Deep Refuge in Spiritual Friendship: a Network of EBMC Online Practice Communities
“To have spiritual associates, spiritual companions, spiritual friendships, is the whole of the Holy life.” ~Buddha
The Deep Refuge program was created to support the many individuals and diverse communities of the East Bay Meditation Center to deepen their spiritual path in their lived experiences. Deep Refuge communities are intended to provide a safe, intimate, and community-led space in which folks can explore what relevance wisdom teachings from different lineages and traditions have in their lives.
Deep Refuge groups can have many different themes or organizing principles, such as a particular area of study, a common interest, a shared identity, or a shared neighborhood. They generally consist of 5-12 members, making it possible for Sangha bonds to grow strong as well as providing an intimate enough setting for true exploration of Dharma topics. This deepens the development of daily life as practice.
Deep Refuge groups are community-led practice groups of people in the EBMC community. However Deep Refuge groups are not facilitated by EBMC.
Current Deep Refuge Groups
If you wish to explore joining one of these groups, please contact the facilitators directly. If a group is closed or doesn’t yet exist, you are warmly invited to start a new group. For more information about starting a Deep Refuge group, please download the Deep Refuge Guidelines (PDF).
8 Step Buddhist Recovery Sangha (OPEN)
Every Saturday from 10AM – 11:30AM PST / PDT ONLINE
Compassionate Dharma Deep Refuge Buddhist meeting focuses 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.
Alphabet Brothers of Color
Asian Diaspora Deep Refuge (OPEN)
Kapwa Deep Refuge Group for Filipinx/a/o Folks (OPEN)
Latinx Sangha (OPEN)
Tendramos una meditación, tiempo para convivir/hablar sobre un tema budista y comunidad.
“Deep Refuge” le invita a una reunión de Zoom programada.
Información de Zoom: Por favor envíe un correo electrónico a melvinescobar828 at gmail dot com
Multiracial Deep Refuge Group (OPEN)
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 7-9PM PST on the second Saturday of each month. Newcomers welcome. We are currently meeting online. Please contact us with a couple lines about why you are interested in the group: mrdrcoordinators AT googlegroups DOT com
Queer Leather Deep Refuge Group (OPEN)
We are a peer-led meditation group for those of us who have a meditation practice and are queer and leather/kink-identified. Our group provides an accepting space where we can include the queer and leather/kinky parts of our identities and experiences when talking about how we practice both in community and in our daily lives. We start our meeting with a stationary meditation; take time to discuss about how practice, kink and the dharma intersect; and end with a lovingkindness meditation together. We also often take some time to share about our practices. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month from 7 – 8:30 p.m. For more info check out our intsagram https://www.
Racial Justice Skills for White Practitioners (OPEN)
Racial Justice Skills for White Practitioners meets monthly online in 2024 on the third Thursday of the month from 6PM-7PM Pacific time, with the intention to support self-identified white practitioners of meditation in working with the skills and commitments of meditation practice to contribute to racial justice and to end white supremacy, in ourselves and in the world. This group is open to all self-identified white people who have a regular meditation practice and are working towards racial justice. In each meeting we will work with a skill from dharma practice to undo a habit of white supremacy culture.
Sign up for the Zoom link at tinyurl.com/RJSWP21
Restorative Practice Deep Refuge Group (OPEN)
The talking circle is an indigenous tradition that is both ceremony and council. In circle, all things are connected, no one is held in a position of prominence, and we function as equals while honoring our differences. The circle is strong enough to hold joy, pain, anger, quiet, paradox, or the anxiety and hope of this uncertain time. (Kay Pranis).
For those interested in Restorative Practice Deep Refuge Group work with various types of Community Building Circles to deepen our familiarity and capacity to participate in, as well as increase our skills at holding a Circle Keeping Process collectively.
Need to contact us with questions, training inquires or know someone who’d like to be added the or email list? Feel free to reach us at rpdpsangha at gmail dot com.
Sex Workers Sangha (Open)
Meets 3rd Tuesdays of Every Month, 3:00 – 4:30PM PT via Zoom.
Closed Captions Available.
The purpose of this refuge group is to provide a space for sex workers to connect with each other, build sangha, and to deepen our spiritual practices in community. Sex workers continue to be a marginalized group in society and this sangha would be a place where we would support each other in bringing our whole selves into our spiritual lives.
For Zoom Access, Please Email: sexworkersangha AT eastbaymeditation DOT org
Social Justice Lunchtime Sangha (OPEN)
Join us second Tuesdays at lunchtime from 12pm to 1pm Pacific time. 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, deepening our commitment to community and movements for justice and liberation.
This peer-led Deep Refuge group is led by Christine Cordero, EBMC board member and former director of the Center for Story Based Strategy and Amanda Ream, union organizer and former EBMC board member. Both are graduates of EBMC’s Practice in Transformative Action Program.
To sign up, please fill out this form.
Trans/Gender-Expansive Deep Refuge Group (OPEN)
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!
For the zoom link, please email tgedeeprefuge@
White and Awakening in Sangha (CLOSED)
The WAS Deep Refuge Group is a supportive learning community of white practitioners exploring racism in the context of Buddha Dharma and working on ways to transform our own white racial conditioning, and the white supremacist systems in which we live.
White and Awakening in Sangha meets at EBMC every 4th Tuesday from 6-8PM. For more information, please contact: kimberleydcs@gmail.com
