About IMCW

The Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW) is a spiritual community that teaches and practices Vipassana meditation. IMCW has grown from a small group gathered around Tara Brach in the Fireside Room at the River Road Unitarian Church (RRUC) to a large and thriving community sponsoring an extensive program of o­ngoing meditation classes, day-long, weekend, week-long residential meditation retreats and special classes.

Tara Brach continues to lead the large weekly Wednesday night meditation class of over 250 people at RRUUC in Bethesda and there are now regular meditation classes throughout the Washington DC area led by the growing IMCW teacher body in Takoma Park, MD, Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Baltimore, MD.

In addition to founder and senior resident teacher, Tara Brach, IMCW is guided by a Board of Directors, Teacher's Council and several non-residential Vipassana teachers including Jack Kornfield, James Baraz, Carol Wilson, Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein. Over two dozen Kalyana Mitta groups of "spiritual friends" continue to support individual practice.

IMCW is committed to both the deepening of individual practice and the growth of spiritual community (sangha). We are supported by an administrative staff of three, but the majority of programs and activities are generated and supported by active and dedicated volunteers, who do everything from managing retreats and teaching classes to setting up chairs.

IMCW extends a warm welcome to both newcomers to meditation and long time practitioners. There are many opportunities to participate and support practice as we continue to grow, explore acquiring a home of our own and expanding our programs in the area of children and adolescents, mindfulness in the work place, stress management, addiction and recovery and non-violent communication.

In 1998 IMCW was recognized as a non-profit religious organization by the State of Maryland and was granted tax exempt status by the IRS.

Vision Statement of IMCW:

Our aspiration is that all living beings realize the freedom of their true nature and that our world be filled with the growing expression of love, compassion, wisdom and peace.

Mission Statement of IMCW is to Support:

• the awakening of hearts and minds through the direct experience of the Buddhist path, and
• the integration and manifestation of wisdom and compassion in all aspects of life, for the benefit of all beings.