Online Programs

All of our meditation and practice sessions have gone online during the pandemic—and this gives our region a unique opportunity to come together on multiple days of the week. So, please take advantage of the wealth of online, free-of-charge sessions and get to know our extended family of meditation practitioners.
Since our survival as a non-profit relies upon the generosity of donations, please consider making a contribution to the center that is hosting the program you are attending.  Visit this link for a list of Northern California Centers, and click the donation button.
Scroll down for the listing of online practice sessions.

 

This page displays programs in a list. If you wish to see these programs in a calendar view, visit this page. 

Welcome to Shambhala: An Introduction to Meditation
With the Berkeley Shambhala Center
First Saturdays of the Month from 10 to 11:30 AM
With the Berkeley Shambhala Center

An opportunity for newcomers to learn the practice of meditation from one of our senior students. Explore the connection between meditation and everyday life while learning about the core Shambhala principles of basic goodness and creating enlightened society. This is a great way to get a flavor of Shambhala Buddhism and to find out what opportunities there are for practice, study, and community.

Join URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83730725970?pwd=NUJsMmdMcytIb2Z0YnBBdFdVa2dNdz09

 

 

The Pure Mind of Sad Joy: Tonglen and the Four Immeasurables
A Week of Retreat with John Rockwell & Charlotte Linde

July 10th through 16th, 2021
9 AM to 5 PM

Like a dot in space, we are fundamentally alone—our experience is uniquely ours alone. Making friends with our aloneness, we touch a tender heart of sadness. Our heart inspires us to reach out to others and embrace our common tenderness. This connection sparks joy and a profound appreciation for this whole world, just as it is.

In this three yana retreat, we will explore the path of the four immeasurables—friendliness, compassion, joy, and equanimity—using the profound practices of mahamudra and tonglen—accepting all and giving all.

This year’s summer retreat will embrace all levels of practitioners to come home to rest our body, speech, and mind on the meditation cushion and join together as an online community to deepen our study and practice connections. Let’s enjoy this week to practice and share wisdom together.

More information and registration at this link… https://berkeley.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=478385

 

 

Secret Beyond Thought: A Four-Part Series on the Four Karmas
With Acharya Gaylon Ferguson
Saturdays from 10 AM to 1 PM
June 12th, and August 7th

With the Berkeley Shambhala Center

Secret Beyond Thought is an edited transcript of a two-talk public seminar the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche taught in Boston, Massachusetts in February 1971. The second talk offers a unique teaching on the four karmas—or enlightened activities—and how they can either conquer or be perverted by the four maras, our habitual patterns of ego-fixation. These two teachings, among the earliest the Vidyadhara gave in North America, provide a glimpse into the profound trust Chögyam Trungpa had in the possibility that genuine buddhadharma could be successfully transplanted into Western culture.

Learn more and register here for June 12th
https://berkeley.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=474477

And here for August 7th
https://berkeley.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=474478

Visit this page if you wish to watch the recording of prior sessions.

 

 

Opening The Closed Door—Meditation After Covid
Facilitated by Stephanie Hiller & Carlos Gonzalez

Sunday, June 13th from 10:30 AM to 12 Noon

Neuroscience has confirmed that meditation practices are effective for coping with uncertainty and stress, even helping us retrain the brain to feel better, improve focus, and develop compassion for others.

An introduction to the scientific study of this ancient practice— with talks by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Daniel Goleman and others, and discussion of our own experience working with our minds.

Learn more and register here… https://sonoma.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=481393

 

 

Working with Challenging Emotions—Part 2
With Basha Hirschfeld & Marie Endres

Tuesday, June 22nd from 7 to 8:30 PM

Join us for a deep dive in our exploration of how to work with strong emotions and discover their surprising gifts. We will review the 4-Step Process (aka FEEL) which we introduced last time and share some new elements to include in our daily lives.

We are growing in leaps and bounds from sharing this and hope you can join us!

There is no cost to join this program.

Learn more and register here… https://tamalpais.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=481613

 

Online Meditation Practice Sessions and Study Groups

Sunday Morning Meditation and Open Houses

Berkeley
Every Sunday from 10 AM to 11:30 PM
Sitting meditation followed by a community discussion. 

Join URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86425804380?pwd=U2U1SmIwUkJ1Z2dLZFFuQlZMOWNKQT09

San Francisco
Second Sunday of every month.
Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/635708320?pwd=Z0tVeVNqNFhENXZiSVc0N0J1UXl6dz09

Davis
Every Sunday from 9 to 10 AM
An hour of practice followed by a time for community to connect.

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/315629482?pwd=K0tkVmpTbDJRZnVEd09xYVhRQjNiQT09

Berkeley

Join URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86425804380?pwd=U2U1SmIwUkJ1Z2dLZFFuQlZMOWNKQT09

Sonoma
Every Sunday from 9 AM to 10:15
Followed by tea and conversation (BYO tea!)

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/143723466

Tamalpais Outdoor Meditation
First Sundays through October 3rd, 11 AM to 1 PM

Visit this link to request Marin County location: https://tamalpais.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=481186

 

 

Morning Meditation
Weekdays Plus Saturday
With Shastri Joanne Martin-Braun in Sonoma

From 7:30 to 8:15 AM

Sitting is a great way to start your day when things are so groundless! We will sit together for a half-hour from 7:30 to 8 AM. Then, if you would like to stay, we will have a few minutes for a short dharma discussion until 8:15.

Join URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/383409932?pwd=K3lJTGl5anlWZEZwT3lOOVJ0YVROQT09

 

 

Weekday Morning Meditation
With Davis Shambhala
From 7 to 8 AM
Includes opening chants and meditation followed by conversation.

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/961827423?pwd=MnJvN202cmRJVnVkZjJDdVRkelNxUT09

 

 

Monday Night Meditation
With the Berkeley Shambhala Center
From 7 to 8 PM
Each sitting consists of two sessions of approximately 25 minutes of sitting, divided by a 10-minute session of walking meditation.

 

Tuesday Evening Open House
With Tamalpais Shambhala
From 7 to 8:30 PM

Meditation instruction, sitting meditation practice, readings and discussions. (BYO tea and cookies).

Join URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87977614260?pwd=VmlCSXUyWWNNQTREZ2VzcVAyOEtOQT09

 

Wednesday Lunchtime Meditation
With Davis Shambhala
From 12- 1 PM

Meditation to get us through hump day—and the rest of the week! We begin with a brief guided meditation, followed by silent meditation and then transition to lunch and conversation.

Zoom Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/98313528930?pwd=aDd1cHVOOXlPb1N6MWR1VHRYcStQZz09

 

 

Wednesday Evening Meditation
With Basha Hirschfeld at Open Sky Retreat Space
From 5:30 to 6:30 PM

The evening begins with a virtual tea time at 5 PM for people to drop in and say hi. This will be followed by open sitting meditation and discussion.

Visit this link to request the URL: https://openskyretreatspace.com/events/how-can-the-dharma-help-an-open-discussion-in-2021

 

 

Friday Night Meditation
With the Berkeley Shambhala Center
From 7 to 8 PM

Each sitting consists of two sessions of approximately 25 minutes of sitting, divided by a 10-minute session of walking meditation.

 

Practices for the Time of the Pandemic
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has given us practice advice and instructions for the time of the pandemic. This Friday morning session is for all levels of practice and includes the Seven-Line Supplication to Padmakara, a Green Tara Supplication, and the Medicine Buddha mantra.  To obtain a copy of the instructions (which include the Green Tara Supplication, and the Medicine Buddha mantra), please send an email to [email protected].
First Fridays from 8:30 to 9:30 AM with Northern California Shambhala
Sundays from 8:15 to 9 AM with Sonoma Shambhala
Join URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89321614243

 

Saturday Morning Sitting Practice
With Silicon Valley Shambhala
2nd and 4th Saturdays
From 10:15 to 12 noon

Session includes a check-in, sitting meditation, and dharma discussion.

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/248414203?pwd=MFh2RDAvaWxvSXF5cFR5Y0NxZjRQdz09

 

Online Sadhana Practice Sessions

White Tara Practice
With Davis Shambhala
Thursdays from 7:30 to 8 AM

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/163181278?pwd=YldrZWRTY1Z3RGdSR0Q0SlhFSWlsUT09

Peaceful White Tara is said to witness the suffering of beings through her seven eyes, and she soothes their fear, calms their anguish, heals their suffering, restores their health—both individual and communal—and extends their lives. This is a lineage practice particularly relied upon in times of domestic and community turmoil and disharmony, or in the midst of attacks on health and longevity.

 

 

Sadhana of Mahamudra
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche offered this text to everyone regardless of level of practice, because he saw great urgency in the need for it. This is part of what makes the Sadhana of Mahamudra so special. All levels of students are warmly invited to participate.

The Sadhana of Mahamudra is only offered in group settings and lasts about an hour. It involves chanting, visualization, and silent meditation. The text will be provided in the online sessions.

Santa Rosa
Tuesday, May 11th from 5 to 6 PM

Join URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83744790867?pwd=NlBsakt6YnhUNkFaeE1aREdGMThaZz09

San Francisco
Tuesday, May 11th from 7 to 8 PM
Thursday, June 10th from 7 to 8 PM
Sunday, July 11th from 7 to 8 PM

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/92635075073?pwd=U0lhSXo1cXZ3VFJRSjRucEJHU1lGUT09

Berkeley
Fourth Saturdays from 9 to 10 AM
CANCELLED FOR APRIL please join A Morning with Jakusho Kwong-Roshi

Join URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84036364501?pwd=dmlqdlB1UmNXeWFIaUpxSzZxcHpVZz09

 

 

Shambhala Sadhana Online
With Davis Shambhala
Every Tuesday Morning from 7 to 8 AM

Join URL https://zoom.us/j/185369045?pwd=d2dXMEMwTVZGWXlORFd4LzRVTk5Fdz09

~and~

With Margaret in San Francisco
Wednesday, May 26th from 6:30 to 7:30 PM
Thursday, June 24th from 6:30 to 7:30 PM
Friday, July 23rd from 6:30 to 7:30 PM

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/94312748103?pwd=WC9od0VMdTdYZVlYVWg0MkdYU0RyUT09

A time for our community to come together to practice the Shambhala Sadhana. All are welcome—and encouraged—to join, no matter what your level of experience.

The Shambhala Sadhana is powerful in its direct approach to basic goodness. It is a profound yet simple chanting and visualization practice that deepens our personal and societal connection with Basic Goodness. We gather as a community to engage in this profound practice so we can connect more fully with our hearts, each other and the world.

 

 

Sadhana of Kindness
With Irv Kirschbaum and Susie Cook in Sonoma
Every Third Saturday at 9 AM

The Sadhana of Kindness is a short liturgy invoking the moon of kindness in our heart as the basis for establishing enlightened society. This practice is short, delightful, and a primary avenue into Mahayana practice within the Shambhala tradition.

Join URL: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/887041763?pwd=bXNUMlhZL0NLUnpGTHdrSkhPaXdWQT09

 

ZoomAbout Zoom
These sessions are all through the Zoom platform. It is available for computers, smart phones, and tablets. You will need to download the free app on your device before joining the session. Once it is loaded, all you need to do is click the link and follow the prompts to join the session.

It is best to join 5 minutes in advance so that you are set up when the session begins.

And, make certain that your mic is muted when you join to avoid background noises which are multiplied with many participants.

Learn more about Zoom here: https://zoom.us

You can find is a list of Zoom FAQs at this link.