Open Heart/Open House: EBMC's Reopening Gathering
2023-07-16 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
East Bay Meditation Center is celebrating our community by hosting a summer party at Snow Park!

We have been mostly online for over three years. As we learn to meet in person more safely, we are looking forward to marking this new moment with a community celebration. Join us as we commemorate EBMC’s hybrid programming at our July 16th Reopening Celebration at Snow Park followed by a week of hybrid classes and practice groups.
On Sunday, July 16th from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM we will be holding space at Snow Park, a block from our center and also hosting group tours of the temple. We are honored to have one of our dear EBMC founders, Larry Yang, welcome us to the celebrations at the park. Join us for group meditations, sound healing, dance and drumming under the oak trees. You’re also invited to bring your spiritual friends and community, roll out a blanket and catch up in the sun.
Small group tours of EBMC will happen on the hour, with sign-ups at the park, and include: access to a memorial altar honoring sangha/community members lost in these last three plus years, a twenty-minute group meditation in the temple room, and information about the center and upcoming programs. For the tour, you will be asked to put on shoe booties at the door and to wear a KN95/N95 mask throughout your time inside the center.
There will be a closing circle at the Snow Park’s Putting Green at 1:45 pm.
Come celebrate with us! Watch this space for the Sunday event and weeklong hybrid schedule.
Email ramon (at) eastbaymeditation.org if you want to volunteer, have proposals or questions
Please save the date and look out for more details to come.

Larry is a senior advisor in Mindfulness and Healing Justice for the Kataly Foundation, to provide grants for supporting community-based mindfulness and awareness practices and projects for ethnically and racially diverse multicultural communities and organizations. For 20 years, Larry has taught meditation retreats nationally. He has a special interest in creating access to both Buddhist and secular mindfulness for non-dominant cultures, and in transforming the strong currents of White Supremacy in our Mindfulness communities. Larry has practiced meditation for 30+ years, with extensive time in Burma and Thailand, and a six month period of ordination as a Buddhist monastic. Larry is one of the founding teachers of both East Bay Meditation Center (Oakland) and Insight Community of the Desert (Palm Springs). He has trained teachers for spiritual leadership within communities of color and LGBTQI communities for 15 years. Larry was honored for his work in racial justice by being selected as the community Grand Marshal in the 2016 San Francisco LGBTIQ Pride Parade, whose theme that year was “For Racial and Economic Justice.” His book, “Awakening Together: the Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community,” is published by Wisdom Publications.

Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks and be fully vaccinated against covid19, which at this time means having received the covid bivalent booster no less than two weeks before the event. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.)
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.

Every Body Every Mind Sangha
2023-07-16 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-07-23 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-07-30 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-08-06 18:00 - 19:30 | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
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.

HYBRID: Alphabet Sangha
2023-07-18 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-08-01 19:00 - 20:30 | 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
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

HYBRID: Liberation from Suffering: Buddha’s Four Noble Truths for BIPOC
2023-07-19 18:30 - 20:30 | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
A Hybrid Class Series with Mushim Ikeda
Wednesdays June 28th and July 5th, 12th, 19th 2023
6:30 – 8:30PM PST (Time Zone Converter) Closed Captioning Provided
What do the basic teachings of Buddhism have to offer BIPOC? The Buddha’s first teaching after his Enlightenment is called the Four Truths for Noble Ones. Together we’ll explore how “The Four Noble Truths” have been and continue to be a deep and empowering way for Black, Indigenous and People of Color and multiracial persons to understand human suffering and oppression, analyze their root causes, and engage as individuals and collectives in moving towards profound spiritual liberation, ease and joy. Dharma talks, mindful journaling, meditation, community building and optional readings.
This class is suitable for both new and experienced meditators and open to self-identified People of Color.

Mushim Patricia Ikeda is a socially-engaged Buddhist teacher, community activist, diversity, equity and inclusion consultant, parent and author based in Oakland, California. She has a background in both monastic and lay Buddhist practice. At EBMC, Mushim is also guiding teacher of the award-winning yearlong Practice in Transformative Action (PiTA) program, which provides secular mindfulness training for justice activists. Mushim is the recipient of a Global Diversity Leadership award; an honorary doctor of sacred theology degree from the Starr King School of Ministry; and was named one of Colorlines’s 20 transformative racial justice leaders in 2018.
To offer a gift to support the teachings, please do so Venmo: Mushim Ikeda @MushimPatricia-Ikeda or PayPal: info@mushimikeda.com
To make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center, please 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. 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 those wishing to practice in person, space will be limited to 40 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks and be fully vaccinated against covid19, which at this time means having received the covid bivalent booster no less than two weeks before the event. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.)
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.

ONLINE: People of Color Sangha
2023-07-20 19:30 - 21:00, 2023-07-27 19:30 - 21:00, 2023-08-03 19:30 - 21:00, 2023-08-10 19:30 - 21:00 | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
The People of Color Sangha is a growing community of people of color waking up and getting free!
Thursdays
7:30 – 9 PM PST
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
2023-07-21 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-07-28 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-08-04 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-08-11 19:00 - 20:30 | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
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
2023-07-21 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-08-04 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-08-11 19:00 - 20:30 | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
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
2023-07-22 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-07-29 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-08-05 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-08-12 10:00 - 11:30 | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
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: Tender Self-Care in the Midst of Pain
2023-07-22 10:00 - 16:00 | Online
An online daylong retreat with Deb Kerr and Kenji Oshima
Saturday, July 22nd
10am – 4pm (Time Zone Converter) Closed Captioning Provided

Mindfulness and compassion practices are powerful tools to help us navigate what the body often offers to us, including disabilities, ongoing illnesses, injuries, aging or pain. In this daylong retreat, there will be time to meditate, practice simple mindful movement, and share our stories in community with each other. We will explore how dharma practice can lead to greater ease in the midst of vulnerability, and how freedom may be accessible when we can allow the truth of our struggles to be held by our natural compassion and wisdom.

Debra Kerr has meditated since 1991, and is influenced by both Vipassana and Dzogchen practices. A graduate of Community Dharma Leader training at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, she co-founded and served on the board of the East Bay Meditation Center from 2000-2006. In addition to teaching and leading support groups for meditation practitioners around the Bay Area, Deb teaches mindfulness meditation in assisted living and long term care facilities, where she also works as a speech pathologist.

Kenji Oshima (Coach Kenji) is the graduate of 2 of EBMC’s yearlong programs, Commit to Dharma and Practice in Transformative Action. As someone who has lived with CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) for over 3 decades he was on the team that addressed accessibility issues for East Bay Meditation’s move to Harrison Avenue and is a teacher in the EveryBody EveryMind sangha. Kenji is also a Life Coach and an Interfaith Spiritual Director. He has a unique perspective as a bi-racial/bi-cultural/bi-coastal, differently-abled, gay man.

ONLINE: Trans/Gender-Expansive Deep Refuge Group
2023-07-24 18:30 - 20:00 | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
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!

ONLINE: Queer Leather Peer-Led Deep Refuge Group
2023-07-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Off Site Venue
The Queer Leather Meditation Deep Refuge Group is a peer-led meditation group for those of us who have a meditation practice and are queer and leather/kink-identified. We meet on the 4th Friday of every month from 7–8:30 p.m. We are open to and welcome new drop-in participants, whether this is your first sit or your 10,000th! For upcoming meeting details or to join our mailing list or online groups, please visit http://www.queerleathermeditation.org/. If you have questions please contact admin@queerleathermeditation.org.

HYBRID: Maha Sangha
2023-07-28 19:00 - 20:30 | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
Maha Sangha for All People & Communities
Creating Freedom in Community
Hybrid, every 4th Friday of the month, 7:00 – 8:30pm.
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

IN-PERSON: Reconnecting with Sacred for BIMPOC
2023-08-06 10:00 - 12:00 | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
10AM – 12PM Sunday, August 6th 2023
Onsite at East Bay Meditation Center
An on-site, half-day program for self-identified BIMPOC (Black, Indigenous, Multiracial, People(s) of Color) with Carol Cano, Antoinette González, Ramón Honea, and Andrés González.
Join us for a morning of sacred reconnection: reconnecting with self, community, ancestors, our precious Earth, and our beloved spiritual home, East Bay Meditation Center. Over the past several years, we’ve endured much and all too often in isolation. During our time together, we will invite in the experience of ritual, earth-based practices, guided meditation, and a community talking circle to support us in returning to what we uniquely consider sacred. Whether that is our relationship to Mother Earth, our Ancestors, or the “Three Jewels” (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha), we will explore what it means to reconnect with the sacred in our everyday lives.
Following the program, we invite you to join us for a brown-bag lunch, 12-1PM at Snow Park where there will be unstructured time to further (re)connect with one another.
This program is suitable for both new and experienced meditators and is open to self-identified BIMPOC (Black, Indigenous, Multiracial, People(s) of Color).
Please note: With the intention of inviting sangha on-site once again at EBMC, this program will not be held in hybrid format; however, we will record core parts of the event to be shared with attendees and those who register to receive a recording-only following the program.

Space is limited & registration is required.
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.
To make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center, please 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. 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.
Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks and be fully vaccinated against covid19, which at this time means having received the covid bivalent booster no less than two weeks before the event. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.)
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:

Fragrance Free

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

ONLINE: Social Justice Lunchtime Sangha - Peer Led Deep Refuge group
2023-08-08 12:00 - 13:00 | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
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

ONLINE: Multiracial Peer-Led Deep Refuge Group
2023-08-12 19:00 - 21:00 | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
The Multiracial Deep Refuge Group is a monthly exploratory Deep Refuge Group for and by people who identify as multiracial. Our meetings include periods of mindfulness meditation and sharing of narratives and perspectives as we come together to be seen and to see one another. By sitting and exploring our own unique stories, we can come to know and care for the common threads that bind us together. Our collective work bravely expands the narrative that informs multiracial experience today. Meets 7pm-9pm on the second Saturdays of every month. Online and occasionally hybrid (in-person at EBMC + online).
Newcomers welcome- please contact us before your first visit: mrdrcoordinators at googlegroups dot com
