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The Necessity of Kindness on the Path of Insight
An Insight Meditation Retreat with Matthew Brensilver, MSW, PhD
Sunday, February 21 to Thursday, February 25, 2027
Hosted by Winston-Salem Dharma Community
at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, North Carolina

The Necessity of Kindness On the Path of Insight. At some point in our lives, the intensity of human experience underscores the necessity of love. If we are to be happy, love will be involved. The Buddha counsels: “Hatred does not cease by hatred but by non-hatred. This law is eternal.” The alternatives to love – namely, hate or apathy – are not viable for ourselves, for our communities, or our world. There are many details to work out, but in one way or another, kindness will be the path forward. Fear, self-absorption, and measurement create a million boundaries – lovingkindness dissolves them. During this retreat, we’ll explore the heart qualities that are both the path and the fruit of practice. The retreat will include silent sitting and walking meditation practice, guided meditations, dharma reflections, and small group meetings with the teacher. All are welcome.

Matthew Brensilver. We are delighted to welcome back Matthew Brensilver following his deeply appreciated inaugural retreat with us. Matthew serves on the boards of directors for both Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Insight Retreat Center, where he also teaches. He has lectured at UCLA Mindfulness Center on the intersection of mindfulness, science, and psychotherapy, and conducted research at the UCLA Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine. He leads online sessions most Wednesdays—learn more about his weekly classes and background here.

Registration. Single rooms are $650, while double rooms are $430 per person. The fees cover lodging, vegetarian food, and organizing expenses. As part of the Buddhist tradition, many teachers (including Matthew) offer teachings freely without expectation of fees or payment. As a practice of generosity from the heart, participants are invited to offer “dana” (donations-generosity) to Matthew at the end of the retreat. 
We strive to make retreats as accessible as possible to everyone. Contact us if finances are a burden in any way at wsdharmacommunity@gmail.com. We will try our best to make this retreat financially accessible to you.
You can register here [https://forms.gle/KHyr8G3JaJhCuSTv5]. 
Space is limited, so early registration is recommended. Please email us at wsdharmacommunity@gmail.com with any questions. 

Here is a list of retreats scheduled or planned for 2026 through 2029. We will provide additional details and registration schedules as these dates approach. But for now, you can “pencil them in” if interested. All of these retreats will take place at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, NC.