Highlighted Events

Insights Into Emptiness

January 8 – 16, 2025
RESIDENTIAL RETREAT
in Loma Mar, California

Timeless Wisdom: Exploring Buddhist Teachings through Similes and Stories 4

Feb 8 — April 12, 2025
ONLINE COURSE
Sponsored by Bodhi Courses

Spiritual Experience & Aspiration: Bold Talk on Awakening

April 11 – 13, 2025
ONLINE  RETREAT
via Zoom

Concentration, Jhana Factors, and Jhana States

May 6 – 16, 2025
RESIDENTIAL RETREAT
in Loma Mar, CA

Shaila’s new book!

Join us for

Beyond Distraction

Of Shaila’s books,

Beyond Distraction

Read this one first!

About Shaila

buddhist author and buddhist meditation teacher shaila catherine

Shaila is a renowned Buddhist meditation teacher and author of three books on concentration (jhāna) and insight (vipassanā) meditation. She teaches meditation retreats world wide, and founded Bodhi Courses, an online dharma classroom. Shaila is the principal teacher for Insight Meditation South Bay, a center for mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom in Silicon Valley in California. She appreciates deep retreat practice, loves to read the Discourses of the Buddha, and is dedicated to the liberating potential of the meditative path.

Affiliated Organizations

Insight Meditation South Bay

A meditation group in Silicon Valley.

Bodhi Courses

An Online Dhamma Classroom

Books

buddhist meditation book Cover: The Jhanas by Shaila Catherine

The Jhanas

previously published as Focused and Fearless
buddhist meditation Book Cover: Wisdom Wide and Deep

Wisdom Wide & Deep

buddhist meditation Book Cover: Beyond Distraction by Shaila Catherine

Beyond Distraction

Teachings

Learn more about Shaila by listening to in-depth interviews. Enjoy the support of her teachings between retreats. Enrich your practice with her guided meditations, writings, and dhamma talks.

Practice with Shaila

Online Courses

Bodhi Courses is an online Dhamma classroom where Shaila offers 2-3 courses every year that each run for 2-3 months.

Shaila periodically offers online and local courses and sutta study through Insight Meditation South Bay.

Retreats

Intensive silent retreats may focus on themes of cultivating mindfulness, concentration and jhāna, awakening through insight meditation, mindfulness with breathing, or mettā meditation.

Invite Shaila

Shaila welcomes invitations to teach from across the United States and internationally. If you wish to invite Shaila to lead a retreat for your community or engage in a podcast contact:

Meditation Programs in Silicon Valley

Insight Meditation South Bay offers:

  • monthly Saturday meditation events
  • online mentoring groups for advanced practitioners
  • periodic classes, lecture series, sutta studies, and meditation programs