The Buddha's liberating teachings on the four divine sanctuaries (brahmavihāras) include meditations on universal friendliness (mettā), compassion (karunā), altruistic joy (muditā), and equanimity (upekkhā). Aimed at purifying our hearts and developing concentration (samādhi), these divine sanctuaries aid our ability to both find inner peace and powerfully engage with the world. Together, we will deepen our understanding of selfless love and its role in ending suffering. This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups meetings, or other practice meetings.
Practitioners are encouraged to combine this lovingkindness retreat with the following Insight Meditation retreat, to further develop concentration, purify the heart, and learn to combine these two forms of Buddhist meditation. The combination of these two retreats give a unique opportunity to blend the two wings of Buddhist wisdom based in love and emptiness.
Assistant Teacher: Rae Houseman (Bio/photo coming soon!)
A Special Opportunity for Deep, Integrated Practice — 18-Night Summer Retreat For those seeking an extended retreat experience this summer, we encourage you to consider attending both the Summer Lovingkindness Retreat (July 8–17) and the Summer Insight Retreat (July 17–26) as one continuous 18-night retreat. These two retreats are intentionally designed to complement one another, offering a rare opportunity to deepen in both heart and wisdom practices.
This combined retreat supports a natural progression in the meditative path: cultivating lovingkindness (mettā), the brahmavihāras, and samādhi as a foundation, followed by insight practices (vipassanā) grounded in that settled, compassionate presence. Teachers see this integration as essential. Uniting these practices brings enhanced clarity and depth to both. While each retreat may be attended on its own, we strongly recommend that practitioners who are ready for a longer commitment join both as one cohesive training.
Reserved Spaces for the Full 18-Night Retreat We’ve set aside 15 spaces specifically for those attending both retreats. These spots tend to fill quickly, so we encourage early registration.
Prerequisite for 18-Night Retreat Completion of one (or more) silent, residential insight meditation retreat(s) of at least 9 nights. During registration, you’ll be asked to list previous retreat experience, including teacher names, dates, location, retreat length (in nights), and style. Please note: online retreats do not meet this prerequisite.
Choose your rate
We offer our retreats on a sliding scale to make the Dharma accessible to all.
By selecting the highest rate you're able to afford, you help support Spirit Rock's ability to offer lower rates and meet the growing number of scholarship requests. Your generosity sustains our nonprofit mission and ensures that these teachings of lovingkindness and wisdom remain available to everyone.
Maximum generosity.
Helps the dharma remain accessible to all.
Generous support.
Helps the community and teachings.
Our standard rate.
The foundation of our community.
Partially subsidized.
Made possible by community generosity.
Needs-based assistance
Scholarships are limited to those with significant financial need.
If you need a scholarship to attend, we encourage you to select the scholarship rate that best aligns with you and your financial circumstances.
For those facing financial hardship, including elders 65+ on fixed incomes, or those with serious or life-threatening illnesses.
For those who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color and need financial assistance to attend a program.
For young adults (ages 18–26) experiencing financial need who wish to attend a program and deepen their practice.
Please note that registration fees do not include teacher dana. At the end of the retreat, there will be an invitation to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.
Tempel Smith teaches Mindfulness, Insight and mettā meditation with an emphasis on Buddhist psychology and mind-body awareness. He spent a year as a monk in Burma with Sayadaw U Pandita and Pa Auk Sayadaw. Tempel serves on the Spirit Rock Guiding Teachers Council, organizes the Dedicated Practitioners Program (DPP) and Living Dharma retreats for Spirit Rock, and teaches classes in the East Bay.
John Martin has been devoted to dharma practice since 2001. He serves as the Co-Chair of the Spirit Rock Guiding Teachers Council. John teaches Vipassana, Metta and LGBTQI-themed meditation retreats. He also teaches in dedicated practitioner programs and supports practitioners in bringing practice to daily life.
Anushka Fernandopulle has trained for over 35 years in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. Her teaching is informed by nature, arts, political engagement and modern urban life. She also works as a leadership coach and organizational consultant, influenced by a BA in anthropology/religion from Harvard and an MBA from Yale.
Devin Berry is a Core Guiding Teacher at the Insight Meditation Society and a residential retreat teacher at IMS and Spirit Rock. A meditator since 1999, his practice is rooted in long-term retreat practice and the mettā and vipassanā teachings of the Insight Meditation tradition. A storyteller at heart, Devin teaches at community saṅghas nationally and internationally, drawing from lived experience and a deep love of the Dharma.
bruni dávila has practiced Insight Meditation and Zen since 1995, and teaches mettā and vipassanā retreats in English and Spanish. She was trained and empowered to teach by the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) and IMC. bruni is drawn to and inspired by long retreat practice and Dharma in daily life.
Kristina Baré is an insight meditation teacher. She invites a kind, patient, and embodied approach as a base for samadhi, loving-kindness, and insight practices.
*Fees reduced for serious illness or death in family
**Monthlong retreats and Dharma Training programs have specific and very different cancellation policies. Refer back to your confirmation email for this information.**
Payment plans are available to everyone! Installments can only be set up on a credit cards, and some debit cards (we only accept VISA, Mastercard, or Discover).
You can either pay in full or pay a 30% deposit when you register. If you choose the deposit option, the remaining balance will be automatically charged monthly in equal installments using the same card you used to pay your deposit. The payment will debit on the 'same date' of the month that you paid your deposit. Full payment is due 2 weeks prior to the retreat start.
Let us know if you need to adjust a debit date or if you need to update your credit card. Any adjustments need to be done well in advance of a scheduled debit date. We are not able to 'reverse' a charge once it has been processed.
We have double and single occupancy rooms. Many of our rooms are single occupancy (only 16 of 80 rooms are double occupancy). We offer a limited number of "guaranteed single room" rates which guarantees a single room while generously helping to support scholarships and all we do here at Spirit Rock. The remaining single rooms are not exclusive to the top end of the sliding scale; however, they are initially prioritized for those with serious medical needs.
What is a Retreat Commuter?
A retreat commuter is a practitioner who attends a full residential retreat, including all meals, but they are not provided with overnight accommodations. Instead practitioners stay in their own home or find local accommodations. A communal resting area is provided during the day while on campus for the retreat. The retreat commuter is expected to attend the entire retreat just like residential retreatants. Special reduced rates are available for retreat commuters. An added benefit of a retreat commuter, is that you could be offered a residential spot on opening day due to a very last minute cancellation. Additional fees will be due if this option is accepted.
The retreat commuter option will only become available once the retreat is full with a waitlist. However, if your personal circumstances preclude you from attending a residential retreat (staying overnight), please reach out to us as we may be able to offer you a commuter spot sooner and we would be happy to have a conversation with you. ("Personal circumstances" could be situations like if you are a sole caregiver, or parent w/young children where you need to be home each night, for example.)
Prerequisite for Commuters:
You must have attended at least one weeklong silent residential retreat (5-7 nights) in Insight (vipassanā) meditation PRIOR to attending this retreat. Online retreat experience is not eligible for this prerequisite.
If you have questions about being a retreat commuter, please email [email protected]
Explore the practice of being on retreat - Learn more here.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center offers several categories of scholarship types for residential retreats. Scholarship rates are limited to those with significant financial need. A scholarship application is required to be considered for any scholarship rate below. We have many requests for scholarships and cannot honor all requests.
Muditā/Karuṇa Scholarship Rate:
Dr. Marlene Jones People of Color Scholarship Rate: supports individuals who have significant financial need and who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of color.
Toni Ko Scholarship Rate: supports individuals who have a significant financial need, are 27-55 years old, AND are attending their FIRST silent residential retreat (limited to a 6-night retreat only) at Spirit Rock. This scholarship is a one-time award.
Young Adult Scholarship Rate: supports individuals who have significant financial need and who are between the age of 18-26 years old. If all the Young Adult rates are sold out, you may select one of the above options that applies to you.
Renunciate Monastics: Monastics in the Buddhist traditions are invited to attend Spirit Rock retreats without cost. Monastic discounts can be extended only to one having taken vows and abiding as a renunciate, living exclusively on donations and having no form of income through work or other sources. You will need to provide the monastery you are affiliated with upon registering. To learn more, contact the Registration Dept at: [email protected].
*Maximum annual scholarship limit is two per calendar year; and this limit is not a guarantee.