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Insight Inside Us: How the Dharma Inspires Mindfulness-Based Approaches

  • Éowyn Ahlstrom, Bob Stahl
  • Online
  • June 5, 2026
  • June 12, 2026

Watch a Video Invitation from the Teachers

In the last 45 years, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and other Mindfulness-Based Approaches (MBA) have spread across the USA and throughout the world. Mindfulness has become very popular in medicine, neuroscience, psychology, education, and business. At the same time, despite its popularity, its origins are not always understood. This weeklong online retreat will explore and emphasize how the Insight (Vipassana) Meditation Tradition influences MBSR and all emerging MBAs.

Through the practice of the four foundations of mindfulness you will learn how the core wisdom teachings (Dharma) – the four noble truths and the three characteristics of existence – inform and inspire all MBAs.

This insight meditation retreat will offer silent periods of sitting meditation, walking meditation, and mindful yoga, as well as practice discussions. The teachers will also offer daily talks and systematic meditation instructions that are embedded with the spirit of lovingkindness. These teachings and practices will emphasize quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing clarity and depth of practice.

All are welcome. Additionally, this retreat fulfills a prerequisite for many MBSR/MBCT/MBA teacher trainees. Please check with your particular training program or school to ensure it fits their requirements.

Program Format: This is a silent mindfulness meditation retreat that includes both guided and silent sitting meditations, walking meditations, mindful yoga and/or qi gong practices, dharma talks, and practice discussions.

Attendance and Participation: Please consider taking time off from work and other responsibilities in order to immerse yourself in the retreat. For inspiration, support, and to help hold the intensive retreat experience, we will encourage everyone to keep their videos on as much as possible throughout the retreat. Please let us know in the retreat questionnaire if you feel you cannot keep your camera on during meditation sessions.

Recordings: Dharma talks will be recorded for participants to access.

Experience Level:

Suitable for beginning and experienced practitioners.

Cancellation Policy:

We understand that personal circumstances may require you to cancel your registration. In these cases, please contact us right away. If you cancel before the program starts, you are eligible for a full refund minus a $50 administrative fee ($100 for Online Immersives). Registration fees are nonrefundable after the program starts.

Online Schedule:

This program is hosted on Zoom. You can check the time of the group sessions in your timezone here: https://dateful.com/time-zone-converter. The schedule for this program (shown in US Eastern Time) is as follows:

Retreat Schedule (schedule is subject to change)

Opening Evening: Friday, June 5

7:00 PM Welcome & Introduction to the Retreat

8:45 Stretch & Bio-break

9:00 Introduction to the Retreat Refuges & Precepts

9:15 Guided Sitting Meditation Practice

9:30 Goodnight

Daily Schedule: Sat – Thurs (June 6 – June 11)

9:30 AM Lightly Guided Sitting

10:15 Walking or Mindful Movement

11:00 Guided Practice, Instructions, and Q&R

Noon Open Practice or Mindful Meal

2:00 PM Sitting

2:30 Walking or Movement

3:15 Dharma Talk

4:15 Walking or Movement or Groups

5:00 Sitting

5:30 Open Practice or Mindful Meal

6:30 Sitting

7:15 Walking or Movement or Groups

8:00 Sitting

8:30 Walking or Movement (Staff Meeting)

9:00 Loving Kindness Sitting

9:30 Goodnight

Closing Day: Friday, June 12

9:30 AM Sitting 

10:00 Walking or Movement

10:30 Closing Talk with Guidance on Retreat Integration

11:30 Closing circle with participants sharing

12:30 PM Retreat Ends

Please note that sessions will be recorded and made available to participants within 48 hours of each session. Recordings remain available for four weeks from the program end date.