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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250713T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250713T170000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250609T234225Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250609T234225Z
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SUMMARY:HYBRID DAYLONG: Write Action: Meditation & Writing for People of Color
DESCRIPTION:HYBRID DAYLONG: Write Action: Meditation & Writing for People of Color \nSunday\, July 13th \n10AM – 5PM PT (Time Zone Converter) \nWith Melvin Escobar and Mushim Ikeda \nOpen to those who identify as BIPOC and/or mixed race \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nDo you identify as BIPOC and/or mixed race and want to write with fellow EBMC sangha members? Whether you’re an experienced writer or a novice attempting to put together your first poem or story\, you are invited to this daylong full of fun activities that will get your creativity flowing. \nThe day will include basic meditation instruction\, writing periods prompted by embodied action methods\, time for free-writing\, and a grand finale where we’ll have an open-mic for those who wish to share brief samples of their work. \nOption for follow-up peer-led writing groups to emerge. \nLet’s practice Write Action together! \n  \nPublic Transportation/Parking: \n– We strongly encourage public transportation/biking/walking since parking in the neighborhood is limited. \n– EBMC is 4-5 blocks from 19th Street Bart (about a 7 minute walk). \n– EBMC has bike parking inside the center. \n– Meter parking is free on Sunday\, and enforced Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm. \n– There are also garages on Harrison at 15th and on Harrison between 17th and 19th. If you are planning to drive\, please allow extra time for parking. \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \nNote that all financial gifts received here go directly to EBMC\, and we invite you to give separately to our teachers\, using the information below. \nOther ways to give: \nTo make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center\, you may do so via Paypal: paypal.me/eastbaymeditation or our website: eastbaymeditation.org/dana 100% of our programming is sliding scale and no one will ever be turned away for lack of funds. \nPlease also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well\, who do not receive a salary for their work\, and give their teachings freely to all. \n~ For Melvin: \nVenmo – @Melvin-Escobar \nPayPal – melvin@melvinescobar.com \n~ For Mushim: \nVenmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda   [4234 last 4 digits of my mobile phone] \nPayPal:  info@mushimikeda.com \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nUniversal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible… \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n\n \nTeachers \n \nMelvin Escobar has walked the path of service for much of his life\, drawing on his experiences as a queer man of color born and raised in Los Angeles\, CA. He loves to read poetry and fiction\, especially by BIPOC writers. His latest project is writing (mostly unsent) letters to old friends. Some of Melvin’s published writing can be found in Lion’s Roar magazine. \n \nMushim has published poetry\, Buddhist essays in Lion’s Roar\, Buddhadharma\, and Tricycle\, and autobiographical fiction widely under the names “Patricia Y. Ikeda” and “Mushim Ikeda-Nash.” A core teacher at EBMC\, she has taught meditation retreats for people of color and social justice activists nationally. Mushim is the first recipient of the Ragdale Foundation’s Alice Hayes Writing Fellowship supporting work on a book-length manuscript\, Elegy with Blue Shirt\, Tie & Gun. Her autobiographical fiction piece\, “The Vortex\,” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. See www.mushimikeda.com
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-daylong-write-action-meditation-writing-for-people-of-color/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250715T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250715T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250918T043317Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T043317Z
UID:10007438-1752606000-1752611400@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Alphabet Sangha
DESCRIPTION:A meditation group for the Lesbian\, Gay\, Bisexual\, Transgender\, Queer\, Intersex\, Same-Gender Loving\, and Two-Spirit communities. Because that’s such a mouthful\, we call ourselves the Alphabet Sangha. \nTuesdays\n7:00 – 8:30 pm \nHYBRID on First and Third Tuesdays of the month! Meet at EBMC or online. \nPlease email: alphabetsangha at eastbaymeditation dot org to request Zoom link to join online.  \nFor more information\, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-alphabet-sangha-2-2022-12-27-2/2025-07-15/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250805T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250805T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20210710T180923Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250313T193346Z
UID:10007381-1754420400-1754425800@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Alphabet Sangha
DESCRIPTION:A meditation group for the Lesbian\, Gay\, Bisexual\, Transgender\, Queer\, Intersex\, Same-Gender Loving\, and Two-Spirit communities. Because that’s such a mouthful\, we call ourselves the Alphabet Sangha. \nTuesdays\n7:00 – 8:30 pm \nHYBRID on First and Third Tuesdays of the month! Meet at EBMC or online. \nPlease email: alphabetsangha at eastbaymeditation dot org to request Zoom link to join online.  \nFor more information\, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-alphabet-sangha-2-2022-12-27/2025-08-05/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250806T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250806T133500
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20231031T215537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250716T051937Z
UID:10009642-1754481600-1754487300@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Midday Sangha
DESCRIPTION:Join our peer-led multicultural sangha for silent meditation practice and community building. \nEvery Wednesday\n12:00 – 12:45pm PST   Silent sitting\, standing or lying down meditation with optional walking meditation. \n12:55 – 1:35pm PST   Facilitated conversation about our practice and being the dharma in the world \nHYBRID EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY\, ONLINE FOR OTHER MEETINGS (unless otherwise noted) \nMidday Sangha Coordinating Committee:\nemiko yoshikami\, Jennie Powe Runde\, Sakshi Uomoto\, Elese Lebsack and Robert Gavino \nemail middaysangha at eastbaymeditation dot org for zoom link and password 
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-midday-sangha-2024-10-23/2025-08-06/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250810T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250810T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250718T211754Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250723T222455Z
UID:10010727-1754820000-1754834400@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Black Womxn/Women and Aging: Health\, Healing\, Wholeness and Harmony 1 - The Journey
DESCRIPTION:HYBRID: Black Womxn/Women and Aging: Health\, Healing\, Wholeness and Harmony 1 – The Journey \nSunday\, August 10th \n10AM – 2PM PT (Time Zone Converter) \nWith Arisika Razak\, Rosetta Saunders\, Vimalasara (Valerie) Mason-John\, and Afefe Oke’ \nOpen to self-identified womxn/women\, 55 years and older who are members of the Afrikan Diaspora\, including biracial\, mixed heritage\, and white adopted \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nCalling all Black womxn/women\, 55 years and older. It’s time to celebrate our precious body-minds\, and honor the wisdom that we’ve harvested over the decades. We’re coming together to share our stories\, honor our struggles\, and claim ourselves as strong\, whole\, vulnerable and resilient. We’ll use music\, the breath\, writing\, drumming\, meditation\, and gentle\, mindful movement\, to evoke our connections to nature\, community\, and Spirit – and we’ll culminate in a celebration of Black Womxn Elders. \nBring an object for the altar that reflects your connection to this topic as well as something that reflects ancestral healing lineages. We’ll break bread together\, please bring food to share (in-person) and show (online). \n  \nRegister for Part Two – Black Womxn/Women and Aging: Health\, Healing\, Wholeness and Harmony II: Nurturing here. \n  \nPublic Transportation/Parking: \n– We strongly encourage public transportation/biking/walking since parking in the neighborhood is limited. \n– EBMC is 4-5 blocks from 19th Street Bart (about a 7 minute walk). \n– EBMC has bike parking inside the center. \n– Meter parking is free on Sunday\, and enforced Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm. \n– There are also garages on Harrison at 15th and on Harrison between 17th and 19th. If you are planning to drive\, please allow extra time for parking. \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \nNote that all financial gifts received here go directly to EBMC\, and we invite you to give separately to our teachers\, using the information below. \nOther ways to give: \nTo make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center\, you may do so via Paypal: paypal.me/eastbaymeditation or our website: eastbaymeditation.org/dana 100% of our programming is sliding scale and no one will ever be turned away for lack of funds. \n  \nPlease also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well\, who do not receive a salary for their work\, and give their teachings freely to all. \nAll dana will go to Rosetta Saunders and will be equally divided among the teachers: \nCashApp: $RosettaSaunders \nVenmo: @Rosetta-Saunders \nPayPal: @rosettasaunders1 \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nUniversal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible… \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \n\n\n\n\nTeachers\n \nArisika Razak\, MPH\, EBMC Core teacher\, is the former Chair of the Women’s Spirituality Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Previously a nurse-midwife\, her teachings incorporate diverse spiritual traditions\, women’s health and healing\, multicultural feminisms\, queer theory\, and diversity theory. She is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Dedicated Practitioner Program\, the Mindfulness Teacher Certification Program\, and the Embodied Social Justice Certificate Program. Arisika has led national and international healing workshops and ritual celebrations for women as well as embodied spiritual workshops for people of all genders for over forty years. She has contributed to many books and publications and continues to present at online and in-person conferences on the subjects of African wisdom traditions\, Buddhism and womanism\, and embodied spiritual traditions. She has co-facilitated workshops with Marlene Jones at Spirit Rock Meditation Center\, and regularly leads workshops at EBMC. \n \nRosetta Saunders is a retired educator and historian with over 20 years teaching “People of Colors History” in the United States. Currently a core facilitator for Deep Time Liberation\, Ancestral Healing retreats\, Rosetta’s passion for West African and Afro-Cuban drumming has primarily been a source for individual and collective healing. She aligns herself with her ancestral lineage through Earth based practices. She was introduced to the Buddha/Dharma in 2002 and completed a two-year Dharmacharya program with Venerable Pannavati and Pannadipa receiving Confirmation of Ordination and recently completed the Braided Wisdom Leadership training program and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction certification program. \n \nVimalasara (Valerie) Mason-John is the author of the new revised edition of Detox Your Heart – Meditations For Emotional Trauma published by Wisdom Books in 2017. They are co/author of the award-winning book Eight Step Recovery – Using The Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction. They are also a TEDx speaker and are the author and editor of 11 books including their award-winning novel Borrowed Body. They are the curator of Teachings in Uncertain Times\, an online retreat by Teachers of Color for Tricycle Magazine February 2017. A founding facilitator of Dr Gabor Mate’s Compassionate Inquiry\, they are a leading African Canadian voice in the field of Mindfulness for Emotional Trauma and Addiction. Vimalasara is a senior teacher in the Triratna Buddhist Community. And one of the founders of Freedom Together\, a mindfulness accredited course by the Global Majority for the Global Majority. \n \nGinitta Glass\, widely known as Afefe Oke’\, has called the Bay Area home for over 30 years. In 2000\, she retired from The City and County of San Francisco as the only Black female electrician in the Traffic Signal Shop with 22 years of service. A dedicated spiritual leader\, she has served as a priest in the Yoruba Tradition for 23 years. Her commitment to compassionate care is evident in her 30 years of training in Hospice and palliative care which has included a two year training from Zen Hospice in San Francisco CA. Currently\, Afefe Oke’ has been a volunteer for Humane Prison Hospice for two years\, where she facilitates palliative care peer support training for incarcerated individuals. As a graduate of EBMC’s 2023 STL program\, she has shared Dharma wisdom at EBMC’s Maha and BIPOC sangha gatherings. And she was also invited to give a Day Long offering at Green Gulch Farm in 2023. She has recently been inspired to initiate a Black Doula Collective and has provided death and dying support for the past 20 years. For over two decades\, Afefe Oke’ has traveled extensively\, deepening her meditation practice and gathering insights she generously shares. At 67 years old\, she is a proud grandmother to two amazing beings and a loving mama to two dogs and one cat. A percussionist for over 40 years\, Afefe Oke’ incorporates gospel music\, chanting\, and various instruments into ceremonial settings\, enriching her diverse contributions to her community. \nAfefe Oke’ is a Yoruba name which translates to “the wind that comes from the mountains”.
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-black-womxn-and-aging-health-healing-wholeness-and-harmony-1-the-journey/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250816T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250816T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250717T220127Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T170707Z
UID:10010725-1755338400-1755360000@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: The Dharma of Janet Jackson
DESCRIPTION:HYBRID: The Dharma of Janet Jackson \nSaturday\, August 16th \n10AM – 4PM PT (Time Zone Converter) \nWith Patrick Brown \nOpen to all \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nThis daylong teaching is a practice in finding and appreciating the dharma all around us. As a prolific entertainer\, Janet Jackson has provided generations with music to spark joy\, reflect on life and love\, and commit to a better way of life. Using selections of her music and biography\, we’ll explore the sacred and spiritual teachings referenced and embodied in her music. \nOffering instruction for posture supportive to meditation and grounding practice. Presentation of core concepts and how they are referenced in the music. Opportunities to connect in small and large groups for movement\, appreciation\, interpretation\, and questions. Celebrating together to notice the connection of kalianamitta and shared appreciation. \nThere will be a midday break for lunch. \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \nNote that all financial gifts received here go directly to EBMC\, and we invite you to give separately to our teachers\, using the information below. \n  \nOther ways to give: \nTo make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center\, you may do so via Paypal: paypal.me/eastbaymeditation or our website: eastbaymeditation.org/dana 100% of our programming is sliding scale and no one will ever be turned away for lack of funds. \n  \nPlease also consider giving a financial gift to our teacher as well\, who does not receive a salary for their work\, and gives their teachings freely to all. \nVenmo: @mistercakes \nPayPal: patrickmbrown75@gmail.com \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nPublic Transportation/Parking: \n– We strongly encourage public transportation/biking/walking since parking in the neighborhood is limited. \n– EBMC is 4-5 blocks from 19th Street Bart (about a 7 minute walk). \n– EBMC has bike parking inside the center. \n– Meter parking is free on Sunday\, and enforced Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm. \n– There are also garages on Harrison at 15th and on Harrison between 17th and 19th. If you are planning to drive\, please allow extra time for parking. \n  \nUniversal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible… \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \n\n\n\n\nTeacher\n \nPatrick Brown is originally from Chicago and a graduate of the EBMC Commit to Dharma Program. He is currently practicing in the Community Dharma Leaders Training Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He is on the Leadership Team of the EBMC People of Color Sangha\, the EBMC Alphabet Sangha and the Alphabet Brothers of Color Deep Refuge Sangha.
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-the-dharma-of-janet-jackson/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250819T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250819T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250918T043317Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T043317Z
UID:10007439-1755630000-1755635400@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Alphabet Sangha
DESCRIPTION:A meditation group for the Lesbian\, Gay\, Bisexual\, Transgender\, Queer\, Intersex\, Same-Gender Loving\, and Two-Spirit communities. Because that’s such a mouthful\, we call ourselves the Alphabet Sangha. \nTuesdays\n7:00 – 8:30 pm \nHYBRID on First and Third Tuesdays of the month! Meet at EBMC or online. \nPlease email: alphabetsangha at eastbaymeditation dot org to request Zoom link to join online.  \nFor more information\, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-alphabet-sangha-2-2022-12-27-2/2025-08-19/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250823T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250823T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250718T214248Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T223452Z
UID:10010726-1755943200-1755957600@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Black Womxn/Women and Aging: Health\, Healing\, Wholeness and Harmony 2 - Nurturing
DESCRIPTION:HYBRID: Black Womxn/Women and Aging: Health\, Healing\, Wholeness and Harmony 2 – Nurturing \nSaturday\, August 23rd \n10AM – 2PM PT (Time Zone Converter) \nWith Arisika Razak\, Rosetta Saunders\, Vimalasara (Valerie) Mason-John\, and Afefe Oke’ \nOpen to self-identified womxn/women\, 45 years and older who are members of the Afrikan Diaspora\, including biracial\, mixed heritage\, and white adopted \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n\n\n  \nNOTE: We’ve changed the age limit for participation to 45 years and up\, instead of 55! \n  \n\n\nHow are we meeting the challenges of aging in our changing and impermanent bodies? What techniques and practices help us sustain physical\, mental\, spiritual and emotional health? How is our sexuality changing – and how are we navigating living alone\, queer elderhood\, relationship issues or caregiving? \nToday\, we’ll share tips and resources for wise elderhood\, including mindful movement practices to support our bodies\, somatic modalities that enhance trauma healing and emotional regulation\, and practical resources for the final stages of life.  Drumming\, meditation and small and large group circles will help us build community; come and share your questions\, your answers\, your experiences\, and your wisdom. \nBring an object for the altar that reflects your connection to this topic as well as something that reflects ancestral healing lineages. We’ll break bread together\, please bring food to share (in-person) and show (online). \n  \nRegister for Part One – Black Womxn/Women and Aging:Health\, Healing\, Wholeness and Harmony 1 – The Journey\, on August 10th\,here. \n  \nPublic Transportation/Parking: \n– We strongly encourage public transportation/biking/walking since parking in the neighborhood is limited. \n– EBMC is 4-5 blocks from 19th Street Bart (about a 7 minute walk). \n– EBMC has bike parking inside the center. \n– Meter parking is free on Sunday\, and enforced Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm. \n– There are also garages on Harrison at 15th and on Harrison between 17th and 19th. If you are planning to drive\, please allow extra time for parking. \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \nNote that all financial gifts received here go directly to EBMC\, and we invite you to give separately to our teachers\, using the information below. \nOther ways to give: \nTo 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. \n  \nPlease also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well\, who do not receive a salary for their work\, and give their teachings freely to all. \nAll dana will go to Rosetta Saunders and will be equally divided among the teachers: \nCashApp: $RosettaSaunders \nVenmo: @Rosetta-Saunders \nPayPal: @rosettasaunders1 \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nUniversal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible… \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \n\n\n\n\nTeachers\n \nArisika Razak\, MPH\, EBMC Core teacher\, is the former Chair of the Women’s Spirituality Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Previously a nurse-midwife\, her teachings incorporate diverse spiritual traditions\, women’s health and healing\, multicultural feminisms\, queer theory\, and diversity theory. She is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Dedicated Practitioner Program\, the Mindfulness Teacher Certification Program\, and the Embodied Social Justice Certificate Program. Arisika has led national and international healing workshops and ritual celebrations for women as well as embodied spiritual workshops for people of all genders for over forty years. She has contributed to many books and publications and continues to present at online and in-person conferences on the subjects of African wisdom traditions\, Buddhism and womanism\, and embodied spiritual traditions. She has co-facilitated workshops with Marlene Jones at Spirit Rock Meditation Center\, and regularly leads workshops at EBMC. \n \nRosetta Saunders is a retired educator and historian with over 20 years teaching “People of Colors History” in the United States. Currently a core facilitator for Deep Time Liberation\, Ancestral Healing retreats\, Rosetta’s passion for West African and Afro-Cuban drumming has primarily been a source for individual and collective healing. She aligns herself with her ancestral lineage through Earth based practices. She was introduced to the Buddha/Dharma in 2002 and completed a two-year Dharmacharya program with Venerable Pannavati and Pannadipa receiving Confirmation of Ordination and recently completed the Braided Wisdom Leadership training program and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction certification program. \n \nVimalasara (Valerie) Mason-John is the author of the new revised edition of Detox Your Heart – Meditations For Emotional Trauma published by Wisdom Books in 2017. They are co/author of the award-winning book Eight Step Recovery – Using The Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction. They are also a TEDx speaker and are the author and editor of 11 books including their award-winning novel Borrowed Body. They are the curator of Teachings in Uncertain Times\, an online retreat by Teachers of Color for Tricycle Magazine February 2017. A founding facilitator of Dr Gabor Mate’s Compassionate Inquiry\, they are a leading African Canadian voice in the field of Mindfulness for Emotional Trauma and Addiction. Vimalasara is a senior teacher in the Triratna Buddhist Community. And one of the founders of Freedom Together\, a mindfulness accredited course by the Global Majority for the Global Majority. \n \nGinitta Glass\, widely known as Afefe Oke’\, has called the Bay Area home for over 30 years. In 2000\, she retired from The City and County of San Francisco as the only Black female electrician in the Traffic Signal Shop with 22 years of service. A dedicated spiritual leader\, she has served as a priest in the Yoruba Tradition for 23 years. Her commitment to compassionate care is evident in her 30 years of training in Hospice and palliative care which has included a two year training from Zen Hospice in San Francisco CA. Currently\, Afefe Oke’ has been a volunteer for Humane Prison Hospice for two years\, where she facilitates palliative care peer support training for incarcerated individuals. As a graduate of EBMC’s 2023 STL program\, she has shared Dharma wisdom at EBMC’s Maha and BIPOC sangha gatherings. And she was also invited to give a Day Long offering at Green Gulch Farm in 2023. She has recently been inspired to initiate a Black Doula Collective and has provided death and dying support for the past 20 years. For over two decades\, Afefe Oke’ has traveled extensively\, deepening her meditation practice and gathering insights she generously shares. At 67 years old\, she is a proud grandmother to two amazing beings and a loving mama to two dogs and one cat. A percussionist for over 40 years\, Afefe Oke’ incorporates gospel music\, chanting\, and various instruments into ceremonial settings\, enriching her diverse contributions to her community. \nAfefe Oke’ is a Yoruba name which translates to “the wind that comes from the mountains”.
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-black-womxn-and-aging-health-healing-wholeness-and-harmony-2-nurturing/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250824T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250824T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250609T231046Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T223513Z
UID:10008625-1756029600-1756051200@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID DAYLONG: Dana: The Gift Economy as an Alternative to Capitalism
DESCRIPTION:HYBRID DAYLONG: Dana: The Gift Economy as an Alternative to Capitalism \nSunday\, August 24th 2025 \n10AM – 4PM PT (Time Zone Converter) \nWith Kazu Haga \nOpen to all \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nWe will discuss the Gift Economy\, with principles rooted in Buddhist tradition as well as ones learned from natural eco-systems\, and concrete practices that people can use to integrate Dana into their lives\, organizations and businesses. \nWe will also discuss principles such as generosity\, interdependence\, faith and transparency using a variety of teaching modalities\, including meditation\, mini-lectures\, and interactive small group activities. \nThe workshop will be centered on generosity-based economics\, from a Buddhist and land-based approach. This is a form of managing resources that creates much more access than the current market based system. The more we practice these alternative models\, the more we are divesting from the current system\, which is a form of social action. \nAll are welcome! \n  \nPublic Transportation/Parking: \n– We strongly encourage public transportation/biking/walking since parking in the neighborhood is limited. \n– EBMC is 4-5 blocks from 19th Street Bart (about a 7 minute walk). \n– EBMC has bike parking inside the center. \n– Meter parking is free on Sunday\, and enforced Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm. \n– There are also garages on Harrison at 15th and on Harrison between 17th and 19th. If you are planning to drive\, please allow extra time for parking. \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \nNote that all financial gifts received here go directly to EBMC\, and we invite you to give separately to our teachers\, using the information below. \nOther ways to give: \nTo 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. \nPlease also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well\, who do not receive a salary for their work\, and give their teachings freely to all. \nVenmo: @kazuhaga \nPaypal: PayPal.me/kazuhaga \nkazuhaga.com/support \nPlease reference “Gift Economy”. \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nUniversal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible… \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \n\n\n\n\nTeacher\n \n\n\n\n\nKazu Haga is a trainer and practitioner of nonviolence and restorative justice with over 25 years of experience in social movement work. He is a founding core member of the Ahimsa Collective\, a Jam facilitator and author of Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm and Fierce Vulnerability: Healing from Trauma\, Emerging through Collapse. He works with incarcerated people\, youth\, and activists from around the country. He is a resident of the Canticle Farm community on Lisjan Ohlone land\, Oakland\, CA\, where he lives with his family. You can find out more about his work at www.kazuhaga.com.
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-daylong-dana-the-gift-economy-as-an-alternative-to-capitalism/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250902T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250902T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20210710T180923Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250313T193346Z
UID:10007382-1756839600-1756845000@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Alphabet Sangha
DESCRIPTION:A meditation group for the Lesbian\, Gay\, Bisexual\, Transgender\, Queer\, Intersex\, Same-Gender Loving\, and Two-Spirit communities. Because that’s such a mouthful\, we call ourselves the Alphabet Sangha. \nTuesdays\n7:00 – 8:30 pm \nHYBRID on First and Third Tuesdays of the month! Meet at EBMC or online. \nPlease email: alphabetsangha at eastbaymeditation dot org to request Zoom link to join online.  \nFor more information\, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-alphabet-sangha-2-2022-12-27/2025-09-02/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250903T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250903T133500
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20231031T215537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250716T051937Z
UID:10009643-1756900800-1756906500@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Midday Sangha
DESCRIPTION:Join our peer-led multicultural sangha for silent meditation practice and community building. \nEvery Wednesday\n12:00 – 12:45pm PST   Silent sitting\, standing or lying down meditation with optional walking meditation. \n12:55 – 1:35pm PST   Facilitated conversation about our practice and being the dharma in the world \nHYBRID EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY\, ONLINE FOR OTHER MEETINGS (unless otherwise noted) \nMidday Sangha Coordinating Committee:\nemiko yoshikami\, Jennie Powe Runde\, Sakshi Uomoto\, Elese Lebsack and Robert Gavino \nemail middaysangha at eastbaymeditation dot org for zoom link and password 
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-midday-sangha-2024-10-23/2025-09-03/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250916T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250916T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250918T043317Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T043317Z
UID:10007440-1758049200-1758054600@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Alphabet Sangha
DESCRIPTION:A meditation group for the Lesbian\, Gay\, Bisexual\, Transgender\, Queer\, Intersex\, Same-Gender Loving\, and Two-Spirit communities. Because that’s such a mouthful\, we call ourselves the Alphabet Sangha. \nTuesdays\n7:00 – 8:30 pm \nHYBRID on First and Third Tuesdays of the month! Meet at EBMC or online. \nPlease email: alphabetsangha at eastbaymeditation dot org to request Zoom link to join online.  \nFor more information\, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-alphabet-sangha-2-2022-12-27-2/2025-09-16/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250921T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250921T103000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250807T235712Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250819T184133Z
UID:10010733-1758445200-1758450600@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Celebrate the Changing Seasons w/ Mindful Movement: Fall Equinox
DESCRIPTION:Celebrate the Changing Seasons with Mindful Movement: Fall Equinox \nSunday\, September 21st 2025 \n9:00 – 10:30AM PT (Time Zone Converter) \nHYBRID \nwith Rosetta Saunders and Jenn Biehn \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nWe invite you to join us in community movement meditation as we welcome the season of Autumn. \nWe will practice easy-to-learn tai chi and qigong movements that gather the chi/the life force from the earth and circulate chi in our bodies.  These accessible\, non-strenuous movements invite softness and continuity as they release tension\, negativity and stress and bring healing to body-heart-mind-spirit. \nTogether we will practice movements that cultivate connection with nature – honoring the elements and deepening our oneness with Mother Earth and all her beings.  Embodying mindful awareness together\, we experience a profound synergy and ever-deepening interconnectedness – so important in these challenging times. \nMovements can be practiced both seated and standing.  No prior experience necessary. \nJoin us as we welcome the season of Autumn.. \n  \nOPTIONAL SOCIALIZING AT THE CENTER: After the class\, you’re invited to stay for snacks and fellowship in the EBMC kitchen\, from 10:30-11:15AM! \n  \nSave the Date for Our Final Session! \nWinter Solstice – Sunday\, December 21st from 9:00-10:30 AM. \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \n  \nOther ways to give: \nTo make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center\, you may do so at https://bit.ly/ebmc-give 100% of our programming is sliding scale and no one will ever be turned away for lack of funds. \nPlease also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well\, who do not receive a salary for their work\, and give their teachings freely to all. \n  \nTo make a gift to support the teachings\, please do so via \nPayPal: sweetdrum8@gmail.com \nor Venmo: @Rosetta-Saunders \nPlease indicate “Fall Equinox” in the subject line. \n  \nThank you for the gifts of your generosity and for supporting the work of East Bay Meditation Center and our beloved teachers who have volunteered their time. \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \n  \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nFor Zoom participation\, these are our Universal Access Guidelines: \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \n \nRosetta Saunders is a retired educator and historian with over 20 years teaching “People of Colors History” in the United States. Currently a core facilitator for Deep Time Liberation\, Ancestral Healing retreats\, Rosetta’s passion for West African and Afro-Cuban drumming has primarily been a source for individual and collective healing. She aligns herself with her ancestral lineage through Earth based practices. She was introduced to the Buddha/Dharma in 2002 and completed a two-year Dharmacharya program with Venerable Pannavati and Pannadipa receiving Confirmation of Ordination and recently completed the Braided Wisdom Leadership training program and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction certification program. \n \n\n  \n\nA Buddha/Dharma/Sangha practitioner for the past 40 years and active with EBMC for the past 15 years\, Jenn Biehn has served on the Leadership Sangha and is a co-founder of several peer-led sanghas including Midday Sangha. Co-creating communities of belonging without othering has been a lifelong focus for Jenn. She teaches Transforming White Privilege on the Path to Racial Equity and was recently an elder mentor for the Braided Wisdom Leadership Training Program which includes cross cultural mindfulness practices. She has taught mindful movement practices including tai chi and qigong for the past 35 years to various communities throughout the SF Bay Area.  Jenn’s spiritual practice includes engaging with Mother Earth through cross country skiing and backpacking in the high Sierra.
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-celebrate-the-changing-seasons-w-mindful-movement-fall-equinox/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250928T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250928T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250723T220256Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250805T220644Z
UID:10010728-1759053600-1759068000@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: White and Awakening in Sangha
DESCRIPTION:HYBRID: White and Awakening in Sangha \nSundays from 10am to 2pm PT \nSeptember 28\, October 12 and 26\, November 9 and 23\, 2025 \nWith Crystal Johnson\, Kitsy Schoen\, and Heather Lear \nOpen to white-identified practitioners \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nPlease note; registration for this class is two steps: 1) On-Demand materials and 2) Live Class Registration.   \n  \nCourse Description \nSince 2007\, the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) has been offering courses designed for white people who want to build awareness and skills for disrupting the operation of white supremacy culture.  We began this journey by developing a  curriculum that guided white people into deeper awareness of our white conditioning\, and built intra- and inter-personal skills to support the creation of inclusive sangha.  Over time\, we have gone deeper into the dharma practices that guide us toward wise effort and wise action in our lives and communities to address the harm arising from race-based oppression.  By bringing our practice to bear our actions are guided by the Precepts and informed by the teaching of the Eightfold Path.   \n  \nThis year\, we are offering the foundations class in a revised format and adapted for a time of great conflict and violence\, and of intense political and psychological polarization around issues of race and justice and harm.  We are offering the basic curriculum in an On-Demand\, online format that participants can watch on their own time or by joining one of the hosted “watch parties” that will be offered.  The live course meetings will be focused on: \n\nBuilding a supportive community of white people to deepen our inquiries and support our efforts to grow and change\nDigesting and sharing our increasing understanding of white conditioning\, the operation of systemic racism and the psychological strategies that keep us stuck as we work to engage with the painful realities of white supremacy\nDeveloping intra- and inter- personal skills for personal and community development\nCultivating meditation practices that allow us to stay present in very difficult circumstances while staying grounded in our values\nBuilding our understanding of\, and commitment to\, wise effort and action guided by deep compassion \n\n   \nFormat \nThis course is designed to include people with a wide range of experience.  We will cover the basics of whiteness through the On-Demand materials that can be viewed privately or in one of the watch parties that we will host.  The live sessions (offered both in person and online) will offer additional materials\, including guided meditation\, dharma talks and discussion\, Q&R\, small group conversations\, and large group sharing.  Partial recordings of live sessions will be available for people who wish to review the material or who have to miss a class meeting. \n  \nPrerequisites \nPlease come to the class with an established meditation practice\, a genuine openness to learning from the teachers and other participants\, and the willingness and capacity to move through difficult emotions and psychological disruption while staying engaged.  This work requires courageous and honest self-reflection and the commitment to show up for ourselves and each other with compassion.  We rely on the strength of our community to get through the hard stuff. \nYou will get the most out of this course if you: \n\nWatch all the materials offered and complete the exercises\nDo the offered practices every day\nShow up with a wide open heart and willingness to be surprised\nCome in person\, if at all possible.  We are very happy to welcome those who join us from far away\, and we do feel there is something lost in being remote…\n\n  \nWe invite you into our practice of Gift Economics \nAt the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC)\, we practice Gift Economics\, which means\, among other things\, that we welcome you into our community\, and invite you to contribute according to your capacity and inspiration\, rather than as if you are purchasing a product/course.  By donating to EBMC\, you are supporting a community founded and dedicated to creating a dharma refuge for BIPOC\, LGBTQI2+\, people with disabilities\, other marginalized communities\, and everyone (including us white identified folks) who seeks to end suffering and cultivate happiness. Our mission is to foster liberation\, personal and interpersonal healing\, social action\, and inclusive community building.   \nWe hope that you will join us. \nFor this course\, the teachers offer their time without monetary compensation as a practice of reparation\, so that 80% of your donation for the On-Demand materials\, and 100% of your registration contributions will go to support the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC).  We will invite you to offer dana twice in this registration process (yes it’s a little clunky…).   \n  \nNext Steps \n\nFirst\, please register for the On-Demand materials through Spirit Rock.  The dana that you offer here will support EBMC (80%) who created the class\, and Spirit Rock (20%)\, who produced it.  \nSecond\, please register through EventBrite for the EBMC live class here. We invite you to contribute as generously as you can\, given your economic circumstances. \nYou may also contribute each time the class meets\, or at any time\, by going to the EBMC Donation page or through Venmo at @eastbaymeditation.   If you attend the class in person\, you may also contribute via check or cash.\n\n  \nQuestions?  Write to us at WhiteandAwakeninginSangha@eastbaymeditation.org \n  \nThe On-Demand materials qualify for 6 homestudy CE credits for $100 for psychologists and California licensed MFTs\, LCSWs\, LEPs\, LPCCs\, nurses\, and chiropractors. \n  \nA technical note: You should receive a confirmation email within a day of completing your registration.  If you don’t receive this email\, please contact us at whiteandawakening@eastbaymeditation.org so that we can troubleshoot this issue! \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nUniversal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible… \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \nTEACHERS \n \nCrystal Johnson is a retired clinical psychologist and a Community Teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) in Oakland\, CA\, where she also serves on the Leadership Sangha (Board) and as a member of the Radical Inclusivity Committee. She completed the year long Commit2Dharma training at EBMC\, as well as the 2-year Dedicated Practitioner Program and the 2-year Community Dharma Leader Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. In her teaching\, she focuses on creating/co-creating programs for white dharma practitioners seeking to build awareness\, knowledge and skills to challenge the dynamics of white privilege and race-based oppression\, and create truly inclusive sangha. Her courses include White and Awakening in Sangha at EBMC\, Unpacking Whiteness: Reflection and Action at the San Francisco Zen Center\, White and Awakening Together at Spirit Rock Meditation Center\, Unpacking Whiteness for the Soto Zen Buddhist Association and Unpacking the Whiteness of Leadership for Branching Streams. She offers consultation to individuals and organizations seeking to disrupt the practices of white supremacy culture and support change toward racial equity. \n \nKitsy Schoen\, MSW\, began her mindfulness practice and was inspired to work as a hospice social worker after meeting Stephen Levine in 1979. Throughout her career she has been able to integrate mindfulness and her passion for racial equity into her work. At Kaiser Permanente\, Kitsy led the NCAL Kaiser Psychiatry’s Cultural Diversity Workgroup and was a founding member of the “Isms Collaborative”\, a group of representatives from public and private health care organizations that sought to address workplace bias in agencies committed to reducing health disparities. In 2004 she began Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leader program with the specific focus of bringing insight and compassion practices to working with other white people on racism. In 2007\, she joined the Leadership Sangha (board) of East Bay Meditation Center and began offering antiracism classes to white practitioners. Kitsy has provided training and consultation to numerous mental health training programs and dharma centers on issues of racism\, power and privilege. \n \nHeather Lear (she/her) was born and raised with the Dharma in a family of Insight Meditation practitioners in the South\, and is now based on unceded Ramaytush Ohlone land in San Francisco. She studies and teaches at the intersection of heart-centered Dharma\, embodiment practices and DEIA work around white and awakening in community\, and serves as the Program Manager at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Heather has completed various study and teaching programs\, including Spirit Rock’s LEAP program\, the Sati Center’s Buddhist Chaplaincy Training\, and Radiant Heart Qigong Teacher Training with Teja Bell. She has served on the board at Insight Santa Cruz\, on the teaching team offering the 6-month White and Awakening in Sangha program at the East Bay Meditation Center since 2019\, and is part of the current Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders (CDL7) cohort.
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/white-and-awakening-in-sangha/2025-09-28/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251001T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251001T133500
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20231031T215537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250716T051937Z
UID:10009644-1759320000-1759325700@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Midday Sangha
DESCRIPTION:Join our peer-led multicultural sangha for silent meditation practice and community building. \nEvery Wednesday\n12:00 – 12:45pm PST   Silent sitting\, standing or lying down meditation with optional walking meditation. \n12:55 – 1:35pm PST   Facilitated conversation about our practice and being the dharma in the world \nHYBRID EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY\, ONLINE FOR OTHER MEETINGS (unless otherwise noted) \nMidday Sangha Coordinating Committee:\nemiko yoshikami\, Jennie Powe Runde\, Sakshi Uomoto\, Elese Lebsack and Robert Gavino \nemail middaysangha at eastbaymeditation dot org for zoom link and password 
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-midday-sangha-2024-10-23/2025-10-01/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251007T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251007T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20210710T180923Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250313T193346Z
UID:10007383-1759863600-1759869000@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Alphabet Sangha
DESCRIPTION:A meditation group for the Lesbian\, Gay\, Bisexual\, Transgender\, Queer\, Intersex\, Same-Gender Loving\, and Two-Spirit communities. Because that’s such a mouthful\, we call ourselves the Alphabet Sangha. \nTuesdays\n7:00 – 8:30 pm \nHYBRID on First and Third Tuesdays of the month! Meet at EBMC or online. \nPlease email: alphabetsangha at eastbaymeditation dot org to request Zoom link to join online.  \nFor more information\, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-alphabet-sangha-2-2022-12-27/2025-10-07/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251008T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251008T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250820T000038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250827T211043Z
UID:10010735-1759948200-1759955400@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Path of the Modern Bodhisattva\, Class Series 1
DESCRIPTION:Path of the Modern Bodhisattva (Class Series 1 of 2) \nwith Mushim Ikeda \n  \nWednesday Evenings \nOctober 8th\, 15th\, 22nd\, and 29th 2025 \n6:30 – 8:30 PM PT (Time Zone Converter) \nHYBRID \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nI\, myself\, took the Bodhisattva Vows and made the vow\, “Life after life\, after life\, after life\, I will continue my practice and continue my work.” – Bhante Suhita Dharma\, Buddhist monk and social worker\, 1941-2013 \n  \nEmbodiment! Joy! Commitment! Strategic Action! In Mahayana Buddhism\, the Bodhisattva works and plays ceaselessly to liberate all suffering beings\, lifetime after lifetime. And – how do you and I show up\, day after day\, in the gigantic mess of our times\, to do the great work? \n  \nFor the seventh time\, EBMC will offer two class series exploring what it means to creatively embody the Bodhisattva teachings. Those who complete both class series may participate in the final daylong and either witness or take Bodhisattva precepts and vows in order to strengthen their commitment to collective liberation. These are the same vows taken by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and by Thich Nhat Hanh. \n  \n\nSign up for Series 2 (Nov 5-26\, 6:30-8:30pm PT) \nSign up for the daylong ceremony (Dec 14\, 10am-4pm PT) \n\n  \nMushim (Patricia) Ikeda received Bodhisattva precepts and vows at the Zen Buddhist Temple-Toronto\, Canada in 1983. She is an EBMC core teacher\, a widely-published writer\, and a social justice activist based in Oakland\, California. Mushim has practiced as both a monastic and a lay householder. For events\, writing\, video teachings\, go to www.mushimikeda.com \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \n  \nThe 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. \nOther ways to give: \nTo 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. \n  \nPlease also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well\, who do not receive a salary for their work\, and give their teachings freely to all. \n  \nVenmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda \nPayPal: info@mushimikeda.com \n  \nPlease indicate “Bodhisattva” in the subject line. \n  \nThank you for the gifts of your generosity and for supporting the work of East Bay Meditation Center and our beloved teachers who have volunteered their time. \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nFor Zoom participation\, these are our Universal Access Guidelines: \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \n  \n\n\n\n\nTeacher\n \nMushim Patricia Ikeda is an internationally-known secular mindfulness and Buddhist teacher working primarily with justice activists and Black\, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) meditation practitioners. A core teacher at East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland\, California\, she is an author whose writing has been published in Lion’s Roar\, Tricycle\, Buddhadharma and various anthologies. She is the founding and guiding teacher of EBMC’s Practice in Transformative Action\, a yearlong program that completed its tenth cohort in July 2023\, providing secular mindfulness training for justice activists and agents of change. Mushim was selected by Lion’s Roar Buddhist media magazine as one of twenty-six “Great Buddhist Teachers” in the January 2022 issue. If you would like to make a gift to our beloved teacher\, please do so via Venmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda or PayPal: info@mushimikeda.com
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-path-of-the-modern-bodhisattva-class-series-1-2/2025-10-08/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251012T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251012T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250723T220256Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250805T220644Z
UID:10010729-1760263200-1760277600@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: White and Awakening in Sangha
DESCRIPTION:HYBRID: White and Awakening in Sangha \nSundays from 10am to 2pm PT \nSeptember 28\, October 12 and 26\, November 9 and 23\, 2025 \nWith Crystal Johnson\, Kitsy Schoen\, and Heather Lear \nOpen to white-identified practitioners \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nPlease note; registration for this class is two steps: 1) On-Demand materials and 2) Live Class Registration.   \n  \nCourse Description \nSince 2007\, the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) has been offering courses designed for white people who want to build awareness and skills for disrupting the operation of white supremacy culture.  We began this journey by developing a  curriculum that guided white people into deeper awareness of our white conditioning\, and built intra- and inter-personal skills to support the creation of inclusive sangha.  Over time\, we have gone deeper into the dharma practices that guide us toward wise effort and wise action in our lives and communities to address the harm arising from race-based oppression.  By bringing our practice to bear our actions are guided by the Precepts and informed by the teaching of the Eightfold Path.   \n  \nThis year\, we are offering the foundations class in a revised format and adapted for a time of great conflict and violence\, and of intense political and psychological polarization around issues of race and justice and harm.  We are offering the basic curriculum in an On-Demand\, online format that participants can watch on their own time or by joining one of the hosted “watch parties” that will be offered.  The live course meetings will be focused on: \n\nBuilding a supportive community of white people to deepen our inquiries and support our efforts to grow and change\nDigesting and sharing our increasing understanding of white conditioning\, the operation of systemic racism and the psychological strategies that keep us stuck as we work to engage with the painful realities of white supremacy\nDeveloping intra- and inter- personal skills for personal and community development\nCultivating meditation practices that allow us to stay present in very difficult circumstances while staying grounded in our values\nBuilding our understanding of\, and commitment to\, wise effort and action guided by deep compassion \n\n   \nFormat \nThis course is designed to include people with a wide range of experience.  We will cover the basics of whiteness through the On-Demand materials that can be viewed privately or in one of the watch parties that we will host.  The live sessions (offered both in person and online) will offer additional materials\, including guided meditation\, dharma talks and discussion\, Q&R\, small group conversations\, and large group sharing.  Partial recordings of live sessions will be available for people who wish to review the material or who have to miss a class meeting. \n  \nPrerequisites \nPlease come to the class with an established meditation practice\, a genuine openness to learning from the teachers and other participants\, and the willingness and capacity to move through difficult emotions and psychological disruption while staying engaged.  This work requires courageous and honest self-reflection and the commitment to show up for ourselves and each other with compassion.  We rely on the strength of our community to get through the hard stuff. \nYou will get the most out of this course if you: \n\nWatch all the materials offered and complete the exercises\nDo the offered practices every day\nShow up with a wide open heart and willingness to be surprised\nCome in person\, if at all possible.  We are very happy to welcome those who join us from far away\, and we do feel there is something lost in being remote…\n\n  \nWe invite you into our practice of Gift Economics \nAt the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC)\, we practice Gift Economics\, which means\, among other things\, that we welcome you into our community\, and invite you to contribute according to your capacity and inspiration\, rather than as if you are purchasing a product/course.  By donating to EBMC\, you are supporting a community founded and dedicated to creating a dharma refuge for BIPOC\, LGBTQI2+\, people with disabilities\, other marginalized communities\, and everyone (including us white identified folks) who seeks to end suffering and cultivate happiness. Our mission is to foster liberation\, personal and interpersonal healing\, social action\, and inclusive community building.   \nWe hope that you will join us. \nFor this course\, the teachers offer their time without monetary compensation as a practice of reparation\, so that 80% of your donation for the On-Demand materials\, and 100% of your registration contributions will go to support the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC).  We will invite you to offer dana twice in this registration process (yes it’s a little clunky…).   \n  \nNext Steps \n\nFirst\, please register for the On-Demand materials through Spirit Rock.  The dana that you offer here will support EBMC (80%) who created the class\, and Spirit Rock (20%)\, who produced it.  \nSecond\, please register through EventBrite for the EBMC live class here. We invite you to contribute as generously as you can\, given your economic circumstances. \nYou may also contribute each time the class meets\, or at any time\, by going to the EBMC Donation page or through Venmo at @eastbaymeditation.   If you attend the class in person\, you may also contribute via check or cash.\n\n  \nQuestions?  Write to us at WhiteandAwakeninginSangha@eastbaymeditation.org \n  \nThe On-Demand materials qualify for 6 homestudy CE credits for $100 for psychologists and California licensed MFTs\, LCSWs\, LEPs\, LPCCs\, nurses\, and chiropractors. \n  \nA technical note: You should receive a confirmation email within a day of completing your registration.  If you don’t receive this email\, please contact us at whiteandawakening@eastbaymeditation.org so that we can troubleshoot this issue! \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nUniversal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible… \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \nTEACHERS \n \nCrystal Johnson is a retired clinical psychologist and a Community Teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) in Oakland\, CA\, where she also serves on the Leadership Sangha (Board) and as a member of the Radical Inclusivity Committee. She completed the year long Commit2Dharma training at EBMC\, as well as the 2-year Dedicated Practitioner Program and the 2-year Community Dharma Leader Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. In her teaching\, she focuses on creating/co-creating programs for white dharma practitioners seeking to build awareness\, knowledge and skills to challenge the dynamics of white privilege and race-based oppression\, and create truly inclusive sangha. Her courses include White and Awakening in Sangha at EBMC\, Unpacking Whiteness: Reflection and Action at the San Francisco Zen Center\, White and Awakening Together at Spirit Rock Meditation Center\, Unpacking Whiteness for the Soto Zen Buddhist Association and Unpacking the Whiteness of Leadership for Branching Streams. She offers consultation to individuals and organizations seeking to disrupt the practices of white supremacy culture and support change toward racial equity. \n \nKitsy Schoen\, MSW\, began her mindfulness practice and was inspired to work as a hospice social worker after meeting Stephen Levine in 1979. Throughout her career she has been able to integrate mindfulness and her passion for racial equity into her work. At Kaiser Permanente\, Kitsy led the NCAL Kaiser Psychiatry’s Cultural Diversity Workgroup and was a founding member of the “Isms Collaborative”\, a group of representatives from public and private health care organizations that sought to address workplace bias in agencies committed to reducing health disparities. In 2004 she began Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leader program with the specific focus of bringing insight and compassion practices to working with other white people on racism. In 2007\, she joined the Leadership Sangha (board) of East Bay Meditation Center and began offering antiracism classes to white practitioners. Kitsy has provided training and consultation to numerous mental health training programs and dharma centers on issues of racism\, power and privilege. \n \nHeather Lear (she/her) was born and raised with the Dharma in a family of Insight Meditation practitioners in the South\, and is now based on unceded Ramaytush Ohlone land in San Francisco. She studies and teaches at the intersection of heart-centered Dharma\, embodiment practices and DEIA work around white and awakening in community\, and serves as the Program Manager at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Heather has completed various study and teaching programs\, including Spirit Rock’s LEAP program\, the Sati Center’s Buddhist Chaplaincy Training\, and Radiant Heart Qigong Teacher Training with Teja Bell. She has served on the board at Insight Santa Cruz\, on the teaching team offering the 6-month White and Awakening in Sangha program at the East Bay Meditation Center since 2019\, and is part of the current Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders (CDL7) cohort.
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/white-and-awakening-in-sangha/2025-10-12/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032522
CREATED:20250820T000038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250827T211043Z
UID:10010736-1760553000-1760560200@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Path of the Modern Bodhisattva\, Class Series 1
DESCRIPTION:Path of the Modern Bodhisattva (Class Series 1 of 2) \nwith Mushim Ikeda \n  \nWednesday Evenings \nOctober 8th\, 15th\, 22nd\, and 29th 2025 \n6:30 – 8:30 PM PT (Time Zone Converter) \nHYBRID \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nI\, myself\, took the Bodhisattva Vows and made the vow\, “Life after life\, after life\, after life\, I will continue my practice and continue my work.” – Bhante Suhita Dharma\, Buddhist monk and social worker\, 1941-2013 \n  \nEmbodiment! Joy! Commitment! Strategic Action! In Mahayana Buddhism\, the Bodhisattva works and plays ceaselessly to liberate all suffering beings\, lifetime after lifetime. And – how do you and I show up\, day after day\, in the gigantic mess of our times\, to do the great work? \n  \nFor the seventh time\, EBMC will offer two class series exploring what it means to creatively embody the Bodhisattva teachings. Those who complete both class series may participate in the final daylong and either witness or take Bodhisattva precepts and vows in order to strengthen their commitment to collective liberation. These are the same vows taken by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and by Thich Nhat Hanh. \n  \n\nSign up for Series 2 (Nov 5-26\, 6:30-8:30pm PT) \nSign up for the daylong ceremony (Dec 14\, 10am-4pm PT) \n\n  \nMushim (Patricia) Ikeda received Bodhisattva precepts and vows at the Zen Buddhist Temple-Toronto\, Canada in 1983. She is an EBMC core teacher\, a widely-published writer\, and a social justice activist based in Oakland\, California. Mushim has practiced as both a monastic and a lay householder. For events\, writing\, video teachings\, go to www.mushimikeda.com \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \n  \nThe 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. \nOther ways to give: \nTo 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. \n  \nPlease also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well\, who do not receive a salary for their work\, and give their teachings freely to all. \n  \nVenmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda \nPayPal: info@mushimikeda.com \n  \nPlease indicate “Bodhisattva” in the subject line. \n  \nThank you for the gifts of your generosity and for supporting the work of East Bay Meditation Center and our beloved teachers who have volunteered their time. \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nFor Zoom participation\, these are our Universal Access Guidelines: \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \n  \n\n\n\n\nTeacher\n \nMushim Patricia Ikeda is an internationally-known secular mindfulness and Buddhist teacher working primarily with justice activists and Black\, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) meditation practitioners. A core teacher at East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland\, California\, she is an author whose writing has been published in Lion’s Roar\, Tricycle\, Buddhadharma and various anthologies. She is the founding and guiding teacher of EBMC’s Practice in Transformative Action\, a yearlong program that completed its tenth cohort in July 2023\, providing secular mindfulness training for justice activists and agents of change. Mushim was selected by Lion’s Roar Buddhist media magazine as one of twenty-six “Great Buddhist Teachers” in the January 2022 issue. If you would like to make a gift to our beloved teacher\, please do so via Venmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda or PayPal: info@mushimikeda.com
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-path-of-the-modern-bodhisattva-class-series-1-2/2025-10-15/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251018T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251018T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032523
CREATED:20250911T214525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250911T214525Z
UID:10010749-1760792400-1760803200@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Ceasefire Sangha Presents: Practice for Palestine Liberation
DESCRIPTION:HYBRID: Ceasefire Sangha Presents: Practice for Palestine Liberation \nOctober 18th 2025 \n1-4 PM PT \nWith anuradha bhagwati\, Tania Triana\, and Ream \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nPlease join the EBMC community in practice for Palestine.  Our hearts are with the people of Palestine as we continue to act as a Ceasefire Sangha— a beloved community working for the liberation of all in alignment with the teachings of the Buddha. \nWe hear the call to Free Palestine and respond from our hearts. We know legacies of settler colonialism and racism are being undone by this freedom movement. We come together in this time of rising up for land and liberation by people across the world\, inspired by Palestine\, and in reverence and practice with the Land Back movement and the Ohlone\, Oakland’s indigenous people. \nThis afternoon of practice will include: mindfulness\, ceremony and sharing in community\, as we call in the protection and support of the buddhas\, elements and our ancestors for this work. There will be dharma reflection and sharing\, stationary and moving meditation\, and community support. \nWe welcome you to join us as you are\, with your broken heart\, your anger and your longings for a home in liberation. \nPresented with decolonial dharma. \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \nOther ways to give: \nTo make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center\, you may do so at https://bit.ly/ebmc-give 100% of our programming is sliding scale and no one will ever be turned away for lack of funds. \n  \nSupport our teachers: \nVenmo: ranger18ream \nPlease reference “Palestine Liberation”. Teachers will share the gifts with each other. \nThank you for the gifts of your generosity and for supporting the work of East Bay Meditation Center and our beloved teachers who have volunteered their time. \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website. \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nUniversal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible… \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \nTeaching Team \n \n \n \n 
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-ceasefire-sangha-presents-practice-for-palestine-liberation/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://eastbaymeditation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Practice-for-Palestinian-Liberation-845-x-321-px_png.png
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251019T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251019T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032523
CREATED:20250911T012300Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250911T222656Z
UID:10010747-1760868000-1760889600@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Gathering Kapwa: Weaving Dharma with Our Indigenous Roots
DESCRIPTION:Gathering Kapwa: Weaving Dharma with Our Indigenous Roots \nwith Victoria Mausisa\, Kimi Mojica\, Jonathan Relucio\, and Jessy Zapanta \nSunday\, Oct. 19\, 2025 \n10 a.m. – 4 p.m. PT (Time Zone Converter) \nHYBRID \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nJoin us for our 3rd annual daylong of Gathering Kapwa: Weaving Dharma with our Indigenous Roots. Whether you’ve attended in the past or are new to us\, we invite you to join us as we ask ourselves: How can we re-member and honor our Indigenous roots? Where do we feel colonized in our bodies\, in our minds\, in our  lives? What does it mean to embody liberation\, through our grief and joy\, and to unapologetically take up space? What can be composted\, and what can we transform\, when we gather in kapwa? \nGuided by a cadre of Filipinx teachers\, this daylong retreat is a welcoming space open to self-identified Filipino/a/x/o practitioners of all levels. Through creative expression\, gentle risk-taking\, and embodied practices (including ceremony\, meditation\, music\, movement\, and journaling)\, we will explore what it means to shed layers of colonialism and tap into our Indigenous essence – an essence we all have! Our gathering will be shaped by the shared experiences and wisdom of the collective\, and the guidance of Buddhist teachings\, as we continue on this difficult path of re-membering ourselves. Yes\, you are “Filipino enough.” Yes\, your body holds ancestral memory. Let us witness each other and make space for what emerges. \nThis hybrid format allows participants to join either in person at EBMC or virtually from the comfort of their own homes. All registered participants will be invited to bring an object from home to add to our community centerpiece and supplies for ritual will be forthcoming. Those in person can look forward to a potluck lunch. Let us celebrate and make meaning together\, nuancing what our cultural identity means on our spiritual path. \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \nOther ways to give: \nTo 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. \nPlease also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well\, who do not receive a salary for their work\, and give their teachings freely to all. \nVenmo:@Kimi-Mojica \nPaypal: kimi.mojica@gmail.com \nCashApp: $KimiMojica. \nPlease indicate “Gathering Kapwa EBMC” in the subject line. Kimi Mojica will collect dana on behalf of the teachers. \n  \nThank you for the gifts of your generosity and for supporting the work of East Bay Meditation Center and our beloved teachers who have volunteered their time. \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website. \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nFor Zoom participation\, these are our Universal Access Guidelines: \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \n\n\n\n\nTeaching Team\n\n\n\n\nVictoria Mausisa\, (she/siya/we)\, Filipina\, Lola/grandmother. Victoria began her practice over 20 years ago and is a Dharma Teacher ordained in the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh\, Order of Interbeing. She is a community builder\, sangha and retreat leader. An advocate for racial and social justice\, she co-founded ARISE Sangha — Awakening Through Race\, Intersectionality and Social Equity. Victoria is called to heal communities of color and to cultivate inclusiveness. She combines trauma resiliency with mindfulness and also trained at the Sati Center Buddhist Chaplaincy program. She is a graduate of East Bay Meditation Center’s inaugural Spiritual and Teacher Leader Program. A contemplative at heart who leans on authenticity and ritual\, Victoria thrives on spiritual practice and deep relationships with our ancestors\, our lands\, family\, and friends.\n\nKimi Mojica (they/she/siya) fell deeply in love with the Buddha Dharma over twenty years ago when they touched the earth at Deep Park Monastery’s People of Color retreat with the venerable Thich Nhat Hahn.  Since 2007\, they’ve considered East Bay Meditation Center their spiritual home and currently serve as one of BIPOC Sangha’s Guiding Teachers.  Previously she held roles as Chair of the Leadership Sangha\, co-founder of the Restorative Practices for Dharma Practitioners (RPDP) deep refuge group\, and is a graduate from EBMC’s Commit2Dharma and Spiritual Teacher and Leadership (STL) programs. Kimi has taught at Buddhist Peace Fellowship\, Braided Wisdom and Dhamma Dena among others. Siya’s commitment to racial\, gender and healing justice is evident through the dynamic ways they hold space as a facilitator\, process strategist\, coach\, and conflict transformation practitioner. It brings Kimi much joy to commune with ancestors\, plantcestors and beings through ritual\, movement and creative arts\, all while discovering\, co-creating and centering liberatory practices that cultivate wholeness and well-being for all in everyday life.\n\nFor a decade\, Jonathan Relucio (he/him/siya) was a Senior Trainer for Niroga Institute\, teaching trauma-informed yoga\, meditation\, and mindfulness in urban schools\, mental health clinics and juvenile detention centers.  He completed Spirit Rock’s Mindfulness Yoga and Meditation Training (MYMT); Communities Rising Yoga and Meditation Training for People of Color; and East Bay Meditation Center’s inaugural two-year Spiritual Teacher & Leadership (STL) training.  Currently\, he teaches at both Spirit Rock Meditation Center and East Bay Meditation Center and will begin Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leaders Program in January 2025.  Jonathan facilitates transformation in social justice movements as a Trainer for Rockwood Leadership Institute; integrates mindfulness with restorative circles for healing and racial equity as co-founder of AllThriveEd.org; and serves on the Healing Advisory council for Filipino Advocates for Justice. With over 20 years of experience in social services\, community organizing\, training\, and leadership development\, Jonathan values Buddha Dharma\, mindfulness\, yoga\, meditation\, indigenous medicine\, martial arts\, dance\, DJing and grounding in his Filipino ancestral roots as practices for liberation that heal us from systems of oppression.\n\nFounder of Healing Without Hierarchy & Kapwa Flow Somatic Meditation\, Jessy Zapanta (he\, she\, siya) is a community builder\, educator\, and survivor-centered mindful movement and meditation facilitator born and raised in the working-class\, BIPOC-majority parts of the lands known as the Bay Area (Ohlone territory). Jessy is a graduate of EBMC’s Practice in Transformative Action Program and inaugural two-year Spiritual Teacher and Leadership Program\, and is a co-founder of Dharma in Motion Sangha. Experienced in western and Asian bodywork\, counseling\, Raja Yoga\, qigong\, somatics\, and improv\, he has held space for queer\, trans\, gender-diverse\, disabled\, and neurodivergent folks of all ages. Siya is passionate about radical inclusion and access\, inviting the collective needs of participants into the room. With roots spanning across Pangasinan and Pampanga\, Nagasaki\, and Fujian\, Jessy’s path includes reclaiming diverse ancestral teachings\, trusting intuition\, and building intersectional\, intergenerational communities of care.
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-gathering-kapwa-connecting-filipinx-diaspora-through-sangha-2/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://eastbaymeditation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Gathering-Kapwa-2025-845-x-321-px_png.png
GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251021T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251021T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032523
CREATED:20250918T043317Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T043317Z
UID:10007441-1761073200-1761078600@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Alphabet Sangha
DESCRIPTION:A meditation group for the Lesbian\, Gay\, Bisexual\, Transgender\, Queer\, Intersex\, Same-Gender Loving\, and Two-Spirit communities. Because that’s such a mouthful\, we call ourselves the Alphabet Sangha. \nTuesdays\n7:00 – 8:30 pm \nHYBRID on First and Third Tuesdays of the month! Meet at EBMC or online. \nPlease email: alphabetsangha at eastbaymeditation dot org to request Zoom link to join online.  \nFor more information\, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-alphabet-sangha-2-2022-12-27-2/2025-10-21/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=East Bay Meditation Center 285 17th Street Oakland CA 94612 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=285 17th Street:geo:-122.2660299,37.8050656
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251022T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251022T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032523
CREATED:20250820T000038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250827T211043Z
UID:10010737-1761157800-1761165000@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Path of the Modern Bodhisattva\, Class Series 1
DESCRIPTION:Path of the Modern Bodhisattva (Class Series 1 of 2) \nwith Mushim Ikeda \n  \nWednesday Evenings \nOctober 8th\, 15th\, 22nd\, and 29th 2025 \n6:30 – 8:30 PM PT (Time Zone Converter) \nHYBRID \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nI\, myself\, took the Bodhisattva Vows and made the vow\, “Life after life\, after life\, after life\, I will continue my practice and continue my work.” – Bhante Suhita Dharma\, Buddhist monk and social worker\, 1941-2013 \n  \nEmbodiment! Joy! Commitment! Strategic Action! In Mahayana Buddhism\, the Bodhisattva works and plays ceaselessly to liberate all suffering beings\, lifetime after lifetime. And – how do you and I show up\, day after day\, in the gigantic mess of our times\, to do the great work? \n  \nFor the seventh time\, EBMC will offer two class series exploring what it means to creatively embody the Bodhisattva teachings. Those who complete both class series may participate in the final daylong and either witness or take Bodhisattva precepts and vows in order to strengthen their commitment to collective liberation. These are the same vows taken by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and by Thich Nhat Hanh. \n  \n\nSign up for Series 2 (Nov 5-26\, 6:30-8:30pm PT) \nSign up for the daylong ceremony (Dec 14\, 10am-4pm PT) \n\n  \nMushim (Patricia) Ikeda received Bodhisattva precepts and vows at the Zen Buddhist Temple-Toronto\, Canada in 1983. She is an EBMC core teacher\, a widely-published writer\, and a social justice activist based in Oakland\, California. Mushim has practiced as both a monastic and a lay householder. For events\, writing\, video teachings\, go to www.mushimikeda.com \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \n  \nThe 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. \nOther ways to give: \nTo 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. \n  \nPlease also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well\, who do not receive a salary for their work\, and give their teachings freely to all. \n  \nVenmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda \nPayPal: info@mushimikeda.com \n  \nPlease indicate “Bodhisattva” in the subject line. \n  \nThank you for the gifts of your generosity and for supporting the work of East Bay Meditation Center and our beloved teachers who have volunteered their time. \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nFor Zoom participation\, these are our Universal Access Guidelines: \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \n  \n\n\n\n\nTeacher\n \nMushim Patricia Ikeda is an internationally-known secular mindfulness and Buddhist teacher working primarily with justice activists and Black\, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) meditation practitioners. A core teacher at East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland\, California\, she is an author whose writing has been published in Lion’s Roar\, Tricycle\, Buddhadharma and various anthologies. She is the founding and guiding teacher of EBMC’s Practice in Transformative Action\, a yearlong program that completed its tenth cohort in July 2023\, providing secular mindfulness training for justice activists and agents of change. Mushim was selected by Lion’s Roar Buddhist media magazine as one of twenty-six “Great Buddhist Teachers” in the January 2022 issue. If you would like to make a gift to our beloved teacher\, please do so via Venmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda or PayPal: info@mushimikeda.com
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-path-of-the-modern-bodhisattva-class-series-1-2/2025-10-22/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://eastbaymeditation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Path-of-the-Modern-Bodhisattva-845-x-321-px_png.png
GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=East Bay Meditation Center 285 17th Street Oakland CA 94612 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=285 17th Street:geo:-122.2660299,37.8050656
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251026T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251026T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032523
CREATED:20250723T220256Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250805T220644Z
UID:10010730-1761472800-1761487200@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: White and Awakening in Sangha
DESCRIPTION:HYBRID: White and Awakening in Sangha \nSundays from 10am to 2pm PT \nSeptember 28\, October 12 and 26\, November 9 and 23\, 2025 \nWith Crystal Johnson\, Kitsy Schoen\, and Heather Lear \nOpen to white-identified practitioners \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nPlease note; registration for this class is two steps: 1) On-Demand materials and 2) Live Class Registration.   \n  \nCourse Description \nSince 2007\, the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) has been offering courses designed for white people who want to build awareness and skills for disrupting the operation of white supremacy culture.  We began this journey by developing a  curriculum that guided white people into deeper awareness of our white conditioning\, and built intra- and inter-personal skills to support the creation of inclusive sangha.  Over time\, we have gone deeper into the dharma practices that guide us toward wise effort and wise action in our lives and communities to address the harm arising from race-based oppression.  By bringing our practice to bear our actions are guided by the Precepts and informed by the teaching of the Eightfold Path.   \n  \nThis year\, we are offering the foundations class in a revised format and adapted for a time of great conflict and violence\, and of intense political and psychological polarization around issues of race and justice and harm.  We are offering the basic curriculum in an On-Demand\, online format that participants can watch on their own time or by joining one of the hosted “watch parties” that will be offered.  The live course meetings will be focused on: \n\nBuilding a supportive community of white people to deepen our inquiries and support our efforts to grow and change\nDigesting and sharing our increasing understanding of white conditioning\, the operation of systemic racism and the psychological strategies that keep us stuck as we work to engage with the painful realities of white supremacy\nDeveloping intra- and inter- personal skills for personal and community development\nCultivating meditation practices that allow us to stay present in very difficult circumstances while staying grounded in our values\nBuilding our understanding of\, and commitment to\, wise effort and action guided by deep compassion \n\n   \nFormat \nThis course is designed to include people with a wide range of experience.  We will cover the basics of whiteness through the On-Demand materials that can be viewed privately or in one of the watch parties that we will host.  The live sessions (offered both in person and online) will offer additional materials\, including guided meditation\, dharma talks and discussion\, Q&R\, small group conversations\, and large group sharing.  Partial recordings of live sessions will be available for people who wish to review the material or who have to miss a class meeting. \n  \nPrerequisites \nPlease come to the class with an established meditation practice\, a genuine openness to learning from the teachers and other participants\, and the willingness and capacity to move through difficult emotions and psychological disruption while staying engaged.  This work requires courageous and honest self-reflection and the commitment to show up for ourselves and each other with compassion.  We rely on the strength of our community to get through the hard stuff. \nYou will get the most out of this course if you: \n\nWatch all the materials offered and complete the exercises\nDo the offered practices every day\nShow up with a wide open heart and willingness to be surprised\nCome in person\, if at all possible.  We are very happy to welcome those who join us from far away\, and we do feel there is something lost in being remote…\n\n  \nWe invite you into our practice of Gift Economics \nAt the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC)\, we practice Gift Economics\, which means\, among other things\, that we welcome you into our community\, and invite you to contribute according to your capacity and inspiration\, rather than as if you are purchasing a product/course.  By donating to EBMC\, you are supporting a community founded and dedicated to creating a dharma refuge for BIPOC\, LGBTQI2+\, people with disabilities\, other marginalized communities\, and everyone (including us white identified folks) who seeks to end suffering and cultivate happiness. Our mission is to foster liberation\, personal and interpersonal healing\, social action\, and inclusive community building.   \nWe hope that you will join us. \nFor this course\, the teachers offer their time without monetary compensation as a practice of reparation\, so that 80% of your donation for the On-Demand materials\, and 100% of your registration contributions will go to support the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC).  We will invite you to offer dana twice in this registration process (yes it’s a little clunky…).   \n  \nNext Steps \n\nFirst\, please register for the On-Demand materials through Spirit Rock.  The dana that you offer here will support EBMC (80%) who created the class\, and Spirit Rock (20%)\, who produced it.  \nSecond\, please register through EventBrite for the EBMC live class here. We invite you to contribute as generously as you can\, given your economic circumstances. \nYou may also contribute each time the class meets\, or at any time\, by going to the EBMC Donation page or through Venmo at @eastbaymeditation.   If you attend the class in person\, you may also contribute via check or cash.\n\n  \nQuestions?  Write to us at WhiteandAwakeninginSangha@eastbaymeditation.org \n  \nThe On-Demand materials qualify for 6 homestudy CE credits for $100 for psychologists and California licensed MFTs\, LCSWs\, LEPs\, LPCCs\, nurses\, and chiropractors. \n  \nA technical note: You should receive a confirmation email within a day of completing your registration.  If you don’t receive this email\, please contact us at whiteandawakening@eastbaymeditation.org so that we can troubleshoot this issue! \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nUniversal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible… \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \nTEACHERS \n \nCrystal Johnson is a retired clinical psychologist and a Community Teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) in Oakland\, CA\, where she also serves on the Leadership Sangha (Board) and as a member of the Radical Inclusivity Committee. She completed the year long Commit2Dharma training at EBMC\, as well as the 2-year Dedicated Practitioner Program and the 2-year Community Dharma Leader Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. In her teaching\, she focuses on creating/co-creating programs for white dharma practitioners seeking to build awareness\, knowledge and skills to challenge the dynamics of white privilege and race-based oppression\, and create truly inclusive sangha. Her courses include White and Awakening in Sangha at EBMC\, Unpacking Whiteness: Reflection and Action at the San Francisco Zen Center\, White and Awakening Together at Spirit Rock Meditation Center\, Unpacking Whiteness for the Soto Zen Buddhist Association and Unpacking the Whiteness of Leadership for Branching Streams. She offers consultation to individuals and organizations seeking to disrupt the practices of white supremacy culture and support change toward racial equity. \n \nKitsy Schoen\, MSW\, began her mindfulness practice and was inspired to work as a hospice social worker after meeting Stephen Levine in 1979. Throughout her career she has been able to integrate mindfulness and her passion for racial equity into her work. At Kaiser Permanente\, Kitsy led the NCAL Kaiser Psychiatry’s Cultural Diversity Workgroup and was a founding member of the “Isms Collaborative”\, a group of representatives from public and private health care organizations that sought to address workplace bias in agencies committed to reducing health disparities. In 2004 she began Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leader program with the specific focus of bringing insight and compassion practices to working with other white people on racism. In 2007\, she joined the Leadership Sangha (board) of East Bay Meditation Center and began offering antiracism classes to white practitioners. Kitsy has provided training and consultation to numerous mental health training programs and dharma centers on issues of racism\, power and privilege. \n \nHeather Lear (she/her) was born and raised with the Dharma in a family of Insight Meditation practitioners in the South\, and is now based on unceded Ramaytush Ohlone land in San Francisco. She studies and teaches at the intersection of heart-centered Dharma\, embodiment practices and DEIA work around white and awakening in community\, and serves as the Program Manager at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Heather has completed various study and teaching programs\, including Spirit Rock’s LEAP program\, the Sati Center’s Buddhist Chaplaincy Training\, and Radiant Heart Qigong Teacher Training with Teja Bell. She has served on the board at Insight Santa Cruz\, on the teaching team offering the 6-month White and Awakening in Sangha program at the East Bay Meditation Center since 2019\, and is part of the current Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders (CDL7) cohort.
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/white-and-awakening-in-sangha/2025-10-26/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251029T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251029T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032523
CREATED:20250820T000038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250827T211043Z
UID:10010738-1761762600-1761769800@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Path of the Modern Bodhisattva\, Class Series 1
DESCRIPTION:Path of the Modern Bodhisattva (Class Series 1 of 2) \nwith Mushim Ikeda \n  \nWednesday Evenings \nOctober 8th\, 15th\, 22nd\, and 29th 2025 \n6:30 – 8:30 PM PT (Time Zone Converter) \nHYBRID \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nI\, myself\, took the Bodhisattva Vows and made the vow\, “Life after life\, after life\, after life\, I will continue my practice and continue my work.” – Bhante Suhita Dharma\, Buddhist monk and social worker\, 1941-2013 \n  \nEmbodiment! Joy! Commitment! Strategic Action! In Mahayana Buddhism\, the Bodhisattva works and plays ceaselessly to liberate all suffering beings\, lifetime after lifetime. And – how do you and I show up\, day after day\, in the gigantic mess of our times\, to do the great work? \n  \nFor the seventh time\, EBMC will offer two class series exploring what it means to creatively embody the Bodhisattva teachings. Those who complete both class series may participate in the final daylong and either witness or take Bodhisattva precepts and vows in order to strengthen their commitment to collective liberation. These are the same vows taken by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and by Thich Nhat Hanh. \n  \n\nSign up for Series 2 (Nov 5-26\, 6:30-8:30pm PT) \nSign up for the daylong ceremony (Dec 14\, 10am-4pm PT) \n\n  \nMushim (Patricia) Ikeda received Bodhisattva precepts and vows at the Zen Buddhist Temple-Toronto\, Canada in 1983. She is an EBMC core teacher\, a widely-published writer\, and a social justice activist based in Oakland\, California. Mushim has practiced as both a monastic and a lay householder. For events\, writing\, video teachings\, go to www.mushimikeda.com \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \n  \nThe 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. \nOther ways to give: \nTo 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. \n  \nPlease also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well\, who do not receive a salary for their work\, and give their teachings freely to all. \n  \nVenmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda \nPayPal: info@mushimikeda.com \n  \nPlease indicate “Bodhisattva” in the subject line. \n  \nThank you for the gifts of your generosity and for supporting the work of East Bay Meditation Center and our beloved teachers who have volunteered their time. \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nFor Zoom participation\, these are our Universal Access Guidelines: \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \n  \n\n\n\n\nTeacher\n \nMushim Patricia Ikeda is an internationally-known secular mindfulness and Buddhist teacher working primarily with justice activists and Black\, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) meditation practitioners. A core teacher at East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland\, California\, she is an author whose writing has been published in Lion’s Roar\, Tricycle\, Buddhadharma and various anthologies. She is the founding and guiding teacher of EBMC’s Practice in Transformative Action\, a yearlong program that completed its tenth cohort in July 2023\, providing secular mindfulness training for justice activists and agents of change. Mushim was selected by Lion’s Roar Buddhist media magazine as one of twenty-six “Great Buddhist Teachers” in the January 2022 issue. If you would like to make a gift to our beloved teacher\, please do so via Venmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda or PayPal: info@mushimikeda.com
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-path-of-the-modern-bodhisattva-class-series-1-2/2025-10-29/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251104T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251104T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032523
CREATED:20210710T180923Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250313T193346Z
UID:10007384-1762282800-1762288200@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Alphabet Sangha
DESCRIPTION:A meditation group for the Lesbian\, Gay\, Bisexual\, Transgender\, Queer\, Intersex\, Same-Gender Loving\, and Two-Spirit communities. Because that’s such a mouthful\, we call ourselves the Alphabet Sangha. \nTuesdays\n7:00 – 8:30 pm \nHYBRID on First and Third Tuesdays of the month! Meet at EBMC or online. \nPlease email: alphabetsangha at eastbaymeditation dot org to request Zoom link to join online.  \nFor more information\, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-alphabet-sangha-2-2022-12-27/2025-11-04/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=East Bay Meditation Center 285 17th Street Oakland CA 94612 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=285 17th Street:geo:-122.2660299,37.8050656
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251105T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251105T133500
DTSTAMP:20260404T032523
CREATED:20231031T215537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250716T051937Z
UID:10009645-1762344000-1762349700@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Midday Sangha
DESCRIPTION:Join our peer-led multicultural sangha for silent meditation practice and community building. \nEvery Wednesday\n12:00 – 12:45pm PST   Silent sitting\, standing or lying down meditation with optional walking meditation. \n12:55 – 1:35pm PST   Facilitated conversation about our practice and being the dharma in the world \nHYBRID EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY\, ONLINE FOR OTHER MEETINGS (unless otherwise noted) \nMidday Sangha Coordinating Committee:\nemiko yoshikami\, Jennie Powe Runde\, Sakshi Uomoto\, Elese Lebsack and Robert Gavino \nemail middaysangha at eastbaymeditation dot org for zoom link and password 
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-midday-sangha-2024-10-23/2025-11-05/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251105T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251105T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032523
CREATED:20250820T000354Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250826T194252Z
UID:10010739-1762367400-1762374600@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: Path of the Modern Bodhisattva\, Class Series 2
DESCRIPTION:Path of the Modern Bodhisattva (Class Series 2 of 2) \nwith Mushim Ikeda \n  \nWednesday Evenings \nNovember 5th\, 12th\, 19th\, and 26th \n6:30 – 8:30 PM PT (Time Zone Converter) \nHYBRID \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nI\, myself\, took the Bodhisattva Vows and made the vow\, “Life after life\, after life\, after life\, I will continue my practice and continue my work.” – Bhante Suhita Dharma\, Buddhist monk and social worker\, 1941-2013 \n  \nEmbodiment! Joy! Commitment! Strategic Action! In Mahayana Buddhism\, the Bodhisattva works and plays ceaselessly to liberate all suffering beings\, lifetime after lifetime. And – how do you and I show up\, day after day\, in the gigantic mess of our times\, to do the great work? \n  \nFor the sixth time\, EBMC will offer two class series exploring what it means to creatively embody the Bodhisattva teachings. Those who complete both class series may participate in the final daylong and either witness or take Bodhisattva precepts and vows in order to strengthen their commitment to collective liberation. These are the same vows taken by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and by Thich Nhat Hanh. \n  \nSign up for Series 1 (Wednesdays\, Oct 8-29\, 6:30-8:30pm PT) \n\n\nSign up for the daylong ceremony (Dec 14\, 10am-4pm PT) \n\n\n  \nMushim (Patricia) Ikeda received Bodhisattva precepts and vows at the Zen Buddhist Temple-Toronto\, Canada in 1983. She is an EBMC core teacher\, a widely-published writer\, and a social justice activist based in Oakland\, California. Mushim has practiced as both a monastic and a lay householder. For events\, writing\, video teachings\, go to www.mushimikeda.com \n  \n\n\n\n\nCost \nThe 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. \n  \nThe 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. \n  \nOther ways to give: \nTo 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. \n  \nPlease also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well\, who do not receive a salary for their work\, and give their teachings freely to all. \n  \nVenmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda \nPayPal: info@mushimikeda.com \n  \nPlease indicate “Bodhisattva” in the subject line. \n  \nThank you for the gifts of your generosity and for supporting the work of East Bay Meditation Center and our beloved teachers who have volunteered their time. \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nFor Zoom participation\, these are our Universal Access Guidelines: \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \n  \n\n\n\n\nTeacher\n \nMushim Patricia Ikeda is an internationally-known secular mindfulness and Buddhist teacher working primarily with justice activists and Black\, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) meditation practitioners. A core teacher at East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland\, California\, she is an author whose writing has been published in Lion’s Roar\, Tricycle\, Buddhadharma and various anthologies. She is the founding and guiding teacher of EBMC’s Practice in Transformative Action\, a yearlong program that completed its tenth cohort in July 2023\, providing secular mindfulness training for justice activists and agents of change. Mushim was selected by Lion’s Roar Buddhist media magazine as one of twenty-six “Great Buddhist Teachers” in the January 2022 issue. If you would like to make a gift to our beloved teacher\, please do so via Venmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda or PayPal: info@mushimikeda.com
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-path-of-the-modern-bodhisattva-class-series-2-2/2025-11-05/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251108T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251108T113000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032523
CREATED:20250924T212023Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251020T225002Z
UID:10010909-1762596000-1762601400@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: 8 Step Buddhist Recovery Deep Refuge
DESCRIPTION:Every Saturday from 10AM – 11:30AM PST / PDT ONLINE \n**HYBRID AT EBMC AND ONLINE ON NOVEMBER 8TH 2025!** \nCompassionate Dharma Deep Refuge Buddhist meetings focus on ways to heal addiction. Based on the Eight Steps to Recovery developed by Dr. Mason-John M.A (hon.doc) and Dr Groves\, we believe this inclusive approach can build a solid foundation for those at any level of recovery and for those who have yet to seek help. \nThrough these practices we hope you gain a practice that can sustain you in your recovery. \nWe are a multi-recovery space. Whether you are navigating addiction to substances like drugs and alcohol\, or process addictions\, such as disordered eating\, codependency\, or sex and love addiction–you are welcome here. \nAdvance Registration is not required. \nFor additional information\, please contact: ebmcrecovery at gmail dot com.
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/hybrid-8-step-buddhist-recovery-deep-refuge-2/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Practice Groups
GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=East Bay Meditation Center 285 17th Street Oakland CA 94612 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=285 17th Street:geo:-122.2660299,37.8050656
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251109T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251109T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T032523
CREATED:20250723T220256Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250805T220644Z
UID:10010731-1762682400-1762696800@eastbaymeditation.org
SUMMARY:HYBRID: White and Awakening in Sangha
DESCRIPTION:HYBRID: White and Awakening in Sangha \nSundays from 10am to 2pm PT \nSeptember 28\, October 12 and 26\, November 9 and 23\, 2025 \nWith Crystal Johnson\, Kitsy Schoen\, and Heather Lear \nOpen to white-identified practitioners \nClosed Captioning Provided on Zoom \nThe center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible \nN95/KN95 masks required \n  \nPlease note; registration for this class is two steps: 1) On-Demand materials and 2) Live Class Registration.   \n  \nCourse Description \nSince 2007\, the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) has been offering courses designed for white people who want to build awareness and skills for disrupting the operation of white supremacy culture.  We began this journey by developing a  curriculum that guided white people into deeper awareness of our white conditioning\, and built intra- and inter-personal skills to support the creation of inclusive sangha.  Over time\, we have gone deeper into the dharma practices that guide us toward wise effort and wise action in our lives and communities to address the harm arising from race-based oppression.  By bringing our practice to bear our actions are guided by the Precepts and informed by the teaching of the Eightfold Path.   \n  \nThis year\, we are offering the foundations class in a revised format and adapted for a time of great conflict and violence\, and of intense political and psychological polarization around issues of race and justice and harm.  We are offering the basic curriculum in an On-Demand\, online format that participants can watch on their own time or by joining one of the hosted “watch parties” that will be offered.  The live course meetings will be focused on: \n\nBuilding a supportive community of white people to deepen our inquiries and support our efforts to grow and change\nDigesting and sharing our increasing understanding of white conditioning\, the operation of systemic racism and the psychological strategies that keep us stuck as we work to engage with the painful realities of white supremacy\nDeveloping intra- and inter- personal skills for personal and community development\nCultivating meditation practices that allow us to stay present in very difficult circumstances while staying grounded in our values\nBuilding our understanding of\, and commitment to\, wise effort and action guided by deep compassion \n\n   \nFormat \nThis course is designed to include people with a wide range of experience.  We will cover the basics of whiteness through the On-Demand materials that can be viewed privately or in one of the watch parties that we will host.  The live sessions (offered both in person and online) will offer additional materials\, including guided meditation\, dharma talks and discussion\, Q&R\, small group conversations\, and large group sharing.  Partial recordings of live sessions will be available for people who wish to review the material or who have to miss a class meeting. \n  \nPrerequisites \nPlease come to the class with an established meditation practice\, a genuine openness to learning from the teachers and other participants\, and the willingness and capacity to move through difficult emotions and psychological disruption while staying engaged.  This work requires courageous and honest self-reflection and the commitment to show up for ourselves and each other with compassion.  We rely on the strength of our community to get through the hard stuff. \nYou will get the most out of this course if you: \n\nWatch all the materials offered and complete the exercises\nDo the offered practices every day\nShow up with a wide open heart and willingness to be surprised\nCome in person\, if at all possible.  We are very happy to welcome those who join us from far away\, and we do feel there is something lost in being remote…\n\n  \nWe invite you into our practice of Gift Economics \nAt the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC)\, we practice Gift Economics\, which means\, among other things\, that we welcome you into our community\, and invite you to contribute according to your capacity and inspiration\, rather than as if you are purchasing a product/course.  By donating to EBMC\, you are supporting a community founded and dedicated to creating a dharma refuge for BIPOC\, LGBTQI2+\, people with disabilities\, other marginalized communities\, and everyone (including us white identified folks) who seeks to end suffering and cultivate happiness. Our mission is to foster liberation\, personal and interpersonal healing\, social action\, and inclusive community building.   \nWe hope that you will join us. \nFor this course\, the teachers offer their time without monetary compensation as a practice of reparation\, so that 80% of your donation for the On-Demand materials\, and 100% of your registration contributions will go to support the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC).  We will invite you to offer dana twice in this registration process (yes it’s a little clunky…).   \n  \nNext Steps \n\nFirst\, please register for the On-Demand materials through Spirit Rock.  The dana that you offer here will support EBMC (80%) who created the class\, and Spirit Rock (20%)\, who produced it.  \nSecond\, please register through EventBrite for the EBMC live class here. We invite you to contribute as generously as you can\, given your economic circumstances. \nYou may also contribute each time the class meets\, or at any time\, by going to the EBMC Donation page or through Venmo at @eastbaymeditation.   If you attend the class in person\, you may also contribute via check or cash.\n\n  \nQuestions?  Write to us at WhiteandAwakeninginSangha@eastbaymeditation.org \n  \nThe On-Demand materials qualify for 6 homestudy CE credits for $100 for psychologists and California licensed MFTs\, LCSWs\, LEPs\, LPCCs\, nurses\, and chiropractors. \n  \nA technical note: You should receive a confirmation email within a day of completing your registration.  If you don’t receive this email\, please contact us at whiteandawakening@eastbaymeditation.org so that we can troubleshoot this issue! \n  \nFor in-person participation: \nFor those wishing to practice in person\, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching. \nTo attend in person\, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products\, including those that are especially good for people of color\, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/ \nEast Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible. \n  \nUniversal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible… \n1. When speaking\, introduce your name\, pronouns\, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself. \n2. If using virtual backgrounds\, please use static\, simple\, high-contrast backgrounds. \n3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on. \n4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment. \n5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud. \n6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available. \n7. If you have unmet access needs\, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you\, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants. \n \nTEACHERS \n \nCrystal Johnson is a retired clinical psychologist and a Community Teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) in Oakland\, CA\, where she also serves on the Leadership Sangha (Board) and as a member of the Radical Inclusivity Committee. She completed the year long Commit2Dharma training at EBMC\, as well as the 2-year Dedicated Practitioner Program and the 2-year Community Dharma Leader Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. In her teaching\, she focuses on creating/co-creating programs for white dharma practitioners seeking to build awareness\, knowledge and skills to challenge the dynamics of white privilege and race-based oppression\, and create truly inclusive sangha. Her courses include White and Awakening in Sangha at EBMC\, Unpacking Whiteness: Reflection and Action at the San Francisco Zen Center\, White and Awakening Together at Spirit Rock Meditation Center\, Unpacking Whiteness for the Soto Zen Buddhist Association and Unpacking the Whiteness of Leadership for Branching Streams. She offers consultation to individuals and organizations seeking to disrupt the practices of white supremacy culture and support change toward racial equity. \n \nKitsy Schoen\, MSW\, began her mindfulness practice and was inspired to work as a hospice social worker after meeting Stephen Levine in 1979. Throughout her career she has been able to integrate mindfulness and her passion for racial equity into her work. At Kaiser Permanente\, Kitsy led the NCAL Kaiser Psychiatry’s Cultural Diversity Workgroup and was a founding member of the “Isms Collaborative”\, a group of representatives from public and private health care organizations that sought to address workplace bias in agencies committed to reducing health disparities. In 2004 she began Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leader program with the specific focus of bringing insight and compassion practices to working with other white people on racism. In 2007\, she joined the Leadership Sangha (board) of East Bay Meditation Center and began offering antiracism classes to white practitioners. Kitsy has provided training and consultation to numerous mental health training programs and dharma centers on issues of racism\, power and privilege. \n \nHeather Lear (she/her) was born and raised with the Dharma in a family of Insight Meditation practitioners in the South\, and is now based on unceded Ramaytush Ohlone land in San Francisco. She studies and teaches at the intersection of heart-centered Dharma\, embodiment practices and DEIA work around white and awakening in community\, and serves as the Program Manager at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Heather has completed various study and teaching programs\, including Spirit Rock’s LEAP program\, the Sati Center’s Buddhist Chaplaincy Training\, and Radiant Heart Qigong Teacher Training with Teja Bell. She has served on the board at Insight Santa Cruz\, on the teaching team offering the 6-month White and Awakening in Sangha program at the East Bay Meditation Center since 2019\, and is part of the current Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders (CDL7) cohort.
URL:https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/white-and-awakening-in-sangha/2025-11-09/
LOCATION:East Bay Meditation Center\, 285 17th Street\, Oakland\, CA\, 94612\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes,Hybrid
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GEO:37.8050656;-122.2660299
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