The Center hosts a full program of ongoing classes, daylong retreats and residential retreats exploring the themes of meditation and its relation to life in modern society. And teachers from Spirit Rock , such as co-founder James Baraz, often come to Vancouver to teach. IMS The Insight Meditation Society, in Barre, MA., was founded in 1975 as a nonprofit organization to provide a place for the intensive practice of insight meditation. IMS operates a retreat center set on 80 wooded acres in the quiet country of central Massachusetts. It provides a secluded environment for intensive meditation practice.
Complete silence is maintained during retreats at all times except during teacher interviews.
WDS focuses on retreat management with the specific mandate of bringing senior Western Dharma teachers to Vancouver to lead meditation retreats. WDS' vision includes a primary focus on the Theravadin practices of Vipassana and Metta but is not limited to them. By bringing senior Western Dharma teachers to Vancouver, WDS offers a significant addition to existing and emerging meditation opportunities provided by local teachers. Our community is very fortunate to have this monastery so close by. Only 10 km.