Retreats
Temple Buddhist Center is committed to providing meaningful meditation opportunities for everyone.
We offer daylong hybrid retreats on a quarterly basis, and one or two residential retreats per year.
Our next retreat will be a daylong on June 13th, followed by our Summer Retreat, June 29-July 2nd at the Marillac Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
Virtual and In-Person attendance is always available.
TBC Daylong Retreat: Samma Vacca: Wise Speech as Deep Practice
In-Person and Virtual Options are available!
Retreat will be held downstairs in Unity Hall at TBC
In Buddhism, Sammā Vācā (“Right Speech” or “Wise Speech”) is the practice of speaking truthfully, kindly, and responsibly. It means avoiding lies, harmful gossip, cruel words, and pointless speech, while using language that promotes understanding, compassion, and harmony. In today's world, we would also incorporate email, texting and most importantly listening. Join us for a daylong retreat experience and dharma talk on the third step of the Noble Eightfold Path, Wise Speech.
The daylong retreat is an excellent way to deepen one's practice and is provided for the community to accommodate busy family lives. There will be sitting, walking, and movement meditations as well as conferences and a dharma talk. Participants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch, wear comfortable clothing and bring a reusable drinking cup. Whether you have been meditating for years or weeks, we hope you will join us as we take a deeper dive into the practice together.
Daylong Retreat Schedule:
9:00 am Retreat Orientation (Zoom protocols, intros, expectations)
9:30 am Instruction & Sit
10:00 am walk/conference
10:30 am Sit
11:00 pm walk/conference
11:30 pm sit
12:00 pm lunch (bring sack or eat nearby)
1:15 pm Dharma talk & Q and A
2:30 pm walk/conference
3:00 pm Sit
3:30 pm Sharing Circle
4:00 Heart Practice and end.
Summer Retreat: From Ending to Emergence: Awakening through Transition
June 29th - July 2nd, 2026 with Robert Brumet and Victor J. Dougherty
This retreat on navigating life’s changes with greater awareness, trust, and inner peace will explore how periods of uncertainty, loss, and transformation can become opportunities for awakening and renewal. Through reflection, discussion, silence, and contemplative practices, participants will be invited to let go of old identities, embrace the wisdom of the “in-between,” and discover deeper meaning and purpose during times of transition. This retreat offers a supportive space to reconnect with the authentic self and open to new beginnings.
Join Temple Buddhist Center, on the beautiful campus of the Marillac Retreat Center, as we dive deeply into the nature of mind and discover the truth of how transitions in our life provide unique opportunities for awakening.
This three-day retreat will be led by Robert Brumet, Victor J. Dougherty with additional support from Carol Murray. The retreat offers Residential, Commuter, and Virtual options and begins at 3pm on Monday, June 29th and ends on Thursday, July 2nd at 5pm. Those registering as a Benefactor will receive a free copy of Robert's book "Finding Yourself in Transition: Using Life's Changes for Spiritual Awakening."
Practice format will be similar to residential retreats:
alternate periods of sitting and walking, instruction,
conferences, yoga, contemplative movement, (Tai Chi Chih)
Dharma talks, and Heart Practices.
Special morning practices or evening chants are sometimes offered.
About our retreat leaders:
Robert Brumet. He has been teaching Insight Meditation since 1990. Robert received Community Dharma Leader certification from Spirit Rock Meditation Center in 2000. He is also a Spiritual Director, having received certification from Mt. St. Scholastica College in 2013.
Victor J. Dougherty. Leading groups in the KC area in mindfulness and meditation, the director of the Temple Buddhist Center and has been practicing for over 17 years.
Insight Meditation is a practice that aims to free the mind from the distortions of self-centeredness, negativity, and confusion. Through the intensive practice of moment-to-moment investigation of the body-mind process the mind gradually sees more clearly into the nature of itself. Such clear seeing leads to freedom from the attachments and misconceptions that cause our suffering and allows us to open to a path of wisdom and compassion.
There is value in consistent, daily meditation.
Please join us for some of these weekly mindfulness and meditation events. TBC hosts opportunities daily, weekly and monthly to meditate together in community with a leader/teacher to guide and support you.
Most of our classes, retreats, and events have an online option via either Livestream, Facebook Live, or Zoom, in addition to in-person. No matter how you choose to join us, you will feel included and welcome.
Go to our Classes & Event page to get more details and find out how to connect.
TBC Sunday Service at 9am (livestreamed and in-person) and 10:30am (in-person)
All levels of practice are invited to join us each Wednesday afternoon for meditation and discussion around the current book we are reading. Join anytime! (on Zoom)
Practicing in the tradition of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, this group focuses on mindfulness, meditation and teachings from around the world and from some of todays most influential spiritual leaders. (on Zoom)
Insight Meditation: Thursday Evening Sangha with Robert Brumet @ 7pm (Zoom)
Click above for a free SoundCloud download of flute meditation by Richelle Basgall, one of our TBC musicians.