East Bay Meditation Center

Center Open Hours
2025-06-29 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-07-06 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
We welcome you to drop by the center for unguided silent practice, our library, or a cup of tea in our kitchen.
with EBMC Staff
Sundays
4 – 6 PM Pacific Time
EBMC is a fragrance-free center and is wheelchair accessible. N95/KN95 masks required.
Note: Due to capacity limitations of our small staff, we may occasionally need to shorten or cancel open hours. We will do our best to give as much advanced notice as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

HYBRID: Open Hours Open Mic: Pride Edition
2025-06-29 16:30 - 19:30
HYBRID: Open Hours Open Mic at EBMC
Sunday, June 29th 2025
4:30 – 7:30 PM PT
With Ramón Honea, EBMC Community and Facilities Liaison
Closed Captioning Provided on Zoom
The center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible
N95/KN95 masks required

Happy Pride Month!!
Do you have a song to sing, a poem or written word to share, personal art to show? Then come on down to the center on Sunday June 29th! If you can’t come down, join us on Zoom (sharing online is welcome too). This will be a hybrid way of gathering in community.
The theme is Pride and Resistance, although all shares are welcome. Each share will be maximum three minutes long with a bell rung to end it. BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ voices will be invited to share first.
NOTE: Sign-ups are ONLY between 4:30-5 PM, in-person or online. We cannot take any sign-ups after 5 PM.

For accessibility, please:

Limit the use of instruments
Provide visual descriptions of yourself and any art
Provide content warnings when appropriate
Follow the Agreements for Multicultural Interactions

There will be snacks in our kitchen. It is a potluck so add any food that you can bring. We will finish the night with some dancing.

SCHEDULE
4:15 PM: Doors open
4:30-5 PM: Sign-ups, potluck, and 20-min meditation
5-7 PM: Open mic time
7-7:30: Dancing, potluck, and clean up
Remember parking is free on Sunday and all are welcome.

Cost
The teachings are regarded as priceless. So they are offered without a fee. You are invited to support the teachings and our efforts by contributing voluntary donations (the practice of “Dana”) for the expenses of the meditation center and the support of the teachers.
The ticket prices are listed as different tiers with suggested donations based on income ranges. For those who wish to give more, you may choose an “add-on” to your ticket. For those unable to give, there is an option for that.
Other ways to give:
To 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.
Thank 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.

For in-person participation:
For 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 speaker may be unmasked while speaking at the mic.
To 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/

East Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible.

Universal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible…
1. When speaking, introduce your name, pronouns, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself.
2. If using virtual backgrounds, please use static, simple, high-contrast backgrounds.
3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on.
4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment.
5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud.
6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available.
7. 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.

Every Body Every Mind Sangha
2025-06-29 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-07-06 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

ONLINE WITH SPECIAL HYBRID DATES
March 23rd 2025 with Arisika Razak
April 20th 2025 with Anne Finger
May 18th 2025 with Mushim Ikeda
June 22nd 2025 with Anne Finger
No registration needed to attend these meetings in person. More hybrid dates may be announced in the future.

To join online, please email: ebem at eastbaymeditation dot org to request a Zoom link.
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!
EveryBody, EveryMind Teacher Group: Debra Kerr, Kenji Oshima, Anne Finger, Master John W. Ellis IV, Beth Smith, Mushim Ikeda, Victor Jih, & Zac Krohn
For more info, visit the Every Body Every Mind Sangha Website.

Center Open Hours
2025-07-01 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-03 11:00 - 13:00
We welcome you to drop by the center for unguided silent practice, our library, or a cup of tea in our kitchen.
with EBMC Staff
Daytime: Tuesday & Thursday
11 AM – 1 PM Pacific Time
EBMC is a fragrance-free center and is wheelchair accessible. N95/KN95 masks required.
Note: Due to capacity limitations of our small staff, we may occasionally need to shorten or cancel open hours. We will do our best to give as much advanced notice as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

HYBRID: Alphabet Sangha
2025-07-01 19:00 - 20:30
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
HYBRID on First and Third Tuesdays of the month! Meet at EBMC or online.
Please email: alphabetsangha at eastbaymeditation dot org to request Zoom link to join online.
For more information, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE

ONLINE: Kapwa Meditation for Filipinx/a/o Community
2025-07-02 07:00 - 07:30, 2025-07-09 07:00 - 07:30
We are happy to announce that a weekly Kapwa Meditation for Filipinx/a/o folks will begin on Wednesday, Jan. 8, from 7:00 to 7:30 AM Pacific Time. We will continue to gather every Wednesday morning, coming together for support and practice, on our paths of individual and collective transformation.

In addition to our weekly meditation, we would like to remind everyone of our monthly Kapwa Deep Refuge Group for Filipinx/a/o folks. Launched in the Spring of 2024, we meet on the third Sunday of every month, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM Pacific Time.
Together, in both spaces, we aspire to cultivate a special community space in the intersection of Filipinx/a/o identity + culture + history and Buddhist spiritual practice.
The Zoom credentials are the same for both our weekly Wednesday meditation and our monthly gathering.
If you identify as Filipinx/a/o and would like to join, please contact us at: kapwa.deep.refuge@gmail.com

HYBRID: Midday Sangha
2025-07-02 12:00 - 13:35
Join our peer-led multicultural sangha for silent meditation practice and community building.
Every Wednesday
12:00 – 12:45pm PST Silent sitting, standing or lying down meditation with optional walking meditation.
12:55 – 1:35pm PST Facilitated conversation about our practice and being the dharma in the world
HYBRID EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY, ONLINE FOR OTHER MEETINGS (unless otherwise noted)
Midday Sangha Coordinating Committee:
emiko yoshikami, Jennie Powe Runde, Sakshi Uomoto, Elese Lebsack and Robert Gavino
email middaysangha at eastbaymeditation dot org for zoom link and password

HYBRID: BIPOC Sangha
2025-07-03 19:00 - 20:30
The BIPOC Sangha is a growing community of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color waking up and getting free!
Thursdays
7 – 8:30 PM PT
**Hybrid on First and Third Thursdays (online only on other Thursdays)
**Potluck in the EBMC kitchen on the Third Thursday meeting, from 6-7 PM PT! Bring a dish or beverage to share.
Closed Captions Provided.
Zoom info: Meeting details are shared through their mailing list (subscribe on their website), and their Facebook group.

ONLINE: Maha Sangha with Arisika Razak and Ramona Lisa-Ortiz Smith
2025-07-04 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-07-11 19:00 - 20:30
Friday, January 7th Teachers: Arisika Razak and Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith
Maha Sangha for All People & Communities
Creating Freedom in Community
Every Friday night at EBMC, 7:00 – 8:30pm.
Zoom Info: email mahasangha at eastbaymeditation dot org to ask for a Zoom link.
The EBMC Maha Sangha for All People and Communities is a meditation and dharma group with an emphasis on radical inclusivity and social justice.
Maha is a Pali word meaning whole, great, larger/largest, deepest, and Sangha is a Pali word for community, or community of practitioners. Together, these words represent a place where all people and communities are warmly invited to explore the Dharma together in keeping with East Bay Meditation Center’s core mission to foster liberation, personal and interpersonal healing, social action, and inclusive community building. We hope that you will join us.
The EBMC Maha Sangha’s leadership team of teachers, dharma leaders, and sangha members includes: Arisika Razak, Baruch Golden, Chinh Nguyen, Crystal Johnson, Fresh! Lev White, Jd Doyle, Lisa Moore, Shahara Godfrey, Syra Smith, Shay, and Anni Mackin.
Contact: mahasangha at eastbaymeditation org

ONLINE: Maha Sangha
2025-07-04 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-07-11 19:00 - 20:30
Maha Sangha for All People & Communities
Creating Freedom in Community
Every Friday night, 7:00 – 8:30pm.
Hybrid, every 4th Friday of the month
Event Details: Meets weekly on zoom, and starting to meet once a month in person, email mahasangha at eastbaymeditation dot org for more info and get on our newsletter
The EBMC Maha Sangha for All People and Communities is a meditation and dharma group with an emphasis on radical inclusivity and social justice.
Maha is a Pali word meaning whole, great, larger/largest, deepest, and Sangha is a Pali word for community, or community of practitioners. Together, these words represent a place where all people and communities are warmly invited to explore the Dharma together in keeping with East Bay Meditation Center’s core mission to foster liberation, personal and interpersonal healing, social action, and inclusive community building. We hope that you will join us.
The EBMC Maha Sangha’s leadership team of teachers, dharma leaders, and sangha members includes: Arisika Razak, Fresh! Lev White, Rebekah Eppley, Sarwang Parikh and Shay.
Contact: mahasangha at eastbaymeditation org

ONLINE: 8 Step Buddhist Recovery Deep Refuge
2025-07-05 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-07-12 10:00 - 11:30
Every Saturday from 10AM – 11:30AM PST / PDT ONLINE
Compassionate 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.
Through these practices we hope you gain a practice that can sustain you in your recovery.
We 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.
Advance Registration is not required.
For additional information, please contact: ebmcrecovery at gmail dot com.

ONLINE: Parent-Caregiver Sangha
2025-07-07 20:00 - 21:15
EBMC’s Parent-Caregiver teaching team will be offering a monthly parents’ meditation group for restoration, support and connection.

Parenting often can be challenging…as well as a great practice. We offer a short talk, guided meditation and sharing. We gather to create a safe refuge to share the joys and the challenges of caring for young people by cultivating loving-kindness, compassion, patience and generosity with the support of the sangha. We welcome all parents/grandparents/caregivers of young people to join us. No prior experience necessary.

Meeting time: First Mondays of the month, 8-9:15 PM Pacific Time. On Zoom (closed captions provided).

Click here for more information.

ONLINE: Social Justice Lunchtime Sangha - Peer Led Deep Refuge group
2025-07-08 12:00 - 13:00
Social Justice Sangha is a place to practice and reflect with #EBMCOakland organizers and activists. Includes a 30 minute meditation and time for sharing what’s on our hearts.

Contact: socialjustice at eastbaymeditation dot org

IN PERSON: Gather & Ground: Compassionate Community Building
2025-07-08 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-10 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-11 17:00 - 19:00
Gather & Ground: Compassionate Community Building
July 7th through September 30th, 2025
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
5-7 PM PT
In person only

Starting the week of July 7th through September 30th, we are piloting a new summer effort to have the center open every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 5-7pm. The first hour (5-6pm) will be for meditation in our temple or compassion room space or to peruse our library offerings. The second hour (6-6:45pm) will be for a fun social potluck in the kitchen space. Everyone is encouraged to bring something to share with the group. We hope this effort will build some momentum and energy for EBMC and bring more people in our community together in-person.

These new community building hours are the same evenings as our Alphabet (Tuesdays 7pm), BIPOC (Thursdays 7pm) and Maha Sanghas (Fridays 7pm) so we hope this effort will also encourage people to join those groups with a hope to generate enough attendance to bring them back to in-person every week! This was also based on feedback from the survey. See more info about our Practice Groups here.

There are so many reasons to be in community right now and EBMC wants to support this by opening our space during these times to anyone who needs it. We are stronger when we are in solidarity together to meet the moment we are in. We hope to see you soon! Come practice. Come snack. Come as you are. Feel free to bring a friend!

Please note: During these specific hours, masks will be encouraged, but not required. Again, this is a pilot effort that we are trying in this one area based on survey responses, with a goal of expanding our circle, but as of now, our masking policy remains the same for all other programming and events.

ONLINE: Alphabet Sangha
2025-07-08 19:00 - 20:30
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
Please email: alphabetsangha at eastbaymeditation dot org to request Zoom link to join online.
For more information, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE

ONLINE: Midday Sangha
2025-07-09 12:00 - 13:35

HYBRID: Better Together: How Can Health Equity Partnerships Improve Communities?
2025-07-09 18:00 - 19:30
Better Together: How Can Health Equity Partnerships Improve Communities?
Wednesday July 9th 2025
6 – 7:30 PM PT
With UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health researchers Ariana Thompson-Lastad, Chloe Atreya, Maria Chao and EBMC Core Teacher Mushim Ikeda
Moderated by EBMC Community Teacher Margarita Loinaz, MD
HYBRID in person and on Zoom
Open to all
The center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible
N95/KN95 masks required

Buddhism and the field of public health try to address the same question:
Why and how are we suffering?
For the first time ever, please join us for a special panel discussion about community well-being with researchers representing the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health, Ariana Thompson-Lastad, PhD; Chloe Atreya, MD, PhD; and Maria Chao, DrPH, MPH; along with our very own EBMC Core Teacher Mushim Ikeda! We’re also grateful to have EBMC Community Teacher Margarita Loinaz, MD as our moderator for the evening.
Did you know that EBMC has been involved with academic research on health equity, neuroscience, and how meditation can impact social justice? What is the significance of Buddhism and meditation in academic health research? How can we improve our communities by integrating these fields?
Learn about recent and potential partnerships between EBMC and UCSF that connect mindfulness practices with health justice and equity. These topics are part of the exciting, emerging field of integrative health equity, which addresses issues of inclusion, social justice, multiculturalism, and healthcare accessibility in our communities. Together let’s explore how wisdom traditions from Buddhism and other lineages can meet modern medicine to support collective healing.
There will be time for audience Q&A, so please bring your questions!
All are welcome to attend.

Cost
The teachings are regarded as priceless. So they are offered without a fee. You are invited to support the teachings and our efforts by contributing voluntary donations (the practice of “Dana”) for the expenses of the meditation center and the support of the teachers.
The ticket prices are listed as different tiers with suggested donations based on income ranges. For those who wish to give more, you may choose an “add-on” to your ticket. For those unable to give, there is an option for that.
Note that all financial gifts received here go directly to EBMC, and we invite you to give separately to our teachers, using the information below.
Please also consider giving a financial gift to our teacher Mushim as well, who does not receive a salary for her work, and gives her teachings freely to all.
Venmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda
PayPal: info@mushimikeda.com

Other ways to give:
To 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.

For in-person participation:
For 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.
To 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/
East Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible.

Universal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible…
1. When speaking, introduce your name, pronouns, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself.
2. If using virtual backgrounds, please use static, simple, high-contrast backgrounds.
3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on.
4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment.
5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud.
6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available.
7. 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.

Panelists

Ariana Thompson-Lastad, PhD is Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine and core faculty at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health. Dr. Thompson-Lastad conducts research on the role of integrative healthcare in advancing health equity, using qualitative and community-engaged methods. Her work primarily examines innovative approaches to primary care, including integrative group medical visits implemented in US community health centers and the community midwifery model of postpartum care. Trained as a medical sociologist, she joined the Osher Center as a TRIM postdoctoral fellow in 2018. Dr. Thompson-Lastad served as a board member of Integrative Medicine for the Underserved and is a leadership team member of the Bay Area Structural Competency Working Group. Prior to becoming a researcher, she worked in a community health center as a diabetes care coordinator and group medical visit facilitator.

Chloe Atreya, MD, PhD is a medical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal cancers at the UCSF Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC). She co-directs the Integrative Oncology Research Hub and is affiliated with the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health (OCIH). A physician scientist, she has expertise in bridging clinical practice and research. Her grant-funded research focuses on the interplay of tumor biology, the gut microbiome, lifestyle factors, and response to therapies for colorectal cancer. She is dedicated to practicing personalized medicine, with an emphasis on health equity and treating the whole person. Her integrative oncology concentration is on evidence informed mind-body practices. She serves on the Society for Integrative Oncology Research Committee and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Management Guidelines panel. She also serves on San Francisco Zen Center’s City Center Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Committee and co-coordinates the East Bay Meditation Center’s Multiracial Deep Refuge Group.

Maria Chao, DrPH, MPA, is Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco, and the Director of Research and Associate Director for Health Equity and Diversity at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health. Dr. Chao’s overarching research goal is to investigate how complementary and integrative medicine can advance health equity. Her current studies focus on nonpharmacologic approaches to improve quality of life among diverse and historically underserved populations living with chronic conditions. Dr. Chao co-directs two NIH-funded training fellowships on integrative health research, with the goal of building pipelines to improve diversity in the scientific workforce.

Mushim 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 and with people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. 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 recipient of an honorary doctor of sacred theology degree from the Starr King School for the Ministry. Mushim was selected by Lion’s Roar Buddhist media magazine as one of twenty-six “Great Buddhist Teachers” in the January 2022 issue. See her eco-related writings, “The Pine Tree Koan,” at https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/article/the-pine-tree-koan/ and “I Take Refuge in the Buddha,” in Lion’s Roar Buddhist media, https://www.lionsroar.com/taking-refuge-in-the-three-jewels/. Mushim’s website is
www.mushimikeda.com

H. Margarita Loinaz, MD, is a retired public health physician and Buddhist teacher trained in the Theravada and Tibetan traditions. While in public health, she worked at Tom Waddell Clinic and Homeless programs in San Francisco. On the clinical faculty at UCSF she mentored students and residents on the care of underserved communities. With one of her students, she published two seminal articles on the plight of day laborers who often work in unprotected dangerous jobs where injuries are devastating. Later, through training in Biodynamic Osteopathy, she learned to recognize the self-correcting drive within the body and its potential for profound healing.
Dr. Loinaz has been a Buddhist practitioner since 1977 and trained with Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1994 becoming one of the early teachers of MBSR in the SF Bay Area. She developed mindfulness programs for the Spanish-speaking community and homeless patients of the clinic, including an ongoing support group. In an effort to make convert Buddhist meditation centers more inclusive, she and Marlene Jones co-organized the first People of Color retreat at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in 1999. Over the past 20 years she has gradually focused her studies and teaching on the Dzogchen lineage of the Tibetan tradition. These teachings are based on the recognition of our essential nature as human beings which provides a powerful refuge and perspective, particularly while living under cultures of domination. She sees parallels between the self-correcting drive within our bodies with the drive in the mind to understand and free itself..
See Dr. Loinaz’s article “Recognizing Our True Nature” in Lion’s Roar magazine here: https://www.lionsroar.com/meditations-on-buddhanature/

ONLINE: BIPOC Sangha
2025-07-10 19:00 - 20:30
The BIPOC Sangha is a growing community of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color waking up and getting free!
Thursdays
7 – 8:30 PM PT
**Online on Second, Fourth (and the possible Fifth) Thursdays
**Hybrid on First and Third Thursdays
**Potluck in the EBMC kitchen on the Third Thursday meeting, from 6-7 PM PT! Bring a dish or beverage to share.
Closed Captions Provided.
Zoom info: Meeting details are shared through their mailing list (subscribe on their website), and their Facebook group.

IN PERSON: Sacred Reconnection: A Morning of Renewal
2025-07-12 10:00 - 14:00
IN PERSON: Sacred Reconnection
Saturday July 12th 2025
10 AM to 2 PM PT (Time Zone Converter)
With Carol Cano, Arisika Razak, and Jenn Biehn
JUST ADDED TO TEACHING TEAM: Inez from Inez Healing Arts
Open to all
The center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible
N95/KN95 masks required

Join us for a morning of sacred reconnection—a time to come home to ourselves, each other, our ancestors, the Earth, and our beloved spiritual home, the East Bay Meditation Center.
In these times of deep division—social, political, and spiritual—it’s easy to feel disconnected or overwhelmed. Amid the noise and fragmentation of the world, we invite you to pause and return to what is sacred. Through ritual, earth-based practices, guided meditation, mindful movement and a community talking circle, we’ll explore how to ground ourselves in connection and meaning.
Whether you draw strength from your relationship with Mother Earth, the wisdom of your Ancestors, or the steadiness of mindfulness practice, this gathering offers space to listen deeply, share openly, and reconnect with the sacred in everyday life.
All are welcome!
Program: 10am-1pm
Brown Bag Lunch and Fellowship: 1-2pm

Cost
The teachings are regarded as priceless. So they are offered without a fee. You are invited to support the teachings and our efforts by contributing voluntary donations (the practice of “Dana”) for the expenses of the meditation center and the support of the teachers.
The ticket prices are listed as different tiers with suggested donations based on income ranges. For those who wish to give more, you may choose an “add-on” to your ticket. For those unable to give, there is an option for that.
Note that all financial gifts received here go directly to EBMC, and we invite you to give separately to our teachers, using the information below.

Other ways to give:
To make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center, you may do so 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.
Please 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.
Thank 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.

For in-person participation:
For 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.
To 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/

East Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible.

Public Transportation/Parking:
– We strongly encourage public transportation/biking/walking since parking in the neighborhood is limited.Please avoid parking your car on the street in a metered space during this time as it will cause an interrupted retreat experience.
– EBMC is 4-5 blocks from 19th Street Bart (about a 7 minute walk).
– EBMC has bike parking inside the center.
– Please note that parking meters are enforced Monday – Saturday, 8 am – 6 pm.
– Parking on Alice, Jackson and 17th between Alice and Lakeside drive is unmetered and has no time limit on Saturdays. – 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.

Teachers

Carol Cano began her practice 30 years ago at Wat Kow Tahm in Thailand and has actively engaged in building communities and teaching Dharma internationally. She has completed a myriad of training programs at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and is currently participating in their Retreat Teacher Training. Carol is a core teacher and was a former board member of East Bay Meditation Center. Her unique teachings are deeply grounded in Basque, Native American and Buddhist influences that braid the Dharma along indigenous wisdom and Earth-based practices. Carol reminds us to keep grounded in our hearts as we uphold spiritual ideals and encourages us to remain balanced within the demands of modern life. To offer a gift to Carol to support her teachings, please do so via Venmo: @Carol-Cano-4

Arisika 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. To offer a gift to support Arisika‘s teachings, please do so via Venmo: @Arisika-Razak or PayPal: arisikarazak@gmail.com

For the past 25 years, Jenn Biehn has taught Tai Chi Chih (TCC) – Joy through Movement. TCC consists of 20 easy-to-learn accessible movements that emphasize a soft continuity of motion and can be practiced in silence or with guided visualizations. She has taught TCC to those healing from trauma in various community based organizations. At three month meditation retreat in 2013, Jenn adapted the movements to embody the Paramis and Brahma Viharas and has been delighted to share these at EBMC daylongs. Jenn loves including embodied awareness and healing movement in her life-long journey of building community. To offer a gift to support the teachings, please do so via PayPal: gemfrog4@gmail.com or Venmo: @Jennifer-Biehn-4

Inez is an intuitive energy medicine practitioner, certified sound healer, ayurvedic and healing touch therapist. She is a trained herbal medicine-woman, mindfulness meditation and hypnotherapy guide. She integrates ancient healing techniques through touch, music, sounds, chants, songs and tuning vibrations from various indigenous and modern instruments. She specializes in women’s health offeringthe sacred traditional medicine of the Mayan abdominal healing massage, ayurvedic abhyanga therapeutic detox bodywork, aromatherapy (essential oils &
plants), mindfulness living, acupressure, chi gong and reflexology.
Inez found her calling as a healer as a young single mother needing to find natural low-cost medicinal treatments to heal her three sons, herself and her community. In addition, she cared for her mother battling with Alzheimer’s and cancer by alleviating her pain and anxiety through sound healing, and herbal medicines. She has an affinity for social justice, especially issues related to cancer, mental health disparities, autism, trauma and substance abuse.
Currently Inez has a private healing practice in Berkeley, CA – leads a sound healing meditation group, corporate wellness workshops, facilitates woman’s healing circles, teaches self-love, forgiveness, mindfulness living, and grief/trauma relief. Devotes much of her time to cancer clients at the Women’s Cancer Resource Center in Berkeley the Charlette Maxwell Clinic in Oakland, and Cancer Support Community in Walnut Creek. To offer a gift to support the teachings, please do so via Venmo: @R-Inezhealingarts
