma. Brian completed the SRMC/IMS/IRC 4-year teacher training in 2016.
Brian Lesage's Upcoming Programs
Retreat | On-Land
October 3 - October 20, 2026 | Saturday - Tuesday | 17 nights
17-night Retreat: Concentration (Samādhi) & Fall Insight Retreat
A Special Opportunity for Deep, Integrated Practice: 17-Night Retreat in the Fall
Full - short waitlist. For those seeking an extended retreat experience this fall, we encourage you to consider attending both the Concentration (Samādhi) (Oct 2-12) and the Fall Insight Retreat (Oct 12-20) as one continuous 17-night retreat. These two retreats are intentionally designed to complement one another, offering a rare opportunity to deepen in both heart and wisdom practices.
This combined retreat supports a natural progression in the meditative path: cultivating samādhi as a foundation, followed by insight practices (vipassanā) grounded in that settled presence. Teachers see this integration as essential. Uniting these practices brings enhanced clarity and depth to both. While each retreat may be attended on its own, we strongly recommend that practitioners who are ready for a longer commitment join both as one cohesive training.
Tuere Sala
Eugene Cash
Brian Lesage
devon hase
Vance Pryor
Kristina Baré
Hakim Tafari (Movement Teacher)
Ronya Fakhoury Banks (Teacher in Training)
Adam Stonebraker (Teacher in Training)
Retreat | On-Land
October 3 - October 12, 2026 | Saturday - Monday | 9 nights
Concentration (Samādhi) Retreat: Cultivating Joy and Contentment
Full - short waitlist. Commuter spaces available! Concentration (samādhi), the unification of mind, is essential for deepening meditation and was emphasized by the Buddha as a path to awakening. This retreat offers practical techniques to strengthen focus and stability, supporting both Insight (vipassanā) practice and access to deeper absorption states (jhanas). Whether you're new or experienced, you’ll receive guidance on sustaining attention, calming the mind, and integrating concentration into your practice—building a foundation for greater clarity, ease, and transformation.
Tuere Sala
Brian Lesage
devon hase
Vance Pryor
Kristina Baré
Ronya Fakhoury Banks (Teacher in Training)
Retreat | On-Land
May 3 - May 10, 2027 | Monday - Monday | 7 nights
Spring Insight Meditation Retreat: Mindfulness, Kindness, and the Practice of Presence
15 CE Credits. Registration Open. All the time before you were born plus all the time after you die is almost exactly all the time there is. Yet we find ourselves alive, with a question: how should I live? We begin by listening deeply. Throughout this retreat, we will sit together in the refuge provided by a 2,600-year legacy of wisdom and kindness. In the silence, we come to know the preciousness of life and the poignancy of the human condition.
Retreat | On-Land
August 27 - September 1, 2027 | Friday - Wednesday | 5 nights
Finding Freedom through Insight Meditation
Registration Open. Insight Meditation is a simple, direct practice of moment-to-moment awareness that steadies the mind and softens the heart. In silence, we’ll cultivate continuous mindfulness through a balanced rhythm of stillness and movement meditation, supported by clear guidance and shared intention. As outer stimulation falls away, we learn to listen closely to body, emotions, and thought. Practicing with kindness and equanimity, insight deepens naturally. The retreat includes instruction, Dharma talks, chanting, and optional teacher meetings.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Brian Lesage through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.