The Skillful Meditation Project

The Skillful Meditation Project was founded as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization in 1996 in Los Angeles. We offer meditation retreats, workshops, and classes in Southern California, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts and Vermont, as well as a yearly set of retreats and events in Australia. All of our events are run on a donation basis. Our purpose is to promote the study, instruction and practice of meditation in accordance with the tradition of Early Buddhism through a meditative approach developed by Jason Siff called Recollective Awareness.

Our Approach to Meditation

Translated from the Pali word "anupassana," Recollective Awareness is a way to cultivate greater knowledge of one's inner world. It is a gentle and accepting approach to meditation, which allows one's meditative experience to unfold naturally. Meditators sit having been given only minimal instruction or, if they are experienced in meditation, sitting as they have in their previous practice. Working in small groups, one meditator will report her or his sitting to a teacher, describing what actually happened, trying to use her or his own language, using words which are descriptive rather than conceptual. The teacher will then engage in a dialogue with the student, asking questions about the sitting, helping the student to explore more deeply into her or his experience, creating more awareness of what happens in meditation. Other meditators listen without commenting, learning from the experiences described and the dialogue between student and teacher.

Board of Directors

• Linda Modaro, President
• Mary Renard, Treasurer
• Dan Nussbaum, Secretary
• Mary Webster
• Jacquelin Siff
• Terry Thompson

Contact Us

Our mailing address:

Skillful Meditation Project
P.O. Box 1173
Idyllwild, CA 92549