Online Programs
Our community is coming together during our shelter-in-place order to provide opportunities for community practice. Social distancing does not need to mean social isolation. And, since so many of us find that our practice is enhanced by sharing it with others, we are creating new ways to connect with sangha.
We are working towards growing our online offerings, so please do check back as we add new programs and practice sessions.
Radical Responsibility: An Online Weekend Meditation Retreat
with Acharya Fleet Maull in Berkeley
Saturday & Sunday, July 18th & 19th from 10 AM to 5 PM
Cultivating Clarity, Compassion, Wisdom and Resilience for Challenging Times
During this weekend retreat we will learn to regulate and take ownership of our own emotions using mindfulness practices. In a safe and supportive environment, we will tap into the deep wisdom of our bodies. We will examine the ways that fear and survival-based habitual patterns have gotten in the way of our happiness and personal fulfillment.
Come and explore simple yet powerful tools for connecting with your innate goodness and wisdom, and shift self-limiting patterns to create the life you want.
More details and registration at this link: https://berkeley.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=441963
Deepening In Compassion Series III
Fearless Garuda: Emptiness and Absolute Bodhichitta
With Sonoma Shambhala
Five Sundays, June 7th through July 5th
From 10 AM to 12 PM
A Five-Week Series:
1. Going Beyond Concept: Prajnaparamita and Absolute Bodhichitta with Acharya Simmer-Brown
2. Heart Sutra with Acharya David Schneider
3. Feminine Principle with Acharya Simmer-Brown
4. Glimpses of Shunyata with Acharya Melissa Moore
5. Prajna & Compassion with Acharya Simmer-Brown
Learn more and register here: https://sonoma.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=453621
Foundations for Freedom: The Hinayana
Mindful Aging: Making Peace with Impermanence
With Ira Rechtshaffer in Tamalpais
Tuesday, July 7th at 7 PM
Whether we’re in our 40s or 60s, aging in a youth-obsessed, materialistic culture often provokes fears of loss, unwelcomed changes to our body and our health, diminished vitality, feelings of unlovability and social invisibility. Sometimes we might think that our “best days” have gone by already.
In order to evolve rather than just get older, let’s use our meditative awareness to explore the unfinished business that needs our attention, what needs reconciliation, forgiveness and healing, and what within us wants to be cherished and cultivated.
Learn more and register here: https://tamalpais.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=454060
Medicine Buddha Teachings Recording
With Jay Lippman
With Berkeley Shambhala
On May 16th The Berkeley Shambhala Center hosted Medicine Buddha Teachings with Jay Lippman. People have requested to view the recordings—so, we are making them available to the community.
In times of sickness and suffering, the Medicine Buddha is an ancient and renowned spiritual antidote. It is the perfect meditation practice during the coronavirus pandemic. This practice for healing and wellbeing is based on the teachings of the historical Buddha himself, as recorded in the Sutras.
Learn more and register here…https://berkeley.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=454061
Smile at Fear Book Study Group
Part One: The Way of the Warrior
with Jesse Miller and Cynthia Morin in Berkeley
Tuesday Evenings through June 23rd
From 7 to 9 PM
Please join us for a mutual contemplation and discussion of Chogyam Trungpa’s profound teachings on working with fear and fearlessness. We will be reading from Smile at Fear: Awakening the True Heart of Bravery. All are welcome. OK to drop into any class.
Learn more and register here: https://berkeley.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=452412
Online Meditation Practice Sessions
Sunday Morning Meditation and Open Houses
San Francisco
Every Sunday from 10 AM to 12 Noon
Meditation instruction at 10 AM in a break-out group, meditation practice at 10 AM. Talk and discussion at 11 AM. Long sits on the 4th and 5th Sunday.
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
Every Sunday from 10 AM to 11:30 PM
Sitting meditation followed by a community discussion.
Join URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82750302953?pwd=czBsODFZQVNTYXRzOHdwbFR4VW9SZz09
Sonoma
Every Sunday from 9 AM to 10:15
Followed by tea and conversation (BYO tea!)
Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/143723466
Weekdays Plus Saturdays Morning Meditation
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 personal check-ins until 8:15.
Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/383409932
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
Tuesday Evening Open House
With Tamalpais Shambhala
From 7 to 9 PM
Meditation instruction, sitting meditation practice, readings and discussions. (BYO tea and cookies).
Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/484467659?pwd=UVZxT1JZNmNKZ20zeUVxRDZ3ZzU2dz09
Wednesday Morning Meditation
With Susie Cook in Sonoma
From 9 to 9:40 AM
Join us online via Zoom for a half hour of meditation and 10 minutes of open discussion in this unprecedented time of COVID-19 and closure of the Shambhala centers.
Visit this link for the Join URL: https://sonoma.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=445178
Wednesday Evening Online Community Gathering—Opening the Circle
With Berkeley Shambhala
Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 PM
From the Ground UpWith Berkeley Shambhala
Second Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 PM
A monthly gathering spot to create and share your art, music, movement, writing, stamp collection, and creative energy with others. An opportunity to come together in support of the creative spirit in all of us during this difficult time. No artistic experience or practice is needed to participate, only an open heart and endless curiosity.
We will be open with a short meditation and spark of inspiration followed by an open play period and time for sharing.
Join URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86751998566?pwd=OXJLbktqd3pYQmxnTUltQmlsSG9Wdz09
Practices for the Time of the Pandemic
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
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
With Shastri Joanne Martin-Braun in Sonoma
Saturday, June 13th from 10 to 11:00 AM
Join URL: https://sonoma.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=450226
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
Friday, June 5th from 5 to 6:30 PM
Join URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83646406230?pwd=NXE5V2xFTUV3bHZtUU11SnorMWRiZz09
Silicon Valley
Every 4th Thursday Evening
From 7 to 8:45 PM
Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/755575205?pwd=cG4xZVVDTDhLQnZpakJYYVVoS2lSdz09
San Francisco
Sunday, June 21st; Sunday, July 19th; Tuesday, August 18th
From 7 to 8 PM
Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/92635075073?pwd=U0lhSXo1cXZ3VFJRSjRucEJHU1lGUT09
Berkeley
Fourth Saturdays from 9 to 10 AM
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, April 8th from 6:30 to 7:30 PM
Friday, May 8th 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
About 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.
