There's no way to get through a life without difficulties. To be able to do it with grace, kindness, and generosity of spirit—with a heart that reaches out and joins other people either in actual physical company or in wishing them well—that’s what it’s about. We are working on habituating our minds to kindness. Because in a life that's inevitably challenging for everybody in it, meeting it with kindness is the most comfortable way to be in the world, for oneself and for everyone else with whom one interacts. This is the antidote to the difficulties that life brings with it.
Sylvia Boorstein, PhD
Residential Retreat Teacher
Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, has been teaching Dharma and mindfulness meditation since 1985. She is a founding Spirit Rock teacher, a psychologist, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is particularly interested in emphasizing daily life as mindfulness practice and including informed citizenship and social activism as integral to spiritual maturation. Her books include: It's Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness; Don't Just Do Something, Sit There: A Mindfulness Retreat; That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist; Pay Attention for Goodness' Sake: The Buddhist Path of Kindness and Happiness Is an Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful Life.
Sylvia Boorstein's Upcoming Programs
Class Series | Online
May 8 - May 22, 2025 | 3 Thursdays | 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Honoring Our Teachers: Sylvia Boorstein and Sharon Salzberg in Conversation
Join teachers and life-long spiritual friends Sylvia Boorstein and Sharon Salzberg for a discussion series exploring the past and present of Dharma teaching in the West. Sylvia and Sharon will share treasured stories and moments from their Dharma paths, honoring the teachers and teachings that have touched their hearts and shaped their practice. Come celebrate the diverse teachings and techniques that have informed our Insight Meditation lineage, and the teachers and spiritual friends with whom we travel on the path to liberation.
Class Series | Online
July 31 - August 28, 2025 | 5 Thursdays | 4:00 PM - 5:45 PM
Everyday Life as Mindfulness Practice
Join us for a foundational series on the common-sense teachings of mindful awareness. With a focus on interactive discussion, meditation, and community building, Sylvia (via video recording) and Heidi (live via Zoom) will share practical, accessible, timeless teachings that support the integration of mindfulness, non-harming, and kindness into the complexities of our everyday lives. Connect and be nurtured by the support of saṅgha, shared stories, and meaningful moments as we bring our practice more fully into everyday life.
Short Program | Online
August 30 - August 31, 2025 | Saturday - Sunday | 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
The Heart Remembers: A Journey into Innate Goodness, Clarity, and Presence
Come join us for a weekend connecting and reconnecting with what is already here—your innate goodness, clear mind, and steady presence. Within the complexities of everyday life, it’s natural to forget about these inherent beautiful qualities of mind-heart that sustain and nurture well-being. Through practices, talks, and sharing what we’ve learned, we’ll peel back the layers, befriend what’s there, and open a space of remembering who we are. Bring your lunch, bring a friend, and bring your heart.
Short Program | On-Land Non-Residential
August 30 - August 31, 2025 | Saturday - Sunday | 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
The Heart Remembers: A Journey into Innate Goodness, Clarity, and Presence
Come join us for a weekend connecting and reconnecting with what is already here—your innate goodness, clear mind, and steady presence. Within the complexities of everyday life, it’s natural to forget about these inherent beautiful qualities of mind-heart that sustain and nurture well-being. Through practices, talks, and sharing what we’ve learned, we’ll peel back the layers, befriend what’s there, and open a space of remembering who we are. Bring your lunch, bring a friend, and bring your heart.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Sylvia Boorstein through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.
