Insights into Emptiness: Meditations on the Six Senses

A 10-day meditation retreat with Shaila Catherine

May 5 – 15, 2026
at Redwood Glen Retreat Center in Loma Mar, CA

The retreat begins with registration from 2:30 – 4:00 pm on May 5.

This retreat will develop insight meditation practices using the structure of the six sense bases.

We will cultivate mindfulness of sensory experience, and contemplate the impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and not-self characteristics in contact with seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and mental activities. By clearly seeing the emptiness of lived phenomena, habitual patterns fall away, the causes of suffering cease, and there can be a genuine awakening—a realization of nibbana.

This silent retreat is structured with alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, dhamma teachings, and teacher consultations. It is intended for meditators who are already familiar with mindfulness based practice, and have previously attended at least one week long silent residential insight meditation retreat.

SITE FEATURES: This retreat will be held at Redwood Glen, a lovely retreat center nestled in a redwood forest between La Honda and Pescadero. It’s about a 15-minute drive from Pescadero State Beach, and about a 1-hour drive from either the San Francisco Airport or the San Jose Airport. This retreat center is convenient to reach, and yet offers a secluded and intimate environment for deep meditation practice. You will enjoy the benefits of natural beauty, a spacious meditation hall, comfortable accommodations, delicious meals, and access to walking trails. The center is nestled in a majestic redwood forest, adjacent to county parks and open space preserves. Just a few minutes’ walk from the meditation hall you will find yourself strolling along creekside paths, surrounded by the powerful serenity of the redwood forest.

COVID PRECAUTIONS: Participants will be required to take a rapid-antigen test prior to arriving. If symptoms of a contagious illness arise during the retreat, participants may be required to wear masks, isolate in their rooms, or leave the retreat.

Register now! Space is limited.

The retreat begins with registration at 2:30 pm on May 5; it ends with an optional noon lunch on May 15. Participants who are traveling from afar might need to check flight times carefully, and possibly arrange to stay in a hotel the night before the retreat. Early-arrival accommodations are not available at this retreat center, and we must depart shortly after lunch on the closing day.

TO REGISTER: Please use the online form at the link below to submit your registration and waiver forms.

• Registration Form: https://www.imsb.org/rg2026-form/

This form will take approximately 20 minutes to fill out. Upon completion of the form you will receive an email with details for completing your payment. You have the option of paying the non-refundable deposit of $250 or the full retreat payment either by mailing a check to the registrar or by making a Zelle bank transfer. The address and account information for making this payment will be included in the registration confirmation email.

The retreat facility is somewhat handicapped accessible. Accommodations include comfortable hotel-style rooms with ensuite baths, and a few dorm-style cabins. Tent camping and RV camping with hook ups are available. Seasoned campers have enjoyed camping at previous retreats here, but we only recommend camping for participants who are driving to the retreat and therefore able to bring sufficient gear for variable weather conditions. See the application form for more accommodation details.

COST: 10 nights (registration fee includes accommodation and meals). You will also be asked to make a donation to the teacher(s) at the end of retreat.

• Full retreat for single occupancy: 10 nights is $3700 – $3200 sliding scale (estimated actual cost for single is $3400)
• Double occupancy sliding scale: $3000 – $2600 (estimated actual cost for double occupancy is $2800)
• Camping in personal tent or RV sliding scale: $2300 – $1900 (estimated actual cost for camping is $2100)

Fee covers only accommodations, food, and basic administrative expenses. There will be an opportunity at the end of the retreat to make a donation to the teacher.

The estimated actual per-person cost if we had used a fixed rate is $3400 for a single room, $2800 for a shared room, and $2100 for camping. By selecting an amount above the estimated actual cost, your generosity supports those who need to select a lower rate to attend the retreat. Selecting an amount below the estimated actual cost is equivalent to receiving a partial scholarship.

The sliding scale will allow most scholarship needs to be self-managed. If you need additional scholarship support to attend, consider applying for a scholarship through https://opendharmafoundation.org, or contact our registrar for partial assistance through IMSB/Bodhi-Retreats.

PARTIAL ATTENDANCE may be arranged for a stay of 5 nights or more, but must begin on the first day of retreat, and priority is given to full retreat participants. We strongly encourage attendance at the full retreat. Applicants for partial attendance will be placed on a wait list which will be reviewed approximately 2 months prior to the retreat. Partial attendees will likely be housed in double occupancy rooms unless single rooms remain available 1 month prior to the retreat. You may contact the registrar to determine if single rooms for partial attendance are available.

The sliding scale rates for partial attendance below are listed as single occupancy. Take 15% off the single rate for double accommodations, and take 20% off for camping.

• 5 nights (Tuesday–Sunday) is $2500 – $2000 sliding scale
• 6 nights (Tuesday–Monday) is $2900 – $2400 sliding scale
• 7–9 nights sliding scale rate is same as full retreat

DANA: Compensation for the teacher is not included in the registration price. There will be an opportunity to offer donations to the teacher at the end of the retreat.

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Co-Sponsored by Bodhi Retreats and Insight Meditation South Bay