Weekend Insight Meditation Retreat with Nikki Mirghafori [Nov6ac]

A Weekend Silent Insight Meditation Retreat on the Protective Power of Mettā with Nikki Mirghafori, Fri Nov 6 - Sun Nov 8, 2026
About this Event

RETREAT DESCRIPTION - A Sanctuary of the Heart: The Protective Power of Mettā.

Mettā—lovingkindness—is the heart’s natural capacity to meet ourselves and others with warmth, steadiness, and care. In a world of unsettling headlines and personal uncertainty, fear can quickly take hold, painting vivid tigers on the walls of our inner cave. Mettā offers a gentle and powerful antidote: a sanctuary of inner stability, refuge, and wise engagement.

As the Buddha reminded the forest monks, kindness is a profound protection. It protects not by closing the heart, but by strengthening it—helping us meet ourselves, others, and the world with greater courage, tenderness, and clarity.

Mettā is also a deep insight practice. It steadies wisdom and supports us in meeting experience without the added burden of self-judgment, aversion, or ill will. Practicing vipassanā—or simply moving through daily life—without kindness can feel like riding a bicycle with flat tires: possible, but unnecessarily rough. Mettā fills the tires, smoothing the path of practice and everyday living.

In this two and a half day retreat, we will explore lovingkindness through guided meditation, silent sitting and walking practice, Dharma reflections, and practical ways to bring mettā into daily life. Together, we will cultivate the heart’s capacity for friendliness, resilience, and compassionate presence.

This retreat is open to both beginning and experienced practitioners. All are welcome.

The general schedule (all times are Pacific Time):

Friday, November 6: 7:00–8:30 PM
Saturday, September 26: 9:30 AM–5:00 PM
Sunday, September 27: 9:30 AM–3:30 PM

GENERAL INFORMATION

Registration: Please register for your ticket on Eventbrite before the start of the event. There will be no registration onsite at the door. If you are unable to register online or have any questions, please contact [email protected]

In-Person Health and Safety: This retreat is planned to have a limited number of attendees. All health guidelines in place at the time of the retreat for group gatherings will be followed and communicated to attendees. Click for BCIMS' COVID Safety webpage. We encourage attendees to be fully vaccinated including booster vaccinations. Please do not attend if you have any symptoms of a fever, cough or a cold, or have had recent contact with anyone with COVID.

A mask optional event: This is a mask optional gathering. We will have masks on site for those who prefer to remain masked. We may change our masking policy should community health conditions shift. We shall communicate any changes on this page and with registrants directly.

Fees: A sliding scale of fees is offered. Please choose the highest rate you can comfortably offer:

Supported Ticket $75 CAD: The supported rate covers about 60% of what is needed for retreat costs and to run our organization. To balance our budget and wisely manage our resources, donations must supplement registration income.
Sustaining Ticket $125 CAD: The sustaining rate represents the actual cost to BCIMS to operate our programs.
Generosity Ticket $175 CAD: The generosity rate covers the cost of the program and also provides funds to subsidize the reduced fees paid by others who have more challenging financial circumstances. Tax Receipts: Please note that we are unable to offer tax receipts for folks who purchase the Generosity Ticket. If you are interested in receiving a tax receipt, we recommend you purchase a Sustaining Ticket and offer a donation of any amount to BCIMS via our page.
Friday Night Only Ticket $40 CAD: We offer a small number of tickets for folks only able to join for the Friday evening portion.
Financial Assistance: No one is turned away for lack of funds. If you require additional financial assistance to attend this retreat please contact [email protected].

Please note that your registration fee goes toward retreat costs and BC Insight Meditation Society organizational expenses which allow us to continue offering retreats such as this one. Financial support for the teacher is offered separately.

Teacher Dana: In the Buddhist tradition, teachings are given freely because they are considered priceless; in the Buddhist tradition we also practice dana, or generosity, by making monetary offerings to the teachers. Dana is not payment for goods or services rendered; it is given from the heart. Your generosity is a gift that supports not just the teachers, but also the Sangha, the larger Dharma community, and your own practice. More info on Dana is shared below.

Refund/Ticket Transfer Policy: You may request a full refund up to 24 hours before the start of retreat. To cancel your ticket, log on to Eventbrite with your email address. Go to your tickets for this event and click on "Request a Refund". Cancellations within 24 hours of the start of retreat will not receive a refund.

Ridesharing: The information collected during registration regarding ridesharing will be shared by email to all interested attendees 7 days prior to the retreat. Attendees are then responsible for connecting directly with each other to make any ridesharing arrangements.

Accessibility: Please visit this outlining accessibility to the Asian Library, located in the Asian Centre.

Before you go: Information about preparing for the retreat, including what to bring, and safety reminders, are sent to attendees a few days before the start of the retreat. You may also to view the information and reminders.

DANA

Dana may be offered to Nikki by E-transfer, Paypal, and Venmo. The option of onsite cash donations is NOT available for this retreat. More info will be shared with registrants on retreat.

TEACHER BIO

Dr. Nikki Mirghafori is an Artificial Intelligence scientist and an internationally known Buddhist teacher. She serves as a Stewarding Teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, where she is also on the Board of Directors, and is also a Teacher at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. She teaches with clarity and warmth on topics ranging from mindful leadership to cultivating kindness, with a rare expertise on mindfulness of death. Dr. Mirghafori is widely published in AI, has led international collaborations as a Berkeley academic, and has advised technology startups. She is of Persian heritage, an advocate for wisdom and compassion in daily life, as well as ethical AI in our zeitgeist.

DETAILED SCHEDULE

Like all phenomena, the schedule is subject to change. All times listed are Pacific Standard.

Coming soon!

With heartfelt gratitude, BCIMS acknowledges we are based in what is now known as Vancouver, BC, the beautiful, traditional, and unceded lands of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, who live on and have stewarded this land for thousands of years.