The Nine Dimensions of Consciousness: A Practical Map for Insight Practitioners

The Nine Dimensions of Consciousness is a daylong meditation workshop for Insight practitioners, led by Phillip Moffitt, MA and Dana DePalma, MA, MFT at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. It offers a practical map of consciousness, taught through guided Insight Meditation practice, for people who want to work with their attention more intentionally. The day is offered both on-land and online.

In meditation, different aspects of consciousness often show up without our knowing what they are. Because they seem to arise at random, it is hard to work with them deliberately to deepen concentration and insight. This program offers a way to recognize them.

What to Expect

The day begins with an introduction to the Nine Dimensions of Consciousness framework, starting with the consciousness that arises in the physical body. From there, a series of guided meditations moves through increasingly subtle levels of awareness, alternating with teachings on how to work with consciousness intentionally.

A central theme is the difference between a capacity and its content. In practice we easily get caught up in whatever arises in the mind and forget that we can rest attention on the capacity itself. The teachers offer practice instruction for making that distinction, and the day closes with Q&A and integration. The program runs from 10:00am to 4:00pm Pacific Time, and the aim is to bring new clarity and confidence to your Insight practice.

About Phillip Moffitt, MA

Phillip Moffitt is a Buddhist meditation teacher and writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He served as Co-Guiding Teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center from 2010 to 2018. He is the creator of the Naturally Arising practice method and the honorary co-founder of the online retreat center Dharma Ground.

About Dana DePalma, MA, MFT

Dana DePalma teaches Insight Meditation retreats at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Northern California and online through Dharma Ground, an organization she co-founded. She specializes in Nine Bodies Insight, a method of practice that uses specific teachings on the structure of consciousness to balance, refine, and empower one's Insight Meditation practice.

The Setting

The on-land program takes place in the Great Hall of the Community Meditation Center at Spirit Rock in Woodacre. This is not a residential retreat, and overnight accommodation is not provided. Those who prefer to join from home can take part online via Zoom.

Before You Go

This program is suited to people with some meditation experience, and prior practice with Insight Meditation is recommended. It draws on the Insight Meditation and Theravada Buddhist traditions. The listing notes English and Spanish.

Lunch is not provided for those attending in person, so bring a lunch and a water bottle. Registration includes unlimited access to a recording of the program, available about ten days afterward. Choose either the on-land or the online format, not both. A sliding scale of rates is offered, including scholarship rates, and volunteer or work exchange opportunities may be available for the in-person program.