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Insight Meditation (West) · Retreat centre
Barre, Massachusetts, United States · Also called IMS Forest Refuge, Insight Meditation Society – Forest Refuge
The Forest Refuge is the Insight Meditation Society's centre for long-term personal retreats, at its own site on Lockwood Road in Barre, hosting retreatants since 2003. Experienced meditators practise self-directed retreats of seven nights to a year or more, with teacher guidance.
Choose a retreat on the centre's own website and register there. IMS takes a deposit on registration and offers sliding-scale rates and scholarships.
The Western insight meditation centres (IMS, Spirit Rock, Gaia House): lay teachers, roots in Mahasi, U Ba Khin and Thai Forest, and fees plus dāna. Read about Insight Meditation (West).
Details checked 24 Sept 2026. Course dates, rules and contacts change: confirm on the centre’s own site.
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