Meditation Classes

Beginners' Meditation:

IMCW insight meditation classes will provide an opportunity for new meditators to review the basic instructions, learn new meditation techniques and tools, share experiences and ask questions. (Most of them are also useful for advanced meditators as well.)

Gatherings usually have a 30-minute guided meditation, a dharma talk and in some classes, time for questions and discussion.

Deepening Practice:

• Satsang monthly class led by Tara Brach, is open to all those who would like to explore deepening their practice through a format that includes a silent 45-minute meditation, and time for questions and answers. 

• Dharma Study and Practice Program, led by Hugh Byrne and Carl Skooglund, offers an opportunity to systematically study the central Buddhist teachings.

• Sutta Study Groups: Study groups meet once a month to explore the Pali Canon, typically working with a sutta from the Middle Length Discourses. The discussion is relaxed and informal, with an emphasis on finding the relevance of the ancient teachings for our own lives and spiritual practice. The program is guided by IMCW teacher, Debbie Ratner.

• Kalyana Mitta Groups: KM groups are small groups that usually meet bi-weekly for meditation and discussion. The formation of these groups in facilitated by a KM Coordinators. The groups, which are lay-led, meet in homes throughout the Washington area offer a smaller and more intimate venue for exploration of practice in daily life and the Buddhist teachings.

• On The Cushion: An opportunity to support daily practice in homes or other neighborhood locations for regular, short, silent meditations. These meditation groups are lay led and self-administered by the members of each group.

• Mentoring Program: This program offers guidance and skill development to people whose meditation practice is in its early stages or who wish to deepen their practice. Some previous training in Vipassana meditation and a regular sitting practice are the prerequisites.