Our Wednesday Sangha Nights are dedicated to supporting anyone wishing to experience and share the benefits of Buddhist practice. We are committed to strengthening the connection between personal practice and positive action in the world around us, and providing a welcoming and safe place for all those who want to participate. All are welcome here.
Our theme for 2024 is Waking up to Imagination
Imagination can bring us closer to awakening, or distract and keep us trapped in conditional views and beliefs. How do we tell the difference? This year we will look at teachings through the ages, from the Pali Canon to the modern day, that help us distinguish between imagination that opens the heart and mind and imagination that perpetuates delusion.
In Person with a zoom option.
Most evenings are informal and interactive. Introductions are followed by meditation and after the tea break there's usually a talk, workshop or discussion. No particular experience is required, though if you have not meditated before we recommend first attending one of our introductory classes.
Most of our practice periods begin with Saluting the 3 Jewels and we sometimes chant the Refuges and Precepts together.
Suggested donation: $10–$5, or whatever you can afford. If you'd like a brief orientation please arrive before 7pm.
Sangha Night Classes
Wednesdays 7pm to 9pm, in person and online
Waking up to the Imagination
In April and May we have a stellar lineup of speakers ready to delve into the theme of imagination from a diverse array of perspectives. We hope you can join us!
April 3: A Living Earth, with SFBC Green Sangha
April 10 and 17: "Playing with the Mind", with Pete
"It's just as when a dog is tied by a leash to a post or stake: if it walks, it walks right around that post or stake; if it stands, it stands right next to that post or stake; if it sits, it sits right next to that post or stake; if it lies down, it lies down right next to that post or stake." (Gaddula Sutta)
"Followers of the buddha's way! Why do you so earnestly seek the truth in distant places? Look for delusion and truth in the bottom of your own hearts" (ryokan)
"To seek is to suffer. To seek nothing is bliss" (Bodhidharmma)
Apologies that Viveka has had to cancel her series planned for April 24 and May 1: Imagining a Body with the Capacity for Love, with Viveka.
We hope she'll be back another time - meanwhile:
April 24: Padmatara - Imagining the way out of suffering through the 6 realms of existence.
May 1: Prasadachitta - tba
May 8: Dhammarati Art and Imagination
May 15: Celebrating Wesak, or Buddha Day, with Mokshasi
A short talk and Puja
May 22: Prasadachitta (tbc)
May 29: Vimalamoksha - Imagining Equanimity
DONATIONS
We appreciate any donations and suggest a weekly donation of $10 to $5 for Sangha Nights, or you might consider joining our dana program and donating monthly. You can pay through PayPal (info@sfbuddhistcenter.org), Venmo (@SFBuddhistcenter), Zelle, check, or cash at the door.
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
For in person attendance please make sure you can agree to our safety requirements listed here.
ZOOM LINK
For online attendance you will find the zoom link here.
June to September, 7pm to 9pm
Sangha (Community) Nights are open to anyone wishing to practice together and connect around Buddhist practices and Dharma teachings. In person and on zoom. Our theme for 2024 is Waking Up to Imagination.
June 5: Mind and Body, with special guest Tejananda
On his way to lead our Summer Meditation Retreat, Tejananda has generously offered to lead this Sangha Night for us.
Distinguishing our mental activities ('mind') from immediate sense experience ('body') is vital to all kinds of meditation. If we can be clear about this, we can become increasingly embodied and no longer try to 'think' ourselves into meditation.
This is basic to the mindfulness of breathing and metta bhavana, and also various kinds of 'clear-seeing' (vipashyana) practice, such as contemplating impermanence.
During the evening, we'll explore mind and body with all three of these meditative approaches.
June 26: Puja for Pride, with Mokshasi
Celebrating Dharma and Diversity
July 24, 31 and Aug 7: Mindfulness as Insight Practice, with special guest Paramabodhi
September 11: Padmasambhava Day Puja
September 18: The Dharma of Dreams, with special guest, Arthabandhu
Arthabandhu will help us explore ways to reconnect with the magic of our dream lives and show how dreams can be part of a rich Dharma life.
He has long had a special interest in dreams and has explored them in relation to Buddhist practice ever since hearing Urgyen Sangharakshita say: “If you want to really know yourself, pay attention to your dreams.” He lives in the UK, working with adults with learning disabilities and is visiting us after volunteering at a summer camp for people with disabilities in Minnesota.
Special Series with Paramabodhi in July/August
Wednesday Sangha Nights, 7pm to 9pm
July 24, 31 and August 7
Plus a Day Retreat Saturday August 10, 10am to 4pm: Mindfulness of the Buddha
This series will be led by special guest Paramabodhi, visiting from the UK.
Inspired by the Satipatthana Sutta and the direct teachings of the Buddha, Paramabodhi will emphasize the use of our imagination to engage fully with this beautiful sutta and deepen our mindfulness practice.
The Satipatthana is one of the most influential meditation texts in Buddhism, and can support us to live with more embodied awareness, contentment and insight.
Sangha (Community) Nights are open to anyone wishing to connect around Buddhist practices and Dharma teachings. In person and on zoom.
Please pre-register for the Day Retreat here.
Satipatthana Books and Resources
Life of The Buddha, translated from Pali by Nanamoli, p240ff
Living with Awareness, A Guide to the Satipatthana Sutta, by Sangharakshita
Satipatthana, the Direct Path to Realization, by Analayo
Satipatthana Meditations led by Analayo, Windhorse Publications
The Way of Mindfulness, Dharma Training Course for Mitras, compiled by Vidyamala
Wednesdays 7pm to 9pm, online and in person
Knowing Imagination as Imagination
Four Approaches to Knowing as It Is:
Feb 7 Releasing Fixation:
Feb 14 Present-Moment Awareness:
March 6: Non-Judgmental Observation:
March 13: Inquiry into the Present Moment:
March 27: Imagined, Conditioned, Completely Realized (Parikalpita, Paratantra, Parinispanna)
Feb 21 Parinirvana Day Celebration
With Shunyamala and Abhayamoksha
Feb 28 Special Event - Guest Speaker
March 20: Imagining Bodhicitta
Bodhicitta means awakening heart, or will to enlightenment. Tonight we will practice a puja or devotional practice that is one way to open to the bodhicitta in our lives. With Mokshasi and Padmatara
Donations, Attendance, Registration
Donations: We appreciate any donations and suggest a weekly donation of $10 to $5 for Sangha Nights, or you might consider joining our dana program and donating monthly. You can pay through PayPal (info@sfbuddhistcenter.org), Venmo (@SFBuddhistcenter), Zelle, check, or cash at the door.
For in person attendance: please make sure you can agree to our safety requirements listed here.
For online attendance: you will find the zoom link here.
Waking up to Imagination
WEDNESDAYS 7PM TO 9PM IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM
Our theme for 2024 is Waking up to Imagination.
Imagination can bring us closer to awakening, or distract and keep us trapped in conditional views and beliefs. How do we tell the difference? This year we will look at teachings through the ages, from the Pali Canon to the modern day, that help us distinguish between imagination that opens the heart and mind and imagination that perpetuates delusion.
Our January Rainy Season Retreat, is an opportunity to simplify, dating back to the Buddha's day. Each Wednesday from Jan 10 to 24 we'll gather and read a Sutta from the Pali Canon together, reflecting and imagining how it would be to really apply these teachings to our lives today. We'll end each evening with meditation and/or chanting.
January 10: Mokshasi will introduce the theme of Imagination, and we'll read Pingiya's Praises of the Way to Beyond
January 17: The Sallasutta, or Sutta of the Dart (aka the Second Dart or Arrow), with Shunyamala
January 24: The Bāhiya Sutta, (In the seen only the seen... ) with Padmatara
Sangha Nights are open to everybody. During the Rainy Season we also have discussion groups and other events for Order Members and Mitras. (Information here.)
January 31: Imagining Peace in Gaza, Israel and beyond - how to have courage in turning towards inner and outer wars. A meditation and talks from sangha members Zue, Jon R and rodashruti.
Donations, Attendance, Registration
Donations: We appreciate any donations and suggest a weekly donation of $10 to $5 for Sangha Nights, or you might consider joining our dana program and donating monthly.
For in person attendance: please make sure you can agree to our safety requirements listed here.
For online attendance: please register below to receive the 2024 zoom link. The link will stay the same throughout the year - if you lose it just send us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
To register enter the amount you wish to pay in the box below, based on the suggested donation of $5 to $10 per week. If you prefer to pay another way, you can enter 0 in the box, but if you do this please make sure to click 'pay later' on the payment page, otherwise the registration won't work. Drop us an email if you have any difficulty.
It may take up to a day or two to receive the zoom link - thank you for your patience.
Please add info@sfbuddhistcenter.org to your address book so we can keep you up-to-date with any changes.
The Way of the Bodhisattva
WEDNESDAYS 7PM TO 9PM
The last series of our “Pathways to Awakening” theme this year is the Way of the Bodhisattva: a guide to cultivating the heart/mind of awakening, and to generating the qualities of love, compassion, generosity, and patience.
December 20: Last thoughts and end of year celebration, with Danadasa as host. This week will now be on zoom only! Email or register if you don't have the link. Thanks!
Winter Break: Dec 21 to Jan 10, 2024
For online attendance please register to receive zoom link (you only need to do this once because the link stays the same, but if it ever changes we will send you the new one).
We ask for a donation of $10 to $5 for Sangha Nights, or consider joining our dana program and donating monthly.
To register for zoom, enter the amount you wish to pay in the box below, or if you prefer to pay another way, you can enter 0, but if you do this please make sure to click 'pay later' on the payment page, otherwise the registration won't work. Drop us an email if you have any difficulty.
It may take up to a day or two to receive the zoom link - thank you for your patience.
Please add info@sfbuddhistcenter.org to your address book so we can keep you up-to-date with any changes.*
Celebrating Sangha
As, one by one, we make our own commitment,
A Lineage of Spiritual Friendship
Wednesdays 7pm to 9pm in person and on zoom
During the month of October, we will explore the meaning of lineage within the context of spiritual friendship. The Buddha said "spiritual friendship is the whole of the spiritual life". The Buddha also said "be an island unto yourself, be your own refuge, having no other". How do we make sense of these seemingly contradictory teachings? Please join us to find out more.
To mark Indigenous Peoples Day Oct 9, all donations from Sangha Nights this month, and from our Movie Night Oct 8, will go to Friendship House, an Indigenous led Organization in the Mission (15th & Julian off of Mission St), that has been providing services to Native Americans for almost 60 years.
Oct 4 - Join us to celebrate MJ's path to ordination, as she prepares to leave for her ordination ceremony in Mexico, at Chintamani Retreat Center.
Oct 11 - Danadasa will explore the meaning of lineage and spiritual friendship
Oct 18 - Viradhamma will share the story of Dr. Ambedkar the the mass Buddhist conversions in India
Oct 25 - Danadasa will speak about some of the teachers who have shaped his journey
For in person attendance please make sure you can agree to our safety requirements listed here.
For online attendance please register to receive zoom link (you only need to do this once as the link stays the same, but if it ever changes we will send you the new one).
We ask for a donation of $10 to $5 for Sangha Nights, or consider joining our dana program and donating monthly.
To register for zoom, enter the amount you wish to pay in the box below, or if you prefer to pay another way, you can enter 0, but if you do this please make sure to click 'pay later' on the payment page, otherwise the registration won't work. Drop us an email if you have any difficulty.
It may take up to a day or two to receive the zoom link - thank you for your patience.
Please add info@sfbuddhistcenter.org to your address book so we can keep you up-to-date with any changes.*
Encounters on the Path: Demons, Dakinis, and Gurus
Continuing our 2023 theme: Pathways to Awakening, this month we will share stories of some of the archetypal, mythological, beautiful and scary beings we are likely to encounter on the path, and see what they have to teach us about staying present and waking up.
Sep 6: Embracing our demons (and allies): the Buddha's journey, with Padmatara
Sep 13: Milarepa's story, with Viradhamma
Sep 20: Meeting the Dakinis, with Karunadakini
Sep: 27: Padmasambhava Day Celebration, with Mokshasi
For in person attendance please make sure you can agree to our safety requirements listed here. (No need to register.)
Sangha Night Donations
We suggest $10 to $5 for Sangha Nights. If you'd prefer to pay monthly, ask about our dana program.
All our teachers are volunteers and any donations we receive go towards keeping our center running so that we can continue to provide a space for practice.
Registe here to receive zoom link (you only need to do this once - we will update you of any changes). Enter the amount you wish to donate in the box below, and if you prefer to pay another way, you can enter 0, but if you do this please make sure to click 'pay later' on the payment page, otherwise the registration won't work. Drop us an email if you have any difficulty. It may take up to a day or two to receive the zoom link - thank you for your patience.
Please add info@sfbuddhistcenter.org to your address book so we can keep you up-to-date with any changes.*
Creating your Path
Wednesdays 7pm to 9pm
Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar. Pathmaker, there is no path, the path is made by walking. (Antonio Machado)
Continuing our 2023 theme: Pathways to Awakening, this month various Sangha Members will share what they have learned on the paths they have created by "walking" (poetically speaking). Prasadachitta will hold the space and contribute his own reflections.
Aug 2: Abhayamoksha has just returned from a three-month ordination retreat in Spain. Let's welcome him back and hear about his journey.
Aug 9: Vimalamoksha, joining us on a break from Lake County, will share some of his reflections on the progressive yet non-linear nature of the spiral path.
Aug 16: Danadasa
Aug 23: Chiara: accepting the invitation to practice. With Prasadachitta.
Aug 30: Prasadachitta
For in person attendance please make sure you can agree to our safety requirements listed here.
For online attendance please register to receive zoom link (you only need to do this once).
We suggest donations of $10 to $5 for Sangha Nights, but they are always optional and any amount is welcome and helps cover our costs. Enter the amount you wish to donate in the box below, and if you don't wish to donate or prefer to pay another way, you can enter 0, but if you do this please make sure to click 'pay later' on the payment page, otherwise the registration won't work. Drop us an email if you have any difficulty.
It may take up to a day or two to receive the zoom link - thank you for your patience.
Please add info@sfbuddhistcenter.org to your address book so we can keep you up-to-date with any changes.*
The Path of Commitment
Wednesdays 7pm to 9pm
Are you ready to embark on the journey of embracing the groundlessness of life? Are you ready to consider falling in love with the ever-shifting, never-certain reality of our situation? (Pema Chodron)
Commitment is primary, lifestyle secondary. (Sangharakshita)
Our theme for 2023 is Pathways to Awakening, and this month we will look at commitment as a source of courage in the face of uncertainty and freedom. Within the broader framework of the 3-fold path of Ethics, Meditation and Wisdom, we'll explore the meaning and benefits of these 4 commitments or vows:
July 5: Non-harm: allowing the precepts of non-harm and kindness to protect the heart/mind and wake us up
July 12: The bodhisattva ideal: practicing care for all beings - the freedom of interconnection and letting go of the illusion of separateness
July 19: Turning towards reality: letting go of holding on, resting in groundlessness
July 26: Meditation: supporting and deepening our commitment through meditation and mantra chanting.
It's important to remember that these commitments are not rules or things we should do: rather they express our natural awareness of interconnection and our longing to get out of our own way. They're what we do when we are not distracted by the uneasiness that comes from our limited, self-referential perspective and we're able to be with what is.
Mokshasi and Padmatara will lead this series.
To support our commitments we are also offering the following this month:
Morning Meditations - committing to sitting! Join us weekday mornings for a 40 minute sit in person throughout July.
See also Silent Meditation Day - Saturday July 15. More information coming soon.
For in person attendance please make sure you can agree to our safety requirements listed here if you plan to attend in person. (No need to register.)
For online attendance please register to receive zoom link (you only need to do this once).
We suggest donations of $10 to $5 for Sangha Nights, but they are always optional and any amount is welcome and helps cover our costs. Enter the amount you wish to donate in the box below, and if you don't wish to donate or prefer to pay another way, you can enter 0, but if you do this please make sure to click 'pay later' on the payment page, otherwise the registration won't work. Drop us an email if you have any difficulty.
It may take up to a day or two to receive the zoom link - thank you for your patience.
Please add info@sfbuddhistcenter.org to your address book so we can keep you up-to-date with any changes.*