Kara has been practicing meditation and studying Buddhism since 1993. She has been leading Vipassana meditation since 1996, originally with women in recovery settings. Kara practices the fifth precept of full renunciation from intoxicants and has twenty-five years in recovery. In 2013 she helped start Buddhist recovery groups in Santa Cruz and had been a foundational member and mentor for the community. Kara attends multiple silent Vipassana retreats each year, has been empowered to teach by guiding teacher Bob Stahl, and is currently in the Dharmacharya teacher training with Venerable Pannavati. Kara teaches weekly meditation groups and daylong retreats at Insight Santa Cruz and online. She enjoys tea, cemeteries, new wave, jigsaw puzzles, and is completing a master’s degree in Social Work.
Previous Teachings
Watch Your Tone: Awareness of Feeling Tones
With any experience, there is a felt sense that arises within us before the onslaught of stories and emotions. It often happens so quickly that we are unaware of it. These feeling tones set in motion the habitual reactions of our thoughts, emotions, ...
Generosity: Transforming the Heart
As we embark into a new year, we will explore the importance of cultivating generosity (d?na) and gratitude (kataññuta) and turning our intentions toward the interrelationship of the two. The practice of generosity is at the foundation ...
All Academy Teachers
- Acharya Passatininna (Christie Bates)
- Angyu Devin Ashwood
- Carol Cano
- Caroline Brazier
- Caverly Morgan
- Dave Smith
- Eddie LeShure
- Fresh “Lev” White
- Gary Sanders
- Gaylon Ferguson
- George Johns
- Joan Tollifson
- Kaira Jewel Lingo
- Kate Johnston
- Kevin Griffin
- Laura Burges
- Loch Kelly
- Martine Batchelor
- Mary Stancavage
- Myokei Caine-Barrett
- Pablo Das
- Rachel Lewis
- Ralph Steele
- Ruth King
- Silasiri
- Steven Tierney, Ed.D.
- Thomas Tran
- Tuere Sala
- Vanessa Wang
- Ven Pannavati Bhikkhuni
- Ven. Dr. Pannavati
- Vimalasara Mason-John
- Vince Cullen
- Walt Opie