East Bay Meditation Center

Alphabet Sangha
2019-04-02 19:00 - 20:30, 2019-03-26 19:00 - 20:30, 2019-03-19 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
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.
Tuesdays
7:00 – 8:30 pm
For more information, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE

Tai Chi Chih – Joy through Movement
2019-04-02 18:00 - 18:50
Tai Chi Chih – Joy through Movement
with Jenn Biehn
Alphabet Dharma in Motion Class, Tuesdays 6-6:50
April 2 – May 28
Tai Chi Chih is a moving meditation consisting of 20 easy-to-learn, accessible movements. A form of qigong, Tai Chi Chih circulates and balances the chi or energy of the body with the intention of bringing stillness and calm to the heart mind in the midst of activity. Qigong stretches will be practiced at the beginning of each class to prepare for this moving meditation. Please come fragrance free.
A Buddha Dharma Sangha practitioner and Tai Chi Chih teacher for 30 years, Jenn loves including embodied awareness and healing movement as part of sangha building. She has taught and practiced Tai Chi Chih (TCC) – Joy through Movement at City College of SF and to those healing from trauma in several community-based organizations. She practices with Alphabet Sangha and Midday Sangha and currently helps steward EBMC as a member of the Leadership Sangha.

Clearing The Mind:Tools and Techniques for Increasing Calm Abiding
2019-04-01 18:30 - 20:30
with John Mifsud
Clearing the Mind is for both experienced and new meditators. We will explore practical techniques that increase deep relaxation and steady concentration. Simple, how-to tools will combine with traditional Buddhist teachings to strengthen calm abiding in meditation practice.
All classes are stand-alone, come to one or all four.
Week 1: Single Pointed Concentration, Moment to Moment
Awareness and Luminous Mind
Week 2: Body Scans, Mantras and Creative Visualizations
Week 3: What Gets in the Way – The Five Hindrances
Week 4: Focusing on the Divine Abodes: Loving Kindness, Compassion, Appreciative Joy & Equanimity.
Space is limited and registration is requested. REGISTER HERE
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

Every Body Every Mind Sangha
2019-03-31 18:00 - 19:30, 2019-03-24 18:00 - 19:30, 2019-03-17 18:00 - 19:30
Every Body Every Mind Sangha is a weekly practice group for people living with disabilities, limitations, differences and chronic illnesses.
Sundays
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Please come and take part in this time to meditate, share our lives and support with each other, and learn more about the dharma. There is no need to register for these weekly meetings, just come and share this path together!
Teachers include Charlie Johnson, Deb Kerr and others.
For more info, visit the Every Body Every Mind Sangha Website.

Taming Anxiety
2019-03-30 09:00 - 15:00
with Rev. Keiryu Liên Shutt
Does your mind seem to “be all over the place”? Do you find yourself worrying a lot? Do you feel easily overwhelmed and filled with anxiety? Do you obsess about “shoulds’” and “coulds’” and, therefore, find it hard to focus?
Buddhist teachings and practices have long addressed ways to be with such emotions and thoughts. In this one-day, we gather to work with worry and anxiety: how to be with these emotions and engage with practices which can foster calm and ease in both body and mind.
Dharma teachings, meditations, group discussions and experiential exercises are offered.
Open to all
Space is limited and registration is requested. REGISTER HERE
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

People of Color Sangha
2019-03-28 19:00 - 21:00, 2019-03-21 19:00 - 21:00, 2019-03-14 19:00 - 21:00
The People of Color Sangha is a growing tribe of people of color waking up and getting free!
Thursdays
7:00 – 9:00 PM
For more information, visit the: POC SANGHA WEBSITE

ONLINE: People of Color Yoga
2019-03-28 17:45 - 18:45, 2019-03-21 17:45 - 18:45, 2019-03-14 17:45 - 18:45
Weekly Yoga Practice for Self Identified People of Color led by Satya de la Paz
5:45PM – 6:45PM
Build strength and flexibility while cultivating mindfulness in this all levels hatha yoga class. Each class has a unique, inspiring theme and personalized instruction that will leave you feeling joyous and rejuvenated.
To donate to the Teacher via Venmo use ID: @satyabodyworks
To donate to EBMC click HERE.

Teen Sangha: Winter Session
2019-03-27 19:00 - 20:45, 2019-03-20 19:00 - 20:45, 2019-03-13 19:00 - 20:45
EBMC Teen Sangha
Winter 2019
Wednesdays, January 2nd to March 27th 7:00 pm – 8:45PM pm
EBMC Teen Sangha is a weekly meditation group for teens, ages 14-19
Led by Anthony Maes, Raul Betancourt, Louije Kim and Sarwang Parikh
Our focus is on creating deeper relationships with ourselves and each other, having fun, getting real and supporting each other. Learn mindfulness meditation and explore the dharma (Buddhist teachings) in creative experiential ways. No experience necessary. We are committed to maintaining a sangha (community) that is welcoming to people of all identities, cultures and backgrounds.
Registration: Registration is required and space is limited. Click HERE to register.
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

The Buddha’s “How to” Guide to a Life of Happiness and Well-being
2019-03-27 18:30 - 20:30, 2019-03-20 18:30 - 20:30
with Mushim Ikeda
Part of EBMC’s Core Buddhist Teachings: 5-Month Curriculum | This Class is a Four Class Series Open to All
Everyone wants to live and be happy, yet human life is marked by suffering. Many are intimately and historically affected by social injustice, and we all experience loss of what is dear to us, sickness, aging, and death. How do we develop wisdom (insight) and spiritual strength (a practice that sustains us during the hard times)? The Buddha’s teaching of the Eightfold Path is a roadmap for a life well-lived. This class series will include interactive exercises, meditation, Dharma talks, and discussion. Beginners in meditation are welcome.
Space is limited and registration is requested. REGISTER HERE
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

Midday Sangha
2019-03-27 12:00 - 13:35, 2019-03-20 12:00 - 13:35
Midday Sangha at EBMC Wednesdays at Noon!
Join our peer-led multicultural sangha for silent meditation practice and community building.
Every Wednesday
12:00 – 12:45 Silent sitting, standing or lying down meditation with optional walking meditation.
12:45 – 1:35 Potluck lunch with facilitated conversation about our practice and being the dharma in the world
Midday Sangha Coordinating Committee:
Abe Doherty, Jenn Biehn, Kam McCallum, Karen Jackson, Manuel Vasquez, Preston Justice, Shawki, Yvette Flores

Dharma in Motion - Access Stillness in the Midst of Activity
2019-03-26 18:00 - 18:50, 2019-03-19 18:00 - 18:50
T’ai Chi Chih – Joy through Movement
with Paul Ciske
Dharma in Motion Class, Tuesdays 6-6:50
February 5 – March 26
T’ai Chi Chih® is a moving meditation consisting of 20 easy-to-learn, accessible movements. A form of qigong, T’ai Chi Chih® circulates and balances the chi or energy of the body with the intention of bringing stillness and calm to the heart mind in the midst of activity. There are variations for standing, sitting, and lying down. Please come fragrance free.
For the past 25 years, Paul has taught and practiced Tai Chi Chih (TCC) – Joy through Movement. His profession revolves around the body as a neurologic body worker, movement trainer and coach, and Conscious Embodiment facilitator. Paul was the original host of Larry Yang’s LGBTQ East Bay sitting group before EBMC existed and is a long-time member of Alphabet Sangha.

Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Class Series for People of Color
2019-03-25 18:30 - 20:30, 2019-03-18 18:30 - 20:30
with Carol Cano
For Self Identified People of Color
Mindfulness-based meditation is not a religious code as much as it is a social psychology that supports experiences of well-being. -Ruth King (Author of Mindful Race)
This four-week course will introduce you to secular mindfulness meditation. We will get a brief overview of the historically background and the fundamentals of how to start a mindfulness meditation practice. We will explore how this practice can cultivate balance, peace and support at times that are very challenging and difficult to navigate. This series will give you a fresh perspective to an already stressful life during these chaotic times.
The objective is how to address fluctuating mental states of fear, anxiety and other negative or positives mental states that arise by fostering awareness as a tool for creating a clear, less receptive behaviors and develop qualities of the heart to can promote balance and beauty.
Space is limited and registration is requested. REGISTER HERE
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

ONLINE: Trans/Gender-Expansive Deep Refuge Group
2019-03-25 18:30 - 20:00
Trans/Gender-Expansive Deep Refuge Group
Fourth Mondays (online over zoom)
6:30-8pm PM PST
This deep refuge group is by and for trans/gender-expansive people. Our goal is to provide a welcoming community space for trans/gender-expansive folks who are interested in exploring meditation and other aspects of Buddhist practice. Both beginners and experienced practitioners welcome!
To be added to the email list, please email tgedeeprefuge@eastbaymeditation.org with a quick note about your interest in the group. We look forward to practicing with you!

Drop by Drop: Keeping Faith for the Long Haul
2019-03-24 10:00 - 16:30
with Deb Kerr
Changing the mind’s conditioning can be a slow process. We need patience for the long haul. And we need faith that what we are doing is effective to lessen suffering. What does faith mean in a Buddhist context? How does faith in dharma practice develop, and support our deeper awakening? In this daylong workshop, we’ll be exploring these themes using silent and guided meditation, personal reflection and interactive exercises. Participants will learn to uncover and rest on their own bedrock of faith, and to foster its ongoing emergence.
Space is limited and registration is requested. REGISTER HERE
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

Meeting Pain with Compassionate Presence
2019-03-17 10:00 - 12:30
with Satya de La Paz August
This workshop will offer gentle movement which both strengthens and stabilizes the body, with an special focus on joints. Multiple expressions of each pose will be offered and participants are invited to practice lying down, seated, or standing, according to their own body wisdom and access needs. We will explore the relationship between mental, physiological, emotional states and joint pain. Incorporating practices of Tonglen and Ayurveda, we will cultivate a capacity to relate with our pain in a way that awakens compassion and wisdom. Practice cultivating acceptance and kindness to deepen and transform the relationship to physical pain.
Space is limited and registration is required. REGISTER HERE
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

Dharma in Motion - Embodying Heart Qualities through Tai Chi Chih
2019-03-15 18:00 - 18:50
with Jenn Biehn
DROP IN FORMAT, NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.
Please wear clothing that allows for gentle movement.
A form of qigong, Tai Chi Chih circulates, balances, and gathers the chi or energy of the body. In this class, we will embody heart qualities including lovingkindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity through easy-to-learn, accessed-centered Tai Chi Chih movements. Embodying heart qualities through mindful movement helps ground and strengthen these qualities. Qigong stretches will be practiced at the beginning of each class to prepare the body heart mind for this moving meditation.
