General Information

The Insight Meditation Society's Retreat Center first opened its doors over 30 years ago, providing meditation instruction based on the teachings of the Buddha. Today, it offers a yearly schedule of meditation courses, designed for both new and experienced practitioners, lasting from a weekend to three months. Most retreats run for 7-9 days, and are taught by recognized insight meditation teachers from all over the world.

Teachers give daily instruction in meditation practice and offer talks about the Buddha’s teachings. At regular intervals throughout a retreat, individual or group interviews with the teachers take place.

An integral part of IMS retreats is silence. It is maintained in most courses at all times, except during question and interview periods, and allows the process of cultivating mindfulness, wisdom and compassion to unfold naturally, without the distractions that arise in our usual daily lives.

A typical daily retreat schedule starts at 5 am and ends at 10 pm. The day is spent in silent practice comprising alternate periods of sitting and walking meditation, as well as a one-hour work period.

Meals are vegetarian. Accommodations at the Retreat Center are simple single or double rooms. Men and women do not share accommodations, and camping is not available.

Evening Talks

When a Retreat Center course is in progress, anyone is welcome to attend the evening talks about the teachings (known as dharma talks); meditators who already have vipassana experience are also welcome to attend group sittings. We ask that you please call the Retreat Center office, if you would like to come, to check on any restrictions and to find out the daily schedule.