Downtown Meditation Center of Santa Cruz

Downtown Meditation Center of Santa Cruz is a alternative weekly mind body awareness Vipassana based Meditation Group which uses present time awareness with a mix of spiritual beliefs in a half-hour sitting followed by a half-hour discussion. All ages welcome we are in sunny Dogtown of Santa Cruz, California ~ Our discussions are on Stress Reduction ~ End of Life/Hospice issues ~ Spirituality/Buddhism ~ Service Work ~ Music ~ Psychology ~ Twelve Step Recovery ~ Taking Refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma & the Sangha ~ Surfing ~ Skateboarding and using day to day life as meditation practice ~ Our sangha teachers are Mike Haber, Jason Murphy & Noah Levine plus other guests teachers. This is not your parents boring old meditation group this is dharma with a twist. We are a part of the "Dharma Punx" meditation groups nationwide.
Insight Santa Cruz is a meditation community, with a center in downtown Santa Cruz. Insight Meditation, also known as Vipassana, develops mindfulness and cultivates wisdom. Through practice, we learn to live more wisely, to stay present, and to open our hearts.

People come to ISC for many reasons. Some are looking for refuge from stress and the burdens of daily life; others enjoy the opportunity to practice in community; others wish to learn about Buddhist teachings. Whatever their reason, everyone is welcome.

New Guiding Teacher Ceremony with JD Doyle, Yasmina Porter, and Bob Stahl
Guided by Dawn Neal with the support of our dedicated teachers and facilitators, ISC offers regular meditation sits, classes for newcomers, and programs to help individuals deepen their practice. There are groups for People of Color, Rainbow Sangha, and other Dhamma Friends groups. Everyone who practices together creates the “Sangha,” or community.

The center was founded in 1989 by Mary Grace Orr, who remains an advisor.