Liberation through Mindfulness and Insight (380R26) - On Land
Victoria Cary, Erin Treat, Bob Stahl, PhD and Lienchi Tran
November 6 - 13, 2026
Registration open is now open (December 31, 2025) and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on November 5, 2026. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Interested in Commuting to the retreat? – learn more below.
In need of a scholarship? – see “Scholarship offerings” information below.
Description
This silent meditation retreat is grounded in the early Buddhist tradition and connects us to a living lineage that has preserved these liberating practices from the time of the Buddha. The Buddha offered clear instructions for liberation through insight, and together we will cultivate mindfulness and clear knowledge through direct attention to the body, and mind. The emphasis throughout the retreat is on learning and applying these teachings through kind sustained attention rather than theory.
Within the supportive structure of silence and retreat practice, insight can develop naturally. Practitioners are encouraged to investigate experience with compassion, and curiosity, discovering for themselves how this direct method fosters clarity, ease, and greater freedom, both during the retreat and in daily life afterward.
This retreat is suitable for both newcomers and experienced meditators. It will include periods of guided and self-supported meditation and will be held in silence, with speaking limited to teacher-led Q&A, small groups, and scheduled practice meetings.
Assistant Teacher: Brett Wheeler
Financial Details
Sliding Scale fees are for 7 nights including food and lodging. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports Spirit Rock’s efforts in offering lower sliding scale rates and supporting the large number of scholarship requests.
Registration fees DO NOT include teacher dana. At the end of the retreat, there will be an invitation to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.
Supporter Rate w/guaranteed single room – $4270
Benefactor Rate – $3430
Sustainer Rate – $2590
Basic Rate – $1715
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, Mudita/Karuna, or Young Adult [ages 18-26 yrs]) – $665
Scholarship offerings: Scholarships are limited to those with significant financial need. If you need a scholarship to attend, do not continue registering now as this will disqualify you from a scholarship opportunity in this retreat. We encourage you to complete the Scholarship Interest Form – Click Here. Scholarship allocation dates are included in the form.
Pay in full or Payment plan: You can either pay in full or pay a deposit when you register. Payment plans are available to everyone! If you choose the deposit option, the remaining balance will be automatically charged to your payment card in equal installments on a monthly basis. Full payment is due two weeks prior to the retreat start.
Cancellation Policy (Residential Retreats):*
Standard Cancellation Fees:
- $50: On or before 12 weeks (Aug 14)
- $100: 8-12 weeks before (Aug 15 – Sep 11)
- $175: 4-8 weeks before (Sep 12 – Oct 9)
- $300: 2-4 weeks before (Oct 10 – Oct 23)
- No refunds as of 2 weeks before (Oct 24)
Scholarship and Commuter Rate Cancellation Fees:
- Full refund: On or before 12 weeks (Aug 14)
- $75: 8-12 weeks before (Aug 15 – Sep 11)
- $100: 4-8 weeks before (Sep 12 – Oct 9)
- $200: 2-4 weeks before (Oct 10 – Oct 23)
- No refunds as of 2 weeks before (Oct 24)
*Fees reduced for serious illness or death in family
Retreat Commuter Option
The retreat commuter option will only become available once the retreat is FULL with a waitlist. However, if your personal circumstances preclude you from attending a residential retreat (e.g. staying overnight), please reach out to us as we may be able to offer you a commuter spot sooner and we would be happy to have a conversation with you.
Prerequisite to Attend as a Commuter:
You must have attended at least one weeklong silent residential retreat (5-7 nights) in Insight (vipassanā) meditation PRIOR to attending this retreat.
What is a Retreat Commuter?
A retreat commuter is a practitioner who attends a full residential retreat, including all meals, but they are not provided with overnight accommodations. Instead practitioners stay in their own home or find local accommodations. A communal resting area is provided during the day while on campus for the retreat. The retreat commuter is expected to attend the entire retreat just like residential retreatants. Special reduced rates are listed below for retreat commuters.
If you have questions about being a retreat commuter, please email Registration@spiritrock.org
Commuter Sliding Scale:
Sustainer-Commuter – $1295
Basic-Commuter – $875
Current Covid-19 Safety Protocols for residential retreats
About the Teachers
Victoria Cary
Victoria Cary is a Dhamma teacher and leader who co-founded the San Francisco Black Indigenous People of Color Insight Sangha and continues as one of its core teachers. She loves the Dhamma and is interested in supporting people in their practice by focusing on integrating Dhamma into everyday life. Her identity as a queer, bi-racial […]
Learn more about Victoria Cary
Erin Treat
Erin Treat has been practicing Buddhist meditation for nearly 30 years. She is the Guiding Teacher of Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center in northern New Mexico and served as Guiding Teacher of the Durango Dharma Center. Erin teaches the practical and the profound, from a heart grounded in respect for mystery and the many faces of […]
Learn more about Erin Treat
Bob Stahl, PhD
Bob Stahl has founded eight Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Programs in medical centers in the SF Bay Area. He serves as a Senior Teacher for Brown University Mindfulness Center and formerly at the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Bob teachers Insight Mindfulness Meditation retreats […]
Learn more about Bob Stahl, PhD
Lienchi Tran
Lienchi Tran was raised in a Buddhist family and began practicing meditation in 1984. With deep dedication to the path, she ordained and trained extensively, drawing wisdom from the teachings of Sayadaw U Tejaniya, her primary teacher. Her approach to meditation emphasizes intuitive awareness, practical insight, and compassionate understanding. Today, she shares the Dharma through […]
Learn more about Lienchi TranCategories : Hide Commuter, Hide Scholarships, Multi-day, On-land, Residential, Retreat