Retreats
Insight Meditation Center of Kansas City is committed to providing meaningful meditation opportunities for everyone.
We sponsor two residential retreats per year for Temple Buddhist Center.
Our next retreat will be December 29th - January 2nd.
Virtual and In-Person attendance is always available.
The 3 Marks of Existence: Embodying our Buddhist Practice
TBC New Year's Retreat
Dec. 29 - Jan. 2, 2025
with Robert Brumet and Victor J. Dougherty
Carol Murray: Virtual Retreat Manager
Many teachers within our tradition guide us to see that meditation can create fertile ground for the realization of the Three Marks of Existence. The Buddha taught that all phenomena, including thoughts, emotions, and experiences, are marked by three characteristics: impermanence (anicca), suffering or dissatisfaction (dukkha), and not-self (anatta).
These three marks apply to all conditioned things. According to the Buddha, fully understanding and appreciating the three marks of existence is essential to realizing enlightenment. (It is a schema that is accepted in both Theravada and Mahayana schools, but more emphasized in the former.)
Please join the sangha as we explore a deeper understanding of this sacred teaching. Retreat is a crucial component for all practitioners, and is offered with tremendous care for everyone's journey.
This four-day retreat will be led by Robert Brumet, Victor J. Dougherty. The retreat will be hybrid, offering residential, commuter, and virtual attendance options, and will begin at 7 pm on Monday. Dec. 29th and end at 12pm Fri. Jan. 2nd.
Those attending are asked to keep the noble silence at all times except when speaking with the instructors.
If you live with others, please make arrangements for them to honor your practice or, if possible, find a place where you can be alone the entire time.
Practice format will be similar to residential retreats:
Alternate periods of sitting and walking, instruction, conferences, contemplative movement (Tai Chi Chih), Dharma talks, and Heart Practices. We will have light-hearted entertainment on New Year's Eve and a Fire Puja.
Insight Meditation is a practice that aims to free the mind from the distortions of self-centeredness, negativity, and confusion. Through the intensive practice of moment-to-moment investigation of the body-mind process the mind gradually sees more clearly into the nature of itself. Such clear seeing leads to freedom from the attachments and misconceptions that cause our suffering and allows us to open to a path of wisdom and compassion.
About our retreat leaders:
Robert Brumet: He has been teaching Insight Meditation since 1990. Robert received Community Dharma Leader certification from Spirit Rock Meditation Center in 2000. He is also a Spiritual Director, having received certification from Mt. St. Scholastica College in 2013.
Victor J. Dougherty: He has been leading groups in the KC area in mindfulness and meditation for over 20 years. Currently, the director of the Temple Buddhist Center, Victor represents Western Buddhism as a member of the Department of Health and Human services task force on Faith/Mental Health.
Teacher Dana
Dana (the Pali word for “generosity”) has been part of the Buddhist tradition for over 2500 years. Traditionally, in Asia it took the form of a lay person supporting the monastic community through offerings of food and other provisions. As the dharma has come to the West “dana” has taken the form of financial donations offered to teachers and retreat leaders.
In this tradition, the registration fee for any retreat is intended to cover only the cost of the retreat itself. None of this money is given to the teacher. Instead, the teacher relies upon the generosity of the participants, in the same spirit in which monks and nuns traditionally relied upon the lay community for support.
Generosity itself is a spiritual practice. It is a practice which the Buddha recommended particularly for lay persons who were not able to engage in the more rigorous spiritual practices of the monastic community. Generosity opens the mind and heart and helps to free us from the bondage of fear and greed.
Retreat Cost:
Benefactor $695(to help cover the cost of lodging for our Teachers and Residential Retreat Managers): Private room and private bath with handicapped-accessible shower, all meals
Residential $560: Private room and private bath with handicapped-accessible shower, all meals
Commuter $295: No lodging. Three meals per day
Virtual $195: All teachings and activities, via Zoom. Carol Murray will be the Virtual Retreat Manager
There is value in consistent, daily meditation.
Please join us for some of these weekly mindfulness and meditation events. IMCKC and TBC host opportunities daily, weekly and monthly to meditate together in community with a leader/teacher to guide and support you.
Most of our classes, retreats, and events have an online option in addition to in-person. No matter how you choose to join us, you will feel included and welcome.
Go to our Classes & Event page to get more details and find out how to connect.
TBC Sunday Service at 9am (livestreamed and in-person) and 10:30am (in-person)
All levels of practice are invited to join us each Wednesday afternoon for meditation and discussion around the current book we are reading. Join anytime! (on Zoom)
Practicing in the tradition of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, this group focuses on mindfulness, meditation and teachings from around the world and from some of todays most influential spiritual leaders. (on Zoom)
Insight Meditation: Thursday Evening Sangha with Robert Brumet @ 7pm (Zoom)