My meditation practice has been well supported by IMSB since 2010, when I attended a retreat led by Shaila Catherine. Although I live across the country from IMSB, in Georgia, I've found a wealth of programs to support and develop my meditation practice, including retreats and online sutta studies and study/practice courses. The teachings, instruction, and community at IMSB were exactly what I needed in 2010, and after several years, I continue to find inspiration and encouragement with this group. Before IMSB, I was a struggling meditator. Thanks to IMSB, I now have a daily practice that inspires and supports me througout daily life. read more

The location for the meditation is at a meeting room in St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, a quiet, lovely church on the residential side of Grant Road. Shaila is the main teacher. I went because I was new to vipassana meditation; and Shaila is teaching a series exploring alternative meditation technique in five Tuesday evenings. At first I was worried that my incessant mind chatter wouldn't let me sit through the whole meditation; that I would be incredibly bored, restless or going crazy. But I was pleasantly surprised by how calm I had slowly become after I started to watch my breaths. Mental images and thoughts still invaded my mind between breaths, but I was able to go back to my breaths and not get restless because of them. 30 minutes went by easily. (The meditation is from 7:30-8pm, followed by Shaila's talk from 8-9pm.) I didn't feel any incredible illumination after I opened my eyes though. For one thing, Shaila wanted us to talk and mingle after the half-an-hour meditation. So people started talking to one another. It's weird to go from quietude to noise so quickly. Secondly, the pale-white florescent lighting is depressing, making the room look industrial and dim. (I would prefer a warm orangy soft lighting, if I could choose a light for this post-meditation moment. I would also prefer to have a quiet time to absorb the effect of our practice and slowly return to reality.) Anyway, Shaila let us talk and mingle for a few minutes, then she had us quiet down and she began to give a talk. Every week she would talk about and elaborate on a different meditation technique (so far: mindfulness; and body parts contemplation). I didn't find the talks to be particularly engaging. She didn't touch much (if at all) on Buddhism. Nonetheless I find that she has a nice balance between warmth and detachment; and she talks with a soft, soothing voice. Also, personally I find that sitting on my butt for 1.5 hours (30 min for meditation and 1 hr for talk) is really long. (1.5 hours is normally the whole length of my active yoga practice!) But most people seem to be alright with it. I am still new to meditation and I am far, far from gaining wisdom and insights. But I am glad that this place exists for us unenlightened beings to start exploring a little bit about our inner landscape. It is entirely donation- and volunteer-based- now that's a lot of people's conscious efforts, and I'm grateful for it. I want to continue to explore more on the realm of meditation though: on places to meditate, good teachers for guidance, and techniques that works for me and my healing and transformation. read more

Enjoyed the all day retreat at the Foothill Congregational church on orange next to the huge Catholic Church in Los Altos. Very sweet sangha - kind people all Extremely well organized by volunteers. Amazing potluck, next time will put much more effort In creating a vegan culinary masterpiece, but glad I went because I came right off of retreat. Look forward to March 18 Sharon Allen all day retreat in Saratoga. West Hope Presbyterian Church on once existing 1 2 850 Saratoga Avenue Saratoga California. April 22 All day back in Los Altos. read more

I have been going to IMSB for a few years now and continue to be impressed by the depth of the teachings there, both for people who are new to meditation and those of us who have been practicing it for many years. The principal teacher, Shaila Catherine, has studied for many years in India, Thailand and Nepal. She teaches around the world but spends a major portion of time here and organizes the schedule of topics for this site and the one in Saratoga. There are a host of other guest teachers that have included Stephen Bachelor, Thanissaro Bhikkhu, Bhikkhu Bodhi, Ajahn Brahm, Rick Hanson, Lama Surya Das, Andrea Fella, Toni Bernhard and many others. There is a very warm and friendly community there that is very open. The whole approach is low-key and very minimal on ritual but the full scope of Buddhist teachings are thoroughly presented and there are many opportunities for study and retreats offered. If you are looking to incorporate meditation into you daily life this is a good place to try out. read more

I signed up for a 10-day retreat and paid the $250 deposit. The registration form clearly stated that the deposit was nonrefundable. But as the time of the retreat approached, my wife was scheduled for surgery due to a shoulder injury, and because she would require my assistance for post-op care, it became clear I could not attend. I contacted Insight Meditation South Bay and asked if I could postpone my retreat and use the deposit for the identical offering (same topic, venue, duration, and teachers) eight months later. I received a note that said they understood my reasons for not being able to attend, but that their policy was firm: no refunds, and also no transferability. This seems like a very unforgiving policy from a center that is presumably promoting maturation of consciousness. It is hard for me to respect an organization that operates with such rigidity and lack of compassion. A meditation center should not behave like the airline industry. read more

I maintain a daily meditation practice and am part of a small group of dharma friends who meet regularly to discuss what we've learned. I've read many suttas from the Buddhist canon, and easily twenty books by Western Buddhist authors. I've been in the Bay Area for only about 10 years. In that time I've taken advantage of four different organizations promoting Mindfulness and Buddhist philosophy/practice. I don't attend any of these regularly, so I don't qualify as an insider. But I have participated in four different aspects of the programs offered by Insight Meditation South Bay (IMSB). The first was a sutta study course on the Middle-length Discourses of the Buddha. I recommend these for anyone who enjoys a scholarly approach to a new subject. My classmates included individuals who had studied enough Pali to contribute useful commentary on the translator's choices. But the real strength of IMSB and its teachers is in bringing the fruits of Buddhist practice into your everyday life. IMSB also offers free weekly dharma talks with an amazing array of guest speakers to complement the teachings of the principal teacher, Shaila Catherine. When I say "amazing," what I mean is that Shaila is able to recruit speakers whose translations and whose own books are foundational to Buddhism as I've studied it. That a small organization like IMSB is consistently able to bring such speakers to Mountain View speaks very highly of their standing in the international Buddhist community. Occasionally, a speaker is more philosophically oriented than IMSB's own teachers. I like this, but philosophy is not for everyone. Most of the time, especially in talks by the principal teacher and her local colleagues, the focus is on practical matters. I think you could say that many of these talks arise from the question, "What good is a regular meditation practice if its rewards do not impact your daily life?" A couple years ago I joined one of IMSB's online courses, co-led by Shaila and by Ann Dillon, a teacher from the east coast (Florida?) who specializes in online learning and dharma practice. This course remains one of the highlights of my Buddhist training. Imagine being in an online chat room environment that succeeds in changing your daily meditation practice profoundly - not by telling you what to do, but by encouraging you to read the Buddha's own words ever more carefully and by responding thoughtfully to what you write about those readings. This is another of the experiences that leads me to say IMSB specializes in the practical questions (and answers) that show us how to bring the advantages of Buddhist practice into our lives. My fourth IMSB experience is with daylongs. A daylong is a day spent away from the places and tasks and responsibilities of your life. IMSB sponsors these free events at least once a month. I've attended two or three. The ones I've attended have always been led by the principal teacher, Shaila Catherine. I don't know if this is always the case. The day consists of alternating sitting and walking meditations plus a dharma talk with a theme such as "overcoming hindrances." An optional element of these daylongs is the opportunity to speak (usually for about 20 minutes) with Shaila about your own practice. I tend to go to these especially when I feel "stuck" in my practice, and the reason I go is that sometime in those 20 minutes, Shaila notices something, puts it into just the right words, and gently sets my practice back on the path to freedom. If we were free to give half stars I'd give IMSB 4.5 stars, because there is always room for improvement. Doing comparison and evaluation are actually antithetical to everything the Buddha taught, but if you live in the South Bay and are looking for a place to explore how meditation can lead you toward happiness and freedom, IMSB could feel very much like home. read more

I have been going to IMSB South Bay every Tuesday for about six months now. I started going, because I was interested in learning self discipline and ended up staying. Shaila, the main teacher, is just amazing. She's been practicing meditation since 1980 and has years worth of experience to share. After every class I have a list of questions to ask her and she always responds kindly with a smile on her face. Her voice is soothing and easy to listen to and her lessons are easy to follow. Over-all she's a joy to be around. The guest teachers are really cool too. We are a Vipassana group, but they invite guest teachers from a variety of places. From monks and nuns to people who are involved in teaching the dharma to their communities. My favorite guest teacher was the zen nun. Since coming here my mind has grown so quiet. I am relaxed always with a sense of peace in the world, and yet excited and filled with energy. My anxiety has gone away and I see myself very clearly. My meditation has grown deeper and deeper and I'm continually surprised by what I find. Over-all this has had the most wonderful influence on my daily life and personal relationships. I went from closed off from the world and anxiety ridden to joyful and restful. They teach a variety of lessons like mindfulness, samadhi aka: concentration, letting go, mindful speech, the five virtues, and really all the the buddist teachings you can think of. This group very much is incorporated into the modern world. Cost: they go off of dana which is the act of generosity. It is completely up to you: if you have little give little, if you have a lot give a lot. They have chairs for you to meditate on, but if you wish to meditate on the floor you must bring your own sitting cusion. Over-all I love this group and I'm sure you will too. Edit Remove Send To A Friend Link to This Review Yelp is so much better when your friends are here. Invite Your Friends No Lists Have a collection of Bars with the Best Happy Hours? How about Hot Spots in Your Hood? Create Lists Recent reviews by Dannielle R. I want this bling on my blog » read more

I've been going to Insight Meditation South Bay in Mountain View for over four years. The talks are always insightful and I really appreciate the opportunity to practice within a community. The day-long sittings in Los Altos and Saratoga are well structured and a great way to explore the many aspects of meditation. I found IMSB after taking the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course at Stanford and was looking for a sangha to support me in my practice. If you are looking for a meditation community to call home I would highly recommend IMSB! read more

I've tried many different types of meditation and other spiritual centers, both here and abroad, and it's at IMSB that I've found my spiritual home. The teachings are always relevant to my life but also firmly rooted in the teachings of the Buddha. The online courses, sitting groups, 6- and 10-week courses and retreats are designed to fit into a professional's busy schedule, and the topics are varied enough to always be interesting and profound. Shaila Catherine, the founder, is extremely wise and also a very thoughtful and considered teacher. The sangha is great - normal, curious, compassionate people that make me excited to come back week after week. read more

I've been going to Insight Meditation South Bay for over a year. I drive almost a half hour to get there, so you know it's worth it. I appreciate the depth of the teachings, which focus on mindfulness-based meditative approaches. So if you are looking to begin or enhance meditation or even mindfulness practices, this is the place. Beginners may find the lightly or non-guided 30 minute sit daunting at first, but not for long. The sitting meditation is followed by a dharma talk. Also, while all practices and talks are based on teachings of the Buddha, ISMB doesn't engage in the religious rituals, chanting or decorative temple atmosphere. Definitely westernized and comfortable for non-buddhist practitoners. I first came here to hear a guest speaker, Lama Surya Dass one of my favorite western dharma authors. I was impressed of how highly he spoke of IMSB's primary teacher and founder Shaila Catherine. He also spoke highly of her two books on meditation (very deep and intense texts for the serious practitioner). So I kept on coming. There is a sitting every tuesday night, and sometimes there is series on a certain practice topic. Also I enjoy the daylong meditations once a month. An introduction session is held on the first tuesday of every month at 6:30. Meditation starts at 7:30 every tuesday. Come check it out, you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. read more

I've attended the Thursday night classes at IMSB. There's a wide variety of Dharma topics, taught by experienced teachers of insight meditation/vipassana. The classes are usually a combination of guided meditation, lecture, and sometimes small group discussion, which makes it easier to learn the material and meet other friends on the spiritual path. The volunteers I've met are helpful and friendly. I recommend IMSB's classes. read more

Dannielle R. is my grandaughter. I see a calmness in her that has never been there before!! It is fantastic for me to see this in her!! I believe it is because of IMSB South Bay. read more