What we’re about
The Orlando Insight Meditation Group (OIMG) is a non-profit corporation formed in 1997 to support the practice of insight (vipassana) meditation in the Orlando area.
Our goal is to provide initial and ongoing support for the practice of contemporary forms of Buddhist meditation, informed by current scientific and psychological research. We offer introductory meditation courses, ongoing study groups, and retreats that range from one day to weekend and one week in duration.
Although what we call Buddhism today was initiated 25 centuries ago, it is the responsibility of each generation to carefully study the traditions and apply them to current life challenges. This period on the planet is perhaps subject to the most radical cultural and environmental challenges in human history. Human culture bears a large responsibility for these challenges and humanity will either rise to the challenge or be significantly affected by technological and environmental stress.
Contemporary Buddhism can be understood in the West as an imported Eastern religion and as a mental and behavioral discipline that has a profoundly beneficial effect on individuals and the culture as a whole. The approach of OIMG is more on cultivating mental and behavioral discipline with spiritual manifestations that don’t involve the rituals of religious practice. The importance of cultivating personal integrity, kindness, compassion and generosity is a core aspiration of our organization. It is hoped that the fulfillment of this aspiration can be realized through a process of living in ways that are less self-absorbed and more actively involved in cultivating a lifestyle that sustains the environment, both culturally and environmentally in beneficial ways.
Please learn more on our website.
Upcoming events (2)
See all- Wednesday Night Silent Meditation Practice + Dharma Talk with LiliLink visible for attendees
Our sangha uses meditation practice and group discussion combined with study groups and individual studies to weave spiritual practice and compassionate action into daily life.
- A weekly Group meets Wednesday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. After 45 minutes of meditation, various aspects of Buddhist teachings are discussed and tangible takeaways provided. The meetings are held both in-person and via zoom as a hybrid event.
Mindfulness Based Pain Management
The topic of the upcoming talk is "Mindfulness based pain management". We will explore how our daily mindfulness practice can help us view chronic and/ or acute pain as our path to wake up rather than an obstacle to overcome. The talk will be presented by Lili and she will be sharing how her own mindfulness practice has been a tremendous resource in managing migraines and sciatica, as well as experiencing the discomfort of her second pregnancy and birth from a different perspective. We hope you will be able to join and wish you well.This is open to all levels of experience including beginners who are welcome.
In-person location: In the meditation hall behind Peter Carlson’s house.
1818 Carrigan Ave., Winter Park FL 32789Zoom information:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 847 1472 3882
Passcode: 620329Peter Carlson has practiced contemporary Mindfulness meditation since his first retreat at the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts in 1982.
He has sat over 50 retreats since then, lasting from 3 days to 3 months in duration and has attended retreats led by many different teachers, including Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, Larry Rosenberg, Carol Wilson, Marcia Rose, Arinna Weisman, Bhante Gunaratana, S. N. Goenka, Matt Flickstein, and, most recently, Shaila Catherine.He has taught meditation classes and retreats in the Orlando area since 1992. From his perspective as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, the concepts and practices we call Buddhism are taught by Peter as a profoundly liberating psychology that focuses on encouraging each student to understand Buddhist Psychology in depth, meditate regularly and diligently, and thoroughly integrate the liberating and spiritual practices of Buddhism into one’s life in the world.
Prior to his commitment to Buddhism he was a professional artist and he brings an orientation towards craftsmanship to his teaching style. Training the mind is not mysterious; rather it is a set of skills that directly affect how we interpret what is happening in the world and is organized around the belief that living an ethical life offers beauty worth cultivating. He believes in the value of understanding the liberating concepts that Buddhism offers, but that value can only manifest through direct awareness and personal discipline.
- How to Change Your Mind-a One Day Retreat in Apopka on May 10thOneness Yoga Retreat Center, Apopka, FL
A basic Buddhist concept acknowledges that the mind is in a constant flow state, changing from moment to moment. This day of practice provides support for training the mind to more skillfully manage how these changes occur, interrupting unwholesome self-creating processes and building new processes that are more wholesome, through practicing mindfulness of breathing meditation. The retreat is suitable for beginning as well as more practiced meditation students.
Please bring your own lunch. There is a refrigerator and microwave on-site. A limited number of meditation cushions will be available; it is recommended that if you have your own, please bring it. There will also be chairs available.
The retreat will be led by Peter Carlson who has been teaching meditation for over 30 years. For more information about Peter, click here.
When: Saturday, May 10th, 2025 9:00am – 5:00pm
Where: Oneness Yoga Retreat Center located at 218 W. Lewis Road, Apopka, FL (not far from Kelly Park)Fee: $60 to the Orlando Insight Meditation Group; the fee will be split evenly between OIMG and the retreat center. (NOTE: The teacher takes no fee. Those attending will have the opportunity to make a voluntary contribution to him at the end of the day to express gratitude for the teaching and what was learned.) Register and Pay here please: https://orlandoinsightmeditation.org/retreats/
For more information call 407 339-5444 or email peter@orlandoinsightmeditation.org
