East Bay Meditation Center

Path of the Bodhisattva I & Bodhisattva Precepts Ceremony
2019-10-16 18:30 - 20:30, 2019-10-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2019-10-02 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
with Mushim Ikeda
4 class series: Path of the Bodhisattva 1, Weds, Oct 2 – 23, 6:30 – 8:30pm
4 class series: Path of the Bodhisattva 2, Weds, Oct 30 – Nov 20, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Daylong: Receiving or Witnessing the Bodhisattva Precepts & Vows, Dec 14, 10am – 4:30pm
*Separate registration is needed for each part of the Path of the Bodhisattva class series (Part I, Part II + Precepts Ceremony). Participants interested in receiving the Bodhisattva Vows in Dec are required to take Part I + II of the class series.
I, 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
In Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisattva is an archetypal great being who tirelessly and joyfully works to liberate all beings from suffering. For the second 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 Dalai Lama. Those who do not wish to take the Bodhisattva vows may take either of the two class series. Meditation (instruction provided for beginners), Dharma talks, and interactive exercises.
Space is limited and registration is requested.

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
2019-10-16 12:00 - 13:35, 2019-10-09 12:00 - 13:35, 2019-10-02 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

Alphabet Sangha
2019-10-15 19:00 - 20:30, 2019-10-08 19:00 - 20:30, 2019-10-01 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
For more information, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE

Tai Chi Chih – Joy through Movement
2019-10-15 18:00 - 18:50, 2019-10-08 18:00 - 18:50, 2019-10-01 18:00 - 18:50
Join us for Alphabet Dharma in Motion
Tai Chi Chih – Joy through Movement
with Jenn Biehn, EBMC Tai Chi Chih teacher
Drop In Format, No Pre-Registration Required.
A form of qigong, Tai Chi Chih is a moving meditation consisting of 20 easy-to-learn, access-centered movements. Tai Chi circulates, balances, and gathers the chi or energy of the body bringing stillness and calm to the heart mind. Practiced with softness and continuity, these flowing movements can release tension, negativity and stress leading to a sense of wholeness. Qigong stretches will be practiced at the beginning of each class to prepare for this moving meditation.
A Buddha Dharma Sangha practitioner and Tai Chi Chih teacher for the past 30 years, Jenn Biehn 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. An EBMC volunteer for the past 10 years, Jenn is a member of Alphabet Sangha, Midday Sangha Coordinating Committee and Restorative Practices for Dharma Practitioners.

Every Body Every Mind Sangha
2019-10-13 18:00 - 19:30, 2019-10-06 18:00 - 19:30, 2019-09-29 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.

Family Practice Class: Opening the Heart through the Buddha's Teachings
2019-10-13 10:00 - 12:00
Led by Baruch Golden, Julie Goshe, Michele Ku and Eve Decker
For Children Ages 0-13 and Family / Caregivers
We invite you to come and be a part of the diverse family sangha at EBMC. We welcome families with babies, toddlers, and children up to age 12. Children under 5 will need to have a parent/caregiver stay with them. We gather to create a safe refuge to share the joys and the challenges of parenting by cultivating loving kindness, compassion, patience and generosity with the support of the sangha. It is a wonderful opportunity to have family time without digital distractions and to learn mindful practices for the whole family. Parents/caregivers and children meet together and sometimes separately during the class. Families with children under the age of 5 meets in a mindful playgroup. We are committed to creating a diverse family sangha, all families are welcomed. No prior experience is necessary.
Space is limited and registration is required.
Please note, each family only needs one registration. Thank You!

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: Multiracial Peer-Led Deep Refuge Group
2019-10-12 19:00 - 21:00
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

Mindful Yoga and Loving Awareness
2019-10-11 18:00 - 18:50, 2019-10-04 18:00 - 18:50
Reconnect and rejuvenate through the cultivation of mindfulness and loving awareness. Deepen your practice by going inward and focusing the mind/heart on the present moment. We will devote time to mindful movement to support the release of accumulated tension in order to identify and release body-held stressors through practices of trauma-informed body kindness. Join a nurturing space to boost your mindfulness practice and cultivate loving awareness for yourself and for all beings.
DROP IN FORMAT. PLEASE WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHING.
JONATHAN RELUCIO
For nearly a decade, Jonathan Relucio taught trauma-informed yoga and meditation in schools, health clinics and juvenile detention facilities as a Senior Trainer for Niroga Institute. He has completed Spirit Rock’s Mindfulness, Yoga and Meditation program, co-founded AllThriveEd.org, and supports personal and social transformation through his work at Rockwood Leadership Institute. Jonathan values yoga as a healing practice of liberation to strengthen communities and social justice movements.

People of Color Sangha
2019-10-10 19:00 - 21:00, 2019-10-03 19:00 - 21:00, 2019-09-26 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
2019-10-10 17:45 - 18:45, 2019-10-03 17:45 - 18:45, 2019-09-26 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 Circle
2019-10-09 19:00 - 20:45, 2019-10-02 19:00 - 20:45
with Raul Betancourt, Sarwang Parikh, Sara Oakes, Louije Kim and Anthony “T” Maes
EBMC Teen Circle is a weekly meditation group for teens, ages 14-19
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.
Space is limited and registration is requested.

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.

This is Your Brain on Meditation 2
2019-10-07 18:30 - 21:00
Honoring diverse meditators through community engagement and individualized neuroscience: Results from the first UCSF-EBMC neuroscience study
with Dr. Helen Weng and Mushim Ikeda
Participants in the neuroscience of meditation have historically belonged to dominant cultures. Over the past 3 years, Dr. Helen Weng has collaborated with EBMC to increase the diversity of meditators represented, including people of color, LGBTQI community, people with disabilities, and the fat community.
Dr. Weng will present the results of this exciting study – how her team adapted neuroscientific procedures to be more culturally-sensitive and inclusive, and how individualized approaches to analyzing brain data can “read your mind” during meditation. Participants may share their experiences, and we will continue to adapt research methods to honor diverse meditators.
Light dinner is provided.
Space is limited and registration is requested.

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.

Power, Presence and Healing: Black Women Honoring Our Wholeness
2019-09-29 09:30 - 16:30
A Retreat for Self-Identified Black Women of the African Diaspora
with Amana Brembry Johnson and Arisika Razak
I think our notions of what counts as radical have changed. Self-care . . . healing . . . attention to the body and the spiritual dimension – all of this is . . . a part of radical social justice struggles.
Angela Davis
Black Women have frequently resisted oppressive social norms by coming together to cultivate healing, empowerment, and mutual support. Join our daylong retreat of mindfulness practices, storytelling, ritual movement and wisdom teachings from Buddhist and other spiritual traditions as we affirm our bodies, share our stories, and claim our birthright as sacred beings who are loved and cherished. Participants are invited to bring an item to place on the community altar that will be built during the day.
Space is limited and registration is requested.

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.

Unhurried & Unbothered: Yoga for Radical Restoration
2019-09-27 18:00 - 18:45
with Keisha Turner
Cultivating deep awareness requires us to slow down. There are many lessons waiting to be uncovered in silence, stillness, and slowness. Unhurried & Unbothered: Yoga for Radical Restoration is an invitation to practice slowing down as the antidote for the violent pace of capitalism. In each session, the daily demands so many of us face to move quickly and do more will be greeted with the call to move slowly, do less, and treat our bodies and minds with great tenderness. We will practice poses that are slow, sometimes repetitive, and restorative in nature. 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.
DROP IN FORMAT, NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.
