I have always been intrigued by the relationship between life, death and practice that is offered in Buddhism. When I was young, I would meditate at a Soto Zen temple in San Francisco at 5:30 in the morning. On the wooden block used to call one to practice was written: “Great is the matter of Birth and Death. Life passes swiftly and is quickly lost. Awaken! Awaken! Do not waste your life!” Many of us live with the illusion that we won’t die. We know it, but only as a conceptual reality. Or we believe that it will happen later... or to someone else! I almost died a few years ago...
Eugene Cash
Residential Retreat Teacher
Eugene is the founding teacher of San Francisco Insight. He has been a Buddhist teacher since 1990. He is a senior teacher at Spirit Rock. Eugene’s teaching is influenced by many streams of Buddhism–– Theravada, Zen and Tibetan. He is also a Diamond Approach teacher. He’s passionate about practicing 24/7, supporting awareness, investigation, and realization in daily life.
Eugene Cash's Upcoming Programs
Retreat | On-Land
May 31 - June 6, 2024 | Friday - Thursday | 6 nights
Loving Each Moment: The Heartfelt Revelation of Dharma
This retreat will explore the simplicity of being in each moment. Together we will discover the heart's capacity to awaken to loving ourselves, each other, and the world. Together in community we will be nourished by the 2600 year old tradition of abiding in silence, stillness, kindness, and clarity. Our time together will include mindfulness meditation in sitting, movement, and all daily activities. The teachings will weave together ancient wisdom along with the love of truth and being.
Retreat | On-Land
July 29 - August 4, 2024 | Monday - Sunday | 6 nights
The Spirit of Insight, Dharma & Awakening
The essence of Buddhist practice is embodying the Dharma experientially. In this retreat we will use mindfulness meditation to study our experiential reality within all our activities, including meditation, movement, eating, resting, and listening. When we are present and investigate our experiential reality moment by moment, insight arises, and the Dharma reveals itself within our body, heart, and mind. As the living, embodied truth unfolds, we awaken to the Buddha within and discover the depth and breadth of our own human potential.
Retreat | On-Land
September 14 - September 18, 2024 | Saturday - Wednesday | 4 nights
Aging, Dying, & Awakening
In this retreat, we’ll explore aging and dying from the Buddhist perspective of meditative practice and awakening. Together, we'll examine aging and death in our conventional lives and see what happens as we normalize these processes as part of the great letting go. How might this “letting go” reveal the awakened heart? This retreat will include meditation instructions, Dharma talks, meetings with teachers, and a daily period of contemplative inquiry during which we will investigate our own relationship to death. Otherwise, this retreat is silent outside of the mentioned above periods.
Retreat | On-Land
October 10 - October 19, 2024 | Thursday - Saturday | 9 nights
Fall Insight Meditation Retreat
This is a Vipassanā retreat in the Thai Forest Tradition, which will emphasize quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing clarity and depth of practice. Traditional meditation instruction will be combined with a spirit of lovingkindness, and the retreat will include silent stillness and moving meditation, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with the teachers.
Retreat | On-Land
December 27 - January 3, 2025 | Friday - Friday | 7 nights
New Year's Insight Meditation Retreat
This is a traditional Insight Meditation (vipassanā) retreat with stillness and moving in silence, as well as regular meetings with teachers. Each day there will be systematic meditation instructions, Dharma talks, and movement practice. We will mark the turning of the year with a late evening meditation and simple ceremony on New Year’s Eve. In celebration of the New Year, our focus will be on cultivating loving awareness and embracing each moment as fresh and new. All are welcome.
Upcoming Drop-Ins
Drop-in | Online
Monday, May 27 | 7:15 PM - 9:15 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.
Eugene Cash
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Eugene Cash through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.