Napa Valley Insight Meditation

Meditation & Discussion with Forrest Hill
2025-08-12 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-09-02 18:00 - 20:30, 2025-09-23 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-11-04 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
The evening will be led by Forrest Hill. Forrest has been practicing Insight Meditation since 2004, starting at the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland CA. He is the founding member of Napa Valley Insight Meditation (NVIM) and has served as a facilitator at NVIM since its inception in 2011. Forrest is a graduate of the two-year Community Dharma Leaders Program, a Buddhist teacher training program sponsored by Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He is also a singer-songwriter and over the past ten years has released 6 albums inspired by the dharma and his meditation practice. He has a PhD from MIT in Biological Oceanography and currently works as a socially responsible financial advisor.
COVID Recommendations For Gathering Safely
(recommended by https://covid19.ca.gov “Current Safety Measures”):

If you have recently been exposed to COVID, it is recommended that you wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID without symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days and wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID and have symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days; and then do not return until your symptoms are mild, improving, and you are fever-free for at least 24 hours. Wear a mask indoors through Day 10.

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-08-14 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-08-14/
NVIM will continue to host our Thursday morning meditations by Zoom. Morning meditation is led by Debbie Darrin, and others, and begins promptly at 9:00am. All are welcome.
Thursday morning sits begin with an inspirational reading, followed by a 30-minute mostly silent meditation period and a short 10-minute period in which individuals may comment on their own practice while the group listens in silence.
To receive the Zoom link one day in advance, sign up for our mailing list at: https://www.napainsight.org/contact/newsletter/

Meditation & Discussion with Lori Stelling
2025-08-19 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-09-09 18:00 - 20:30, 2025-10-07 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-10-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
This Tuesday evening sangha will be led by Lori Stelling. Lori has practiced Insight Meditation since 2002 and serves as a local teacher and Board member for NVIM. She has received mentoring from vipassana teachers since 2007, is a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher through UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and has engaged in on-going Buddhist Studies through Aloka Vihara, Sacred Mountain Sangha, Dharmagiri, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and others, for two decades. Lori is a certified life coach, with advanced Enneagram training, offering life coaching for women, and community meditation classes for adults of all ages.
COVID Recommendations For Gathering Safely
(recommended by https://covid19.ca.gov “Current Safety Measures”):

If you have recently been exposed to COVID, it is recommended that you wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID without symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days and wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID and have symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days; and then do not return until your symptoms are mild, improving, and you are fever-free for at least 24 hours. Wear a mask indoors through Day 10.

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-08-21 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-08-21/

Meditation & Discussion with Mike Coughlin
2025-08-26 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-09-16 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-10-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
This Tuesday evening sangha will be led by Mike Coughlin. Mike is a public school administrator, trained mediator, and has been practicing mindfulness in the vipassana tradition for over 15 years. He has received training through Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Mindful Schools and is a Certified Mindfulness Facilitator through the Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior at the University of California, Los Angeles. Mike has over 20 years of experience working with high-risk youth, most specifically in residential and day treatment programs, as well as years of mediation experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution.
COVID Recommendations For Gathering Safely
(recommended by https://covid19.ca.gov “Current Safety Measures”):

If you have recently been exposed to COVID, it is recommended that you wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID without symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days and wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID and have symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days; and then do not return until your symptoms are mild, improving, and you are fever-free for at least 24 hours. Wear a mask indoors through Day 10.

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-08-28 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-08-28/

BUDDHISM & RECOVERY - Inaugural Meeting
2025-09-03 07:00 - 20:00 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
Join us for our inaugural recovery meeting. If you are interested in Buddhism, mindfulness, and the world of recovery, Napa Valley Insight Meditation is offering the opportunity to gather together for a Buddhism & Recovery meeting.
This is a pilot meeting that will be led by practitioners in the NVIM community who are all in recovery. We urge all those who are interested to attend and help us establish this as a regular offering.
Format

Welcome
Group agreements
Mindful movement
Short guided meditation
Read daily reflection (Buddhism & The Twelve Steps)
Group reflections on reading
Discussion on thoughts moving forward.

The meeting will be held in the sanctuary at the Napa Valley Unitarian Universalist (1625 Salvador Avenue). We look forward to sharing this opportunity with you.

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-09-04 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-09-04/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-09-11 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-09-11/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-09-18 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-09-18/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-09-25 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-09-25/

Special Guest Fresh "Lev" White
2025-09-30 19:00 - 20:30 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
Lev is a love and compassion activist. He offers mindfulness, coaching, mediation, and diversity trainings as tools for shifting towards more authentic, conscious and passionate living. He teaches and writes about how love and self-compassion are the ultimate gateways to loving and understanding others; thus, healing our communities, and planet. Lev is also co-author of Real World Mindfulness for Beginners, Ed. with Brenda Salgado and is mindfully grounded at the East Bay Meditation Center, as well as a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leadership program. Learn more about Lev here: https://affirmativeacts.org/about-us/
COVID Recommendations For Gathering Safely
(recommended by https://covid19.ca.gov “Current Safety Measures”):

If you have recently been exposed to COVID, it is recommended that you wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID without symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days and wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID and have symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days; and then do not return until your symptoms are mild, improving, and you are fever-free for at least 24 hours. Wear a mask indoors through Day 10.

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-10-02 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-10-02/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-10-09 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-10-09/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-10-16 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-10-16/

An Evening with Fresh "Lev" White
2025-10-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-10-23 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-10-23/

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-10-30 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-10-30/

MATTHEW BRENSILVER DAYLONG - WISE INTENTION & THE CULTIVATION OF FAITH
2025-11-01 09:30 - 16:00 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
Join Matthew and our NVIM community on Saturday, Nov 1st, from 9:30am – 4:00pm, for this day of silent and guided periods of meditation, Dharma talks and opportunities for dialogue.
To Register: https://events.humanitix.com/daylong-with-matthew-brensilver
Matthew shares that “Buddhist practice begins with sincerity and emphasizes the importance of intention on the path. Yet the wholesomeness of our intention does not promise particular results in the world – we cultivate goodness even when it fails to bring about the desired results. The Buddha highlighted three dimensions of wise intention: towards boundless friendliness, letting go and harmlessness.
During this day of practice, we’ll explore these intentions and how they foster a life of non-regret, gratitude and faith. As we come to trust our heart and our intention, an inner environment of peace is cultivated.” All are welcome. Sliding scale: $35 – $100. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Buddhism and Recovery
2025-11-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
Join us for our monthly meeting of Buddhism & Recovery as we come together to support our various 12-step recovery journeys with mindfulness and compassion. This meeting offers a calm, non-judgmental space where recovering individuals can practice meditation, deepen self-awareness, share experiences, and build supportive connections. The structure of the meeting will include movement, meditation, and reflections grounded in Kevin Griffin’s book Buddhism & the Twelve Steps: Daily Reflections – Thoughts On Dharma & Recovery.
COVID Recommendations For Gathering Safely
(recommended by https://covid19.ca.gov “Current Safety Measures”):

If you have recently been exposed to COVID, it is recommended that you wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID without symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days and wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID and have symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days; and then do not return until your symptoms are mild, improving, and you are fever-free for at least 24 hours. Wear a mask indoors through Day 10.

Thursday Morning Online Meditation
2025-11-06 09:00 - 10:00 | https://www.napainsight.org/event/thursday-morning-online-meditation-8/2025-11-06/

An Evening with Special Guest Ayya Santacitta
2025-11-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA, 94559
Ayya Santacitta was born in Austria and did her graduate studies in Cultural Anthropology, focusing on dance, theatre and ritual. She also worked in avant-garde dance theatre as a performer and costume designer. In 1988 she met Ajahn Buddhadasa in southern Thailand, who sparked her interest in Buddhist monastic life. She trained as a nun in England and Asia from 1993 until 2009, primarily in the lineage of Ajahn Chah. Since 2002, she has also received teachings in the lineage of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Ayya Santacitta co-founded Aloka Vihara in 2009 and received Bhikkhuni Ordination in 2011. She is committed to Gaia as a living being and resides at Aloka Earth Room (https://alokavihara.org/aloka-earth-room/), currently located in San Rafael, CA.
To learn more about Ayya Santacitta go to: https://alokavihara.org/
COVID Recommendations For Gathering Safely
(recommended by https://covid19.ca.gov “Current Safety Measures”):

If you have recently been exposed to COVID, it is recommended that you wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID without symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days and wear a mask indoors through day 10.
If you test positive for COVID and have symptoms, please do not attend sangha for at least 5 full days; and then do not return until your symptoms are mild, improving, and you are fever-free for at least 24 hours. Wear a mask indoors through Day 10.
