Highlighted Events

Exploring Jhana States

May 22 – August 30, 2025
ONLINE COURSE
Co-sponsored with Bodhi Courses

Concentration, Mettā, and the Jhana Factors

October 8 – 18, 2025
RESIDENTIAL RETREAT
near Atlanta, GA

Timeless Wisdom: Exploring Buddhist Teachings through Similes and Stories 2

October 25 – December 18, 2025
ONLINE COURSE

Clear Seeing: An Insight Meditation Retreat

Led by Melissa McKay and Shaila Catherine
September 5 – 12, 2025
RESIDENTIAL RETREAT
in Southern California

Local Events

Half-Day Meditation | Los Altos | Focus on Desire

May 31 @ 1:30 pm PDT - 5:30 pm PDT

Half-Day Meditation | Los Altos | Focus on Diligence

August 23 @ 1:30 pm PDT - 5:30 pm PDT

Half-Day Meditation | Los Altos | Focus on Careful Attention

September 27 @ 1:30 pm PDT - 5:30 pm PDT

Local Events

Half-Day Meditation | Los Altos | Focus on Desire

May 31 @ 1:30 pm PDT - 5:30 pm PDT

Half-Day Meditation | Los Altos | Focus on Diligence

August 23 @ 1:30 pm PDT - 5:30 pm PDT

Half-Day Meditation | Los Altos | Focus on Careful Attention

September 27 @ 1:30 pm PDT - 5:30 pm PDT

buddhist meditation book Cover: The Jhanas by Shaila Catherine

REVISED EDITION of Focused and Fearless

The Jhanas

A Practical Guide to Deep Meditative States

  • clarifies critical points
  • offers twenty-one additional exercises

About IMSB

Shaila Catherine, Guiding Teacher

Shaila Catherine
Guiding Teacher

Insight Meditation South Bay offers mindfulness meditation instruction in Silicon Valley, California. We organize meditation retreats, provide guidance in vipassana meditation, teach methods that develop concentration and the deep absorption states of jhana, and support contemplative practices that promote joy and inner peace in the midst of everyday living.

The core of our current program is a monthly Saturday meditation event in Los Altos. In addition, we co-sponsor retreats and online courses led by Shaila Catherine, and periodically coordinate local meditation classes, sutta study, and special events.

Our founder and guiding teacher is Shaila Catherine.

Affiliated Websites

Bodhi Courses

An Online Dhamma Classroom

Orange Bodhi Leaves Droping
Shaila Catherine

Shaila Catherine

Shaila’s Website

Offerings

Saturday Meditation Events

Monthly on Saturdays
1:30 pm  PT – 5:30 pm PT

Foothills Congregational Church
461 Orange Ave
Los Altos, CA

Often includes individual meetings with the teacher during periods of walking meditation.

Retreats

We offer both in-person and online retreats.

Intensive silent retreats may focus on themes of cultivating mindfulness, concentration and jhāna, awakening through insight meditation, mindfulness with breathing, or mettā meditation.

Online Courses

Shaila Catherine offers online courses that strengthen concentration, develop satipatthana practices, enhance loving-kindness (metta), and explore the Discourses of the Buddha.

Volunteer Opportunities

If you would like to support our activities and Shaila’s teachings by offering your time and talents, please contact us. We welcome volunteers who are interested in coordinating events, hosting study groups, maintaining our website, or expanding our publicity.