Author: Lin Wang Gordon

Saturday, 5/23/2026, Day of Insight – A Daylong Meditation Retreat, with David Grogen

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Photo: New York Botanical Garden, 2025 Saturday, May 23, 2026 Time: 10am – 5pm ET “Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.” –The Buddha In modern society we are surrounded by noise – traffic noise, endless emails and phone calls, the chatter of people, and so forth. A silent retreat day is essentially a period of extended inward reflection, allowing you to achieve a greater clarity of mind. This retreat day will be one of noble silence for those who want to deepen their practice. It will include sitting, walking, and select inspirational readings for contemplation. Individual interviews will be available. Participants are welcome to bring their lunch to maintain the meditative atmosphere and concentration.

Sun. 4/26/2026: Asian Diaspora Sangha Monthly Sit, 5:30-7:30pm

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The NY Insight AAPI Sangha is a warm and vibrant space for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to come together in shared practice and community, to foster a sense of connection, understanding, and authenticity. This sangha offers an opportunity for new and experienced practitioners to explore our inner and outer worlds in ways that honor our diverse backgrounds through the heart of the dhamma. The AAPI Sangha meets on the fourth Sunday of each month from 5:30–7:30 PM. Led by NYI Teachers or Practice Leaders, each session includes meditation, a dharma discussion, and an opportunity to explore the dharma in a supportive community. In-person attendance is highly encouraged, as meeting in the physical world helps foster connections that are vital for this community. That said, we understand that some may have circumstances that prevent in-person attendance, and we want to make this community accessible. Please see below for Zoom information. Meeting Date/Time: 4th Sunday of each month | 5:30pm-7:30pm ET | In-Person and Online Location: New York Insight at 115 West 29th Street, 12th Floor Teaching Schedule …

Wed. 4/29/2026: New York Insight Community Meditation Gathering, 6:30-8:30pm

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Although Buddhism is often seen as a solitary path, sangha, or community, is an essential part of meditation practice. However, cultivating this sense of community has been a difficult challenge in this day and age of social isolation and Zoom fatigue. This series of in-person New York Insight community gatherings consists of guided meditation, a talk by one of our teachers, followed by group discussion, and opportunities to socialize and connect with like-minded practitioners. Whether you are brand new to meditation practice, new to New York Insight, or are a longtime, experienced meditator, all are welcome to join us for this series of in-person community meditation gatherings. We hope to see you there! In-Person and Online Location: New York Insight at 115 West 29th Street, 12th Floor (between 6th & 7th Avenue) Please RSVP for in-person or online attendance. If you are attending in person, please arrive 15-20 minutes early to ensure an orderly check-in. Online: You will receive a Zoom link in your confirmation email. Suggested donation is $15, but whatever you offer is greatly …

February Newsletter – What Am I Practicing? The Tao of Parental Love

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February 21, 2026 As They Are When you are with your childrenbe one with them.Let every part of your body relaxand become as supple as your child’sAllow all expectations and anxieties to melt awayso that you can see clearlyLove them as they areIn this very moment,without needing to change a thing When their lives are filled with troubleallow events to unfoldwithout pushing or straining, and you will understand clearlywhat your role should be.   You nourish them without possessing themYou guide them without controlling themYou help them without worrying The Parent’s Tao Te Ching, by William Martin Dear Friends, Happy Lunar New Year!  Recently, Tricycle magazine invited me to write a short reflection on what I am practicing. As a divorced mother of a teenage son, working full-time and teaching meditation on weekends, I have very little time for formal sitting. My mantra is “small moments, many times.” Some days I find fifteen quiet minutes on the cushion or lying on the bed. Most days, I find brief moments of awareness scattered throughout the day. As …

Sun. 10/25, 10-1pm, Pilgrimage in the City: A Contemplative Walk through Lower Manhattan

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Throughout history, pilgrimages have the power to deepen faith, offer spiritual renewal, and foster personal growth by journeying to sacred places for devotion, penance, and healing, providing opportunities for reflection, and connecting individuals to history and community. Join Lin Wang Gordon and Felicia Dickerson for a meditative walk through Lower Manhattan. Together, moving at a contemplative pace, we will visit sites of historical and cultural significance, including the African Burial Ground National Monument, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the 9/11 Memorial. As we visit these spaces, we will reflect on our ancestors, shared history, and explore what American history means to each of us—personally and collectively. Much of the walk will be held in silence, with periods of meditation at various sites, followed by gentle inquiry and discussion. Meeting Date/Time: Sunday, October 25 2026, 10-1pm ET; meet at 9:45pm Meeting Location: Southeast corner of Chamber St. and BroadwaySubway: R/W train at City Hall station Photo: 9/11 Memorial in York City (stock photo) Co-Teacher: Felicia Dickerson came to meditation through Mindfulness Based Stress …

Soulcentric Midlife: A 5-Month Course (1/10 – 5/5/2026)

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Are you in your 40s and 50s and thinking about the second half of your life? Every life stage brings its own gifts.  Each life stage has its own purpose in our development as a whole being.  If our life were the four seasons, 40s/50s could be the early fall.  While our culture likes to associate this time in our life with turmoil and crisis, it could also be a great time for inner growth, clarity, and purpose.  

Wed. 1/7/2026: New York Insight Community Meditation Gathering, 6:30-8:30pm (In-Person and Online)

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Photo: New York Botanical Garden, May 2025 Although Buddhism is often seen as a solitary path, sangha, or community, is an essential part of meditation practice. However, cultivating this sense of community has been a difficult challenge in this day and age of social isolation and Zoom fatigue. This series of in-person New York Insight community gatherings consists of guided meditation, a talk by one of our teachers, followed by group discussion, and opportunities to socialize and connect with like-minded practitioners. Whether you are brand new to meditation practice, new to New York Insight, or are a longtime, experienced meditator, all are welcome to join us for this series of in-person community meditation gatherings. We hope to see you there! In-Person Location: New York Insight at 115 West 29th Street, 12th Floor (between 6th & 7th Avenue) Space for in-person attendance is limited. Please reserve your in-person seat in advance. If you are having trouble completing your RSVP or donation, please CLICK HERE to open it in a new browser. All proceeds will support this sangha’s teacher(s) and …

Fri. 11/28/2025: Black Friday Hike on Hook Mountain for Inner & Outer Exploration

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“Instead of going shopping, go outside.” – REI #OptOutside Campaign Inspired by REI’s #OptOutside movement on Black Friday, we invite you to join us in the beautiful Hudson Valley for a guided, meditative hike—an opportunity to reconnect with both inner landscape and the natural world.  This hike takes the scenic route along the Long Path—into the Rockland Lake State Park and up Hook Mountain. Enjoy expansive vistas from only 1.5 hours outside of the city, and an extraordinary area designated by the New York Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area. Much of the hike will be observed in silence and we will integrate nature meditation practices throughout the day — allowing our senses to come alive and our sense of separateness to fall away.  Together, we will cultivate a deeper intimacy with the land—and with our inner landscape—moving through the day with reverence and presence. We will foster a reciprocal mindset: as the land nourishes us, we give back through gratitude, awareness, and care.  Through this shared exploration, we will reflect on what it …

Sun. 11/23/2025: Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Sangha, 5:30-7:30pm

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4th Sunday of each month | 5:30pm-7:30pm ET | In-Person and Online Location: New York Insight at 115 West 29th Street, 12th Floor The NY Insight AAPI Sangha is a warm and vibrant space for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to come together in shared practice and community, to foster a sense of connection, understanding, and authenticity. This sangha offers an opportunity for new and experienced practitioners to explore our inner and outer worlds in ways that honor our diverse backgrounds through the heart of the dhamma. The AAPI Sangha meets on the fourth Sunday of each month from 5:30–7:30 PM. Led by NYI Teachers or Practice Leaders, each session includes meditation, a dharma discussion, and an opportunity to explore the dharma in a supportive community. In-person attendance is highly encouraged, as meeting in the physical world helps foster connections that are vital for this community. That said, we understand that some may have circumstances that prevent in-person attendance, and we want to make this community accessible. Please see below for Zoom information. Teaching Schedule October 26, …