Dāna helps to weaken and dispel greed, and it manifests as non-attachment. Its proximal cause, or what can help it arise more easily, is having something to offer, having something to be relinquished. Check in with yourself as you hear that last part in particular: “having something to offer or relinquish.” Just notice where the mind or heart goes.
Dawn Mauricio
Residential Retreat Teacher
Dawn Mauricio (she/her), a Filipina-Canadian, has been practicing and studying Insight Meditation since 2005. She has graduated from the first teacher development group of True North Insight, and Spirit Rock's Mindfulness Yoga and Meditation Training, Dedicated Practitioners' Program, and 4-year Retreat Teacher Training. She teaches with a playful, dynamic, and heartfelt approach People of Color and folks of all backgrounds. Dawn leads daylongs, retreats, multi-year programs, and workshops in Canada and the US for Spirit Rock, True North Insight, and Sacred Mountain Sangha. Dawn is a co-founder of the True North Insight BIPOC practice group, serves on the guiding teachers council of True North Insight, and the leadership council for Sacred Mountain Sangha. She is also the author of “Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners”.
Dawn Mauricio's Upcoming Programs
Training | Online | Dharma Institute
September 2025 - April 2026 | 8 Sessions | 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM PT
Living Dharma Program: Exploring & Integrating the Eightfold Path in Daily Life
Experience the profound wisdom of the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path in this online program for devoted practitioners. Together we will explore the teachings of sīla, samādhi, and pañña (ethics, meditation, and wisdom) as we consider how to cultivate mindfulness, kindness, and balance in the midst of today’s pressing challenges—from social inequity to the climate crisis. Join us in cultivating a vibrant learning community where we will study, meditate, and share insights, applying these ancient teachings to our contemporary lives.
Retreat | On-Land
September 15 - September 19, 2025 | Monday - Friday | 4 nights
Clearing the Path: Opening the Heart and Mind
Spaces Still Available! The Buddha spoke of five mental and emotional states that cloud the heart: desire, aversion, restlessness, sloth and torpor, and doubt—known as the nīvaraṇāni or hindrances. These energies often intensify on retreat, yet they offer a rare chance to see the mind’s subtle strategies for disconnection. This retreat invites us to investigate how the hindrances show up in meditation and daily life, learning to recognize, name, and gently release them, revealing the heart’s natural radiance and the possibility of awakening.
Retreat | On-Land
November 22 - November 30, 2025 | Saturday - Sunday | 8 nights
Reclamation of the Sacred: Journey into Refuge, Presence, and Love
Spaces Still Available! In helping us to deepen our refuge and reconnect with what is most precious and sacred in this life, this retreat draws from teachings and practices that open us to the heart of compassion. Informed by a synthesis of Theravāda Buddhism as transmitted through the Thai Forest Tradition and the teachings of Ajahn Chah, and Mahāyāna practices and teachings around Quan Yin’s compassionate Bodhisattva Path, this retreat includes devotional practices, Dharma talks, meditation instructions, Yoga sessions, and meetings with teachers.
Upcoming Drop-Ins
Drop-in | Online
Monday, July 28 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Monday Night Meditation & Talk
For over 35 years, the Monday Night sitting group at Spirit Rock has been a welcoming refuge to gather, hear the teachings of the Buddha, and practice Insight Meditation together as a community. The program includes a 30-40 min guided meditation, a short break, and a Dharma talk.
Dawn Mauricio
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Dawn Mauricio through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.
