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Ongoing: Monday Morning Online Meditation

Start your week well by joining Auckland Insight for a regular Monday morning Zoom sitting hosted by our Guiding Teacher, Jill Shepherd or regular facilitators from the group.
Mondays 7:30- 8:00 am NZT. Everyone is welcome.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3011573331 Meeting ID: 301 157 3331

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Ongoing: Thursday Evening Meditation and Talk

Feel free to join Auckland Insight for a regular Thursday evening sitting and talks by our Guiding Teacher, Jill Shepherd or regular facilitators from the group.
Time and date: Thursdays 7:00-8:45 pm NZT. Everyone is welcome.
Location: 175 Garnet Road, Westmere 1022 Auckland (entry off Faulder Ave)
Please email aucklandinsight@gmail.com for any questions

You can find previous talks given by Jill to Auckland Insight here:

2026

2025

2024

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2026

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« Prev April 2026 Next »
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
		1 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	2 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	3 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	4 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	5 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here
6 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here * Monday Online: Start Your WeekMonday Online: Start Your Week Time: 7:30 am Start your week well by joining Auckland Insight for a regular Monday morning Zoom sitting hosted by our Guiding Teacher, Jill Shepherd or regular facilitators from the group. Mondays 7:30- 8:00 am NZT. Everyone is welcome. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3011573331 Meeting ID: 301 157 3331	7 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	8 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	9 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	10 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	11 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	12 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here
13 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here * Monday Online: Start Your WeekMonday Online: Start Your Week Time: 7:30 am Start your week well by joining Auckland Insight for a regular Monday morning Zoom sitting hosted by our Guiding Teacher, Jill Shepherd or regular facilitators from the group. Mondays 7:30- 8:00 am NZT. Everyone is welcome. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3011573331 Meeting ID: 301 157 3331	14 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	15 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	16 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	17 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	18 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	19 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here
20 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here * Monday Online: Start Your WeekMonday Online: Start Your Week Time: 7:30 am Start your week well by joining Auckland Insight for a regular Monday morning Zoom sitting hosted by our Guiding Teacher, Jill Shepherd or regular facilitators from the group. Mondays 7:30- 8:00 am NZT. Everyone is welcome. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3011573331 Meeting ID: 301 157 3331	21 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	22 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	23 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	24 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	25 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	26 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here
27 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here * Monday Online: Start Your WeekMonday Online: Start Your Week Time: 7:30 am Start your week well by joining Auckland Insight for a regular Monday morning Zoom sitting hosted by our Guiding Teacher, Jill Shepherd or regular facilitators from the group. Mondays 7:30- 8:00 am NZT. Everyone is welcome. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3011573331 Meeting ID: 301 157 3331	28 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	29 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here	30 * Four-week retreat – IMS, BarFour-week retreat – IMS, Bar IMS’s Forest Refuge program supports experienced meditators in sustained, longer-term retreat practice. A personal retreat, under the guidance of the following teachers, helps strengthen practice, faith, confidence and self-reliance. Teachers: Caroline Jones and Jill Shepherd Location: Forest Refuge, Barre, Massachusetts Registration: here

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Four-night insight meditation retreat Auckland

Exploring the Buddha’s path to freedom

This four-night insight meditation retreat offers a rare opportunity to explore some of the key aspects of the Noble Eightfold Path, the holistic path of practice laid out by the Buddha that supports us to find ease and freedom right in the midst of our everyday lives.

This retreat is suitable for beginners as well as people with an established insight meditation or mindfulness practice.

Accommodation: Rooms are all single rooms

Food: The centre will provide simple vegetarian meals for the retreat. Please indicate on the registration form if you have any food allergies or medical dietary needs. 

Retreat fees: sliding scale $850-$650 + dāna

Dates: 3-7 June 2026

More info and to register: here

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Auckland Insight Matariki practice day

This special day of practice offers time for us to embrace the Matariki traditions of remembering, reflecting, reconnecting, celebrating, and looking towards the future together.

You’re warmly invited to a day of meditation, learning, connection and celebration with the Auckland Insight community and our guiding teacher, Jill Shepherd. 

Over the course of the day, Jill will offer a range of guided and silent sitting and walking meditation, short dharma talks and small group discussion based on themes that are relevant to Matariki.

Remembrance: There will be an opportunity to remember and honour any loved ones who have died since the last rising of Matariki.

Celebration: We will connect over a shared lunch provided by Auckland Insight, to strengthen our ties as kalyanamitta or spiritual friends.

Looking to the future: Towards the end of the day we’ll take time to look ahead and share our inspirations and visions for the new year.

We hope you can join us!

Time and date:
9:30 am-4:30 pm, Friday 10 July

Food:
A simple vegetarian lunch plus morning and afternoon tea will be provided

Location:
Point Chevalier Sailing Club
Raymond Reserve, Raymond St, Point Chevalier, Auckland

Cost: $30 plus dāna* for the teacher

NOTE: Registration closes Wednesday 8 July to finalise numbers for catering

*The registration fee covers only a contribution to room hire and food costs.

In keeping with Buddhist tradition, the teachings are offered on a dāna basis which means the teacher is not paid to offer this workshop. Instead, they rely on the generosity of the participants to help them continue to share their teachings with others, and there will be an opportunity at the end of the workshop to offer donations to support their ongoing teaching.

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2027 six-week retreat

Dates: 3 April – 15 May 2027
Teachers: Jill Shepherd and Willa Thāniyā Reid, with Elizabeth Day

Kalyāna: Cultivating the Beautiful in the Spiritual Life

The Buddha has pointed out the way:
beautiful in the beginning, beautiful in the middle,
and beautiful in the end.

Supported by spiritual friendship and seclusion, this six-week retreat offers the ideal conditions for establishing the heart-mind (citta) in kind, steady knowing. Here, we attune to the presence of the beautiful—profoundly skillful mental states such as the Seven Factors of Awakening, the brahmavihāra heart qualities, and awareness itself.

Through an integrated approach that weaves together Satipaṭṭhāna (The Four Foundations of Mindfulness) and Ānāpānasati (Mindfulness of Breathing), the teachings and practices will support a sustained focus and deep inquiry into the nature of experience, guiding the citta toward liberative transformation.

This retreat is intended for experienced meditators and includes alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, guided instructions, Dhamma talks, and one-on-one practice discussions with the teachers.

The teachings will be rooted in Early Buddhism, drawing inspiration from the Western Insight tradition and the Thai Forest lineage.

Cost

Our retreats are offered freely, with no fixed fee for participation.
Most of the financial support for our collective comes through dāna—the voluntary donations offered by participants at the end of each retreat. This generosity sustains our work and enables future retreats.

Location

Mahamudra Centre for Universal Unity
Colville, Coromandel Peninsula

Registration

Registration has now closed, but please contact info@kalyanamitta.nz to be added to the waiting list

https://kalyanamitta.nz/our-offerings