A Premier Meditation Center in the West

Spirit Rock Meditation Center is one of the premier Insight Meditation centers in North America and has played a major role in introducing Buddhism to Western society. SRMC was founded in 1987 in the San Geronimo Valley as a center to create a wider Dharma stream that focuses on integrative programs, classes and retreats that help people embody the Dharma in their daily lives. Today, we are known worldwide for our mix of programs including residential retreats, classes, daylong retreats, as well as advanced practitioner programs, and teacher training.

Why we are building

Our vision is to create and foster an environment that is welcoming and supportive for all members of our spiritual community – an environment that is open and conducive to participants receiving the wisdom of the teachings, supports practice, and builds community.

Today, Spirit Rock faces notable challenges stemming from its success as we experience an increasing demand for access to the wisdom teachings first offered by the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. We have outgrown the capacity of our existing sanctuary to meet the needs of our growing community.

If you’ve attended classes in the Community Hall or volunteered in our administrative offices, you’ll know that the condition of these facilities is not sustainable.This funding initiative moves us forward with our vision to replace these aging and increasingly dysfunctional temporary buildings with permanent, energy efficient facilities.

Our Commitment

Nearly 25 years have passed since a generous donation allowed our founders to purchase the 412 acres that we now occupy. This amazing parcel of land was acquired from the Nature Conservancy who used the proceeds to preserve rainforests in the Amazon basin. As part of our Master Plan developed back in 1988, we made a commitment to develop less than 10% of the land so we could preserve this beautiful countryside and maintain the rural nature of the San Geronimo Valley.

Lower campus plan by Hart Howerton. Click image for an enlarged view.

The changes we voluntarily requested in 2008 to our original approved Master Plan reflect Spirit Rock’s commitment to sustainable land stewardship. These voluntary amendments greatly improve upon the originals by further protecting sensitive riparian areas by moving proposed buildings as far away from the creeks as possible. Through a comprehensive Resource Protection Plan, Spirit Rock will carefully monitor and control our impact on the land.

Our Green Practices

Spirit Rock incorporates green practices wherever possible in all aspects of our day-to-day operations as well as in our future building design and construction. We use solar energy, electric vehicles and bicycles. We compost, reuse, recycle, and incorporate clean air alternatives to reduce our environmental footprint.  Our updated Master Plan includes state-of-the-art components. From a solar farm to electric carts to cutting-edge septic technologies, constructed wetlands, and the planting of native species, the next phase in Spirit Rock Master Plan Amendment sets the standard for carbon-neutral, environmentally sensitive development in the San Geronimo Valley.

A New Meditation hall for Our Community

This next phase will see the construction of a new Community Meditation Hall to replace the existing dilapidated Community Hall in the lower meadow.  This permanent hall will be similar in size and shape to the beautiful Upper Meditation Hall used for our residential retreats.  Located in a serene open grassland hillside setting, with an outdoor terrace and arrival space, the new Community Meditation Hall will create an environment conducive to practice and will form a respectful setting for these priceless teachings. The hall will host the Monday night and Wednesday morning classes and other weekly gatherings and daylong programs offered at Spirit Rock. Additionally, two smaller meeting rooms and outdoor spaces will provide areas for intensive study, practice and connection with other members of the community.

Also in this phase will be a permanent Administration Building to house Spirit Rock staff, who are currently working in old trailers and other makeshift offices spread diffusely throughout the campus.  Finally, a new Teacher and Staff Village will be constructed for Spirit Rock’s residential support staff who currently occupy an aging group of three mobile homes.  Permanent teacher housing will free up retreat beds currently occupied by retreat teachers, so more people can attend retreats.  In addition, accommodations will be built for on sight non-retreat teachers who will be available to serve our community.

The new buildings and green design functions will improve all aspects of Spirit Rock’s programs and operations. The permanent facilities will enable our teachers and staff to meet the needs of our growing community of practitioners. We will be able to offer more curriculum, increased access to great teachers, and smaller retreats in an intimate setting. The campus will provide beautiful, healthy and environmentally sustainable indoor and outdoor spaces for our community to gather, connect and receive these precious teachings.

A $15.6 Million Project and we have already raised $13M! Please help us realize our goal; your support is vital to our success.

Message from Sylvia Boorstein about the Sangha of Thousands of Buddhas

All contributions are eligible for
tax deductibility as permitted by law.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center
P.O. Box 169, Woodacre CA 94973
www.spiritrock.org