bell hooks’ all about love Supported by the 4 Brahma Viharas
Saturday, October 24th 2026
HYBRID (if we can get at least 30 online registrations)
In-person at EBMC
With Rev. Liên Shutt
EBMC is fragrance-free, wheelchair-accessible. Masks are strongly encouraged.
We all want love.
And, having and holding love and loving feelings can be challenging. Let’s explore how love can be when expressed in conjunction with the qualities of the Four Divine States of Equanimity, Kindness, Compassion, and Inclusive Joy.
While grounded in these teachings and related meditations, the course will be framed by short readings from bell hook’s All About Love: New Visions. This, combined with inter-active exercises, offers a blend of fierce feminist social criticism, asking us to transform our challenges into strength, manifesting the love and caring we want in our lives.
A great workshop to get ready for the holidays season!
NOTE: This program will be offered in-person AND we will offer it online if we can get at least 30 online registrations!
Cost
The teachings are regarded as priceless. So they are offered without a fee. You are invited to support the teachings and our efforts by contributing voluntary donations (the practice of “Dana”) for the expenses of the meditation center and the support of the teachers.
The ticket prices are listed as different tiers with suggested donations based on income ranges. For those who wish to give more, you may choose an “add-on” to your ticket. For those unable to give, there is an option for that.
Note that all financial gifts received here go directly to EBMC, and we invite you to give separately to our teachers, using the information below.
Other ways to give:
To make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center, you may do so at bit.ly/ebmc-give 100% of our programming on a sliding scale and no one will ever be turned away for lack of funds.
Please also consider giving a financial gift to our teacher as well, who do not receive a salary for their work, and give their teachings freely to all.
Venmo: @SuddenLeap-A2Z
PayPal: SuddenLeap.A2Z@gmail.com
About the Teacher
REV. LIÊN SHUTT (she/they) is a priest lineage holder in the Shunryu Suzuki tradition. Born to a Buddhist family in Vietnam, she received her meditation training in the Insight and Soto Zen traditions in the United States, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. A founding member of the Buddhists of Color in 1998, she currently is the guiding teacher of Access to Zen, an inclusive, anti-oppression sangha and nonprofit in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her book, Home is Here: Practicing Antiracism with the Engaged Eightfold Path, was published by North Atlantic Books in 2023. She lives in Oakland on Ohlone land, with her partner, exploring waterways and forests as often as they can. Visit AccessToZen.org for ways to connect.