Welcome to the Melbourne Insight Meditation Circle

 

Thank you for your interest in joining the Insight Circle. The Insight Circle was established in early 2026 following the second Dharma Teacher Training retreat in NSW. Many of us were keen to support one another and nurture our spiritual friendships. Senior Insight Meditation Australia teachers, Alan Bassal and Subhana Barzaghi encouraged us to follow in the footsteps of a sangha they formed 15 years ago. The Insight Circle is an invite-only monthly sangha dinner, sit, and inquiry for those experienced in meditation and Dharma, currently hosted at Marion and Richard's home in Glen Iris.

​

Membership & Attendance

We prefer new participants to have sat at least one retreat and have an established meditation practice.

• Invitations: We grow through personal invitations.

• Capacity: Gatherings are limited to 20 people.

• RSVP: Please RSVP via our Whatsapp group so we can prepare the space and coordinate the evening.

​

What to Bring & Expect

Members are invited to bring a vegetarian dish to share. You are also welcome to skip dinner and arrive at 7:00 pm for the meditation. We provide some Zafu cushions, and couch seating is also available. The Insight Circle meets monthly on Saturday evenings.

​

Our Vision

At the heart of the Insight Circle is the practice of Kalyana-mittata, or spiritual friendship. Often described by the Buddha as the "whole of the holy life," this is the cultivation of noble friendships that support, mirror, and inspire our path toward wisdom. Unlike a casual social connection, a spiritual friend is a steady presence who encourages our commitment to the Dharma and helps us navigate our lives with greater ethics and clarity. By gathering to share a meal, sit in silence, and engage in inquiry, we create a living system of collective care—a space where we can lean into each other's practice and nurture the "wise action" needed to flourish in our work, communities and the wider world. 

​

Gathering Format

• 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Dinner and conversation (please bring a vegetarian plate).

• 7:00 pm – 7:15 pm: Tidy up and dishwashing.

• 7:15 pm – 8:00 pm: Silent meditation (DTT may offer gentle guidance to settle group).

• 8:00 pm – 8:15 pm: Practice check-in (maximum 5 minutes per person).

• 8:15 pm – 9:00 pm: Discussion on an emerging theme.

• 9:00 pm: Tea, fruit, and sweets.

 

How to Join

To help us track numbers, please RSVP on the Whatsapp group or email us. If you're accepted into the group you'll receive the address and the Whatsapp link. Please join the private WhatsApp thread as you'll get updates on the gatherings, who is coming and see what food people are bringing. There is no expectation you will attend every circle, especially if you live in regional Victoria or interstate. We would love to have a regular group that attends and a place for our far away friends to land when they are in town!

​

The dates for the 2026 insight circles are set for 2026:

June 20th

July 4th

August 1st

September 12th

October 10th

November 7th

December 5th​

​

Current contacts and coordinators for the Insight Circle are:

​

Marion Miller 0423703960 | marionmillerart@gmail.com

Richard Harrison 0438673668 | richocles@gmail.com​

Anne Love 0419517377 | annelove95@gmail.com 

​

​

If you would like to join Insight Circle please fill out the form below.