Vipassana Santa Cruz is a community of people who support each other's meditation
practice and the application of the Dhamma (Dharma) in our daily lives. Our
goal is to reduce the suffering caused by greed, hatred, and delusion; to
do this, we cultivate wisdom and compassion. Our vision of community includes
formal practice, attention to ethics, and integration of practice through
service, study, and discussion. The core of our community is Insight Meditation
(Vipassana), one of the central meditation teachings of the Buddha, practiced
and passed on within the Theravadin tradition for over 2,500 years.
Our guiding teacher, Mary Grace Orr, has practiced Vipassana meditation since 1983; prior to that, she followed western contemplative practices. She worked as a therapist from 1977 to 1995. She was trained to teach meditation by Jack Kornfield, of Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She now leads Vipassana classes and retreats in the Santa Cruz area and throughout the United States.
The administration of Vipassana Santa Cruz is coordinated by a Board of Directors, working with the guiding teacher. We conduct our business through egalitarian processes, encouraging diverse points of view. We seek the balance of the "middle way" between structure and non-structure as we make organizational decisions.
The mission of Vipassana Santa Cruz is the liberation of all beings. To further this ideal, we support each other in learning and practicing the teachings of the Buddha. Mindfulness, generosity, virtue, loving kindness, and service are all components of our practice.
Vipassana Santa Cruz has a beautiful meditation center at 1010 Fair Lane in Santa Cruz.
Directions to Vipassana Santa Cruz.
Read more about meditation practice in general.
Questions? Contact us.