Our practice is designed to help us bear that which is difficult or overwhelming—not to find the solution or fix the problem. It’s designed to help us be with the difficulty, to have the capacity to hold it, understand it, and learn to distinguish between what is human existence and conditionality and then what is my added layer on top of that? The Buddha’s Middle Way is to accept the truth of the human condition—that it’s difficult and painful, rough and messy. We live in a world based on greed, hatred, and delusion, but wishing it were not so brings an added layer of pain that makes the whole thing stressful.
Tuere Sala
Residential Retreat Teacher
Tuere Sala serves on Spirit Rock's Guiding Teachers Council and is a Guiding Teacher at Seattle Insight Meditation Society. She has practiced Vipassana meditation for over 30 years. Tuere is committed to lay practice and inspired by bringing the Dharma to nontraditional places. She is a strong advocate for practitioners living with high stress, past trauma, and difficulties sitting still. Tuere has been teaching since 2010 and has a long history of assisting others in establishing and maintaining a daily practice.
Tuere Sala's Upcoming Programs
Retreat | On-Land
June 13 - June 20, 2025 | Friday - Friday | 7 nights
Cultivating Awakening Emotions
Registration Open. Emotions are a natural part of this human body. We live with the impact of emotional triggers daily, which can turn our lives into a roller coaster ride of reactivity. It is possible, however, to engage our meditative practice in a more proactive way by cultivating several awakening emotions which, when present, can bring clarity and wisdom. During this traditional Vipassanā retreat, we will use the Satipaṭṭhāna to explore and recognize the impact of these emotions upon our practice.
Tuere Sala
Retreat | On-Land
August 27 - September 1, 2025 | Wednesday - Monday | 5 nights
Labor Day Insight Meditation Retreat
Registration Open. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing clarity and depth of practice. Traditional instructions will be combined with a spirit of lovingkindness, and our time together will include a schedule of silent sitting and walking periods, guided Yoga/movement sessions, as well as practice meetings with teachers and daily Dharma talks. This retreat is for experienced as well as new students.
Retreat | On-Land
October 16 - October 24, 2025 | Thursday - Friday | 8 nights
Fall Insight Meditation Retreat
Registration Open. Grounded in the Thai Forest Tradition, this Vipassanā retreat will focus on quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing clarity and depth of practice. During our time together, traditional meditation instruction will be combined with a spirit of lovingkindness, and the retreat will include silent sitting and walking meditation, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with the teachers.
Retreat | On-Land
December 27 - January 4, 2026 | Saturday - Sunday | 8 nights
New Year's Insight Meditation Retreat
Registration Open. This is a traditional Insight Meditation (vipassanā) retreat with sitting and walking in silence, and regular meetings with teachers. Each day there will be systematic meditation instructions, Dharma talks, and movement practice. We will mark the turning of the year with a late evening sitting and simple ceremony on New Year’s Eve. In celebration of the New Year, our focus will be on cultivating loving awareness and embracing each moment as fresh and new. All are welcome.
Retreat | On-Land
February 3 - March 28, 2026 | Tuesday - Saturday | 53 nights
2026 Insight Meditation 2-Month Retreat - Application
Application Open. An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained, dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness combined with training in lovingkindness and compassion, and practice will be structured around a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with teachers.
Dawn Scott
Vance Pryor
Tuere Sala
JD Doyle
James Baraz
Brian Lesage
Tara Mulay
Tempel Smith
Kristina Baré
Anushka Fernandopulle
Greg Scharf
Rasika Link
Retreat | On-Land
February 3 - March 2, 2026 | Tuesday - Monday | 27 nights
2026 February Insight Meditation 1-Month Retreat - Application
Application Open. An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained, dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness combined with training in lovingkindness and compassion, and practice will be structured around a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with teachers.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Tuere Sala through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.