What underlies the sense of I am somebody who needs to do something in order to awaken in the future, is the sense that practice has a beginning point. Then you travel: you travel and practice. You come to a lot of retreats, and then you get over here, finally! Finally you’re awake: you’ve become somebody who’s no longer confused. I want to point out that this is a story. I love the linear story, but it can be such a hook. Do you see how it can play into becoming? I’m somebody here, and I’m gonna get over here. That’s what becoming is about. I’m somebody and then I’ll become somebody else. It’s all rooted in the sense of self. And it’s the assumptions that get created around it that start to entangle the mind.
Brian Lesage
Residential Retreat Teacher
Brian Lesage has practiced Buddhist meditation since 1988 and has taught meditation since 2000. He has studied in the Zen, Theravāda, and Tibetan schools of Buddhism. He was ordained in the Rinzai Zen tradition in 1996. His training in vipassanā Meditation includes doing extended meditation retreats in Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, and India as well as numerous retreats in the U.S. He leads retreats and teaches meditation courses nationwide. Brian also has a private practice in Somatic Experiencing, which is a naturalistic approach to healing trauma. Brian completed the SRMC/IMS/IRC 4-year teacher training in 2016.
Brian Lesage's Upcoming Programs
Retreat | On-Land
February 3 - March 28, 2026 | Tuesday - Saturday | 53 nights
2026 Insight Meditation 2-Month Retreat - Application
Application Open. An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained, dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness combined with training in lovingkindness and compassion, and practice will be structured around a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with teachers.
Dawn Scott
Vance Pryor
Tuere Sala
JD Doyle
James Baraz
Brian Lesage
Tara Mulay
Tempel Smith
Kristina Baré
Anushka Fernandopulle
Greg Scharf
Rasika Link
Retreat | On-Land
February 3 - March 28, 2026 | Tuesday - Saturday | 53 nights
2026 Insight Meditation 2-Month Retreat
Spaces Still Available! An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained, dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness combined with training in lovingkindness and compassion, and practice will be structured around a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with teachers.
Dawn Scott
Vance Pryor
Tuere Sala
JD Doyle
James Baraz
Brian Lesage
Tara Mulay
Tempel Smith
Kristina Baré
Anushka Fernandopulle
Greg Scharf
Rasika Link
Retreat | On-Land
February 3 - March 2, 2026 | Tuesday - Monday | 27 nights
2026 February Insight Meditation 1-Month Retreat - Application
Application Open. An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained, dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness combined with training in lovingkindness and compassion, and practice will be structured around a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with teachers.
Retreat | On-Land
February 3 - March 2, 2026 | Tuesday - Monday | 27 nights
2026 February Insight Meditation 1-Month Retreat
Spaces Still Available! An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained, dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness combined with training in lovingkindness and compassion, and practice will be structured around a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with teachers.
Retreat | On-Land
April 30 - May 9, 2026 | Thursday - Saturday | 9 nights
Spring Insight Retreat
Registration Open. All the time before you were born plus all the time after you die is almost exactly all the time there is. Yet we find ourselves alive, with a question: how should I live? We begin by listening deeply. Throughout this retreat, we will sit together in the refuge provided by a 2,600-year legacy of wisdom and kindness. In the silence, we come to know the preciousness of life and the poignancy of the human condition.
Retreat | On-Land
October 3 - October 12, 2026 | Saturday - Monday | 9 nights
Concentration (Samādhi) Retreat: Cultivating Joy and Contentment
Registration Opens. Concentration (samādhi), the unification of mind, is essential for deepening meditation and was emphasized by the Buddha as a path to awakening. This retreat offers practical techniques to strengthen focus and stability, supporting both Insight (vipassanā) practice and access to deeper absorption states (jhanas). Whether you're new or experienced, you’ll receive guidance on sustaining attention, calming the mind, and integrating concentration into your practice—building a foundation for greater clarity, ease, and transformation.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Brian Lesage through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.