New York Insight Sacred Earth Sangha Presents
In-Person: From Skyline to Soil – A Day of Nature Meditation and Ecology Exploration at Governors Island
with Maho Kawachi and Lin Wang Gordon
Saturday, September 6th, 2025 | 9:30am to 3:00pm
Location: Governors Island, Manhattan, NY
Join us for a joyful day of practice, exploration, connecting, and sharing on the splendid grounds of Governors Island. Just minutes from Manhattan by ferry, Governors Island is one of New York City’s most treasured green spaces—a vibrant sanctuary crisscrossed with walking paths and expansive lawns, offering breathtaking views of the FiDi skyline and upper harbor.
It is home to many environmental restoration projects such as the Teaching Urban Farm, Earth Matters, Billion Oyster Project and more, inviting opportunities to explore and contemplate our relationship as urban dwellers to the natural world.
During our time together, we’ll enjoy guided walking, standing, sitting meditation, gentle movement, and inquiries. Along the way, we’ll also learn about the rich history of Governors Island, and tour the Urban Farm —a key site of ecological stewardship on the island. Discover how composting works on a city scale, explore the role of healthy soil in climate resilience, and deepen your understanding of our interdependence with the natural world.
Bring your curiosity and open heart. This event will take place in light rain or shine.
- Meetup Location: Governors Island Ferry ticket office near Battery Park, Manhattan
- Meetup Time: 9:30 AM
- Lunch: You can bring your own or buy from the concessions onsite.
- Note: All ferries before noon are free.
Space is limited to 30 participants.
Registration:
Please register below. (Please note that the registration price includes a base level of teacher support, and you will have the opportunity to donate more after the program.)
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Teacher(s)
Maho Kawachi
Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Maho Kawachi first encountered meditation and Buddhism in downtown Manhattan in 2000. She became an avid practitioner in 2008 and has over a decade of experience, practice, training, and certification credentials including completion of the Interdependence Project Teachers Training, Mindful Meditation Teachers Certified Program, and Mindful Mentor Training. She has trained with and under many influential teachers, including Ethan Nichtern, Jack Kornfield, and Tara Brach. She is in the process of becoming a certified teacher for Awake in the Wild under Mark Coleman’s guidance and is looking forward to facilitating outdoor meditation.
Photo © Victoria Lin
Lin Wang Gordon
Lin has dedicated over a decade to studying insight meditation (Vipassana) and has recently deepened her practice through the Tibetan Dzogchen traditions. Through her meditation journey, she discovers the transformative power of Buddhist philosophy and practices to help live a life of flow, joy, wonder, and resilience.
She graduated from Mark Coleman’s Awake in the Wild Nature Meditation Teacher Training in 2017 and is currently enrolled in the Community Dharma Leaders Program (CDL7) at the Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Lin has led nature meditation and ecodharma programs, and through New York Insight Meditation Center, co-founded the Sacred Earth Sangha, Midlife Sangha, and Asian Diaspora Sangha. She hopes to guide others in meditation to foster inner transformation and cultivate a deeper sense of purpose and belonging in everyday life.
Lin served on the Board of the New York Insight Meditation Center and the Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center. linwanggordon.com