How To Meditate In 10 Simple Steps For Beginners

Meditation groups in the San Francisco Bay Area

Sitting regularly with a group and teacher is one of the strongest supports for deepening spiritual practice. This is not an exhaustive list. Please let me know if you know any and you want to add them.

Most are evening groups — always check the websites for times & updates. Most are on dāna (Pāli for “generosity”, in this case referring to the classes inviting donations instead of charging a fixed price).

Monday

Monday Night Dharma, led by Anushka Fernandopulle 7-8:45pm, CIIS, SF (1453 Mission, San Francisco, Rm 216) www.anushkaf.org

Meditation & Dharma Talk, led by Matthew Brensilver & Gene Lushtak 7:30-9pm, Against the Stream, SF (2701 Folsom, San Francisco) www.againstthestream.org

Heart of Light Meditation, rotating teachers 6:30-8:15pm, East Bay Healing Collective, (1840 Alcatraz, Berkeley) www.healingcollective.org

Tuesday

Monks from Abhayagiri monastery (Thai Forest tradition) [FIRST Tue of each month] Berkeley Buddhist Monastery (2304 McKinley, Berkeley)

Mission Dharma, led by Howard Cohn 7:30-9pm, St. John’s Episcopal Church (1661 15th St, San Francisco)

Practice Night, Oakland Shambhala 8-9:30pm, Temescal Arts Center (511 48th St, Oakland) Meditation is with eyes open but you can close them

Walnut Creek Sitting Group, led by Ernie Isaacs [THIRD Tue of each month] 7:30-9:15pm, Unity Center, 1871 Geary Road, Walnut Creek

Mindfulness & Meditation, led by Gary Gach (Thich Nhat Hanh style) [morning] 9-10:30am, Aquatic Park Senior Center (890 Beach Street, San Francisco) [free]

Wednesday

Pacific Zen (works with koans, low key and friendly group) David Weinstein, Ilana Berger and other teachers 7-9pm 5463 College Avenue, Oakland, Ca 94618

Mindfulness Meditation, various teachers 7:30-9pm, Yoga Kula, Berkeley (1700 Shattuck) [class price: $10-$17]

Berkeley Shambhala, Practice Night 6:30-8:30pm, Berkeley Shambhala Center, 2288 Fulton St, Ste 202, Berkeley

Oakland Against the Stream (formerly Dharma Punks) 7:00-8:30, 111 Fairmount Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

Metta Dharma Foundation, led by Richard Shankman 7:15-9:15pm, St. Clement’s, 2837 Claremont, Berkeley, enter at the rear of the building

SF Insight, led by Pamela Weiss, Trip Weil or guest 7-9pm, First Unitarian Universalist, SF (1187 Franklin at Geary, SF)

Thursday

Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley, led by James Baraz, Kate Munding, or guest 7:30-9:30pm, Berkeley Buddhist Monastery (2304 McKinley, Berkeley)

Insight Meditation Satsang, led by Sean Feit 7:45-9:30pm, Yoga Tree, 2807 Telegraph, Berkeley www.nadalila.org/satsang/

Against the Stream, led by Michael Taft 5:30-7pm, Against the Stream (2701 Folsom, San Francisco)

Friday

Open Sitting Group, rotating teachers 6:30-8:30pm, East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC), Oakland (285 17th St, Oakland)

Against the Stream (ATS), led by Vinny Ferraro 7:30-9pm, Against the Stream (2701 Folsom, San Francisco)

Saturday

Saturday Night Sangha, peer-led 6-7:30pm, East Bay Healing Collective, 1840 Alcatraz, Berkeley

Sunday

Pacific Zen (works with koans, low key and friendly group) (morning) various roshis 9:30am-12pm 5463 College Avenue, Oakland, Ca 94618

SF Insight, led by Eugene Cash 7-9pm, First Unitarian Universalist, SF (1187 Franklin at Geary, SF)

Dharmata, led by Anam Thubten [morning] 10am-12:15pm, Dhyana Hall (235 Washington Ave, Point Richmond) Every other week usually. Check the website before you go!

Aloha Vihara Nuns [3rd Sun of each month] 7:30-9pm, Berkeley Buddhist Monastery (2304 McKinley, Berkeley) saranaloka.org

Alameda Sangha, led by Pauletta Chanco, Rebecca Dixon, and Deb Kerr 7-9pm, United Methodist, Alameda (2311 Buena Vista Ave, Alameda) sites.google.com/site/alamedasangha/

Sunday Sangha, led by Will Kabat-Zinn VERY popular 7-9pm, Ashtanga Yoga, 933 Parker Street, #38, BAY 5, Berkeley

Marin Sangha, led by Phillip Moffitt or guests 6-8pm, St. Luke Presbyterian (10 Bayview Dr, San Rafael) marinsangha.org

Daily Berkeley Zen Center, Sojun Mel Weitsman and others [morning] 6-11:15am, Berkeley Zen Center (1929 Russell, Berkeley) BZC has practice every day, 5:40am, noon and 5:40pm and a larger practice period on Saturday mornings berkeleyzencenter.org/weekly-schedule/

Others

Also check

Rudramandir, Berkeley

Wisdom Sun Noe Valley, SF. (Classes & retreats, no ongoing group) wisdomsun.org/index.php/events-and-classes

Buddhist Insight Network BIN hosts the database for Insight Meditation groups worldwide.

Retreats

Spirit Rock Meditation Center

A beautiful and powerful place for retreat practice. Also hosts classes & workshops. They have a strong scholarship program, teen program, programs for committed practitioners, and more. www.spiritrock.org

A few other good retreat centers

Cloud Mountain (WA):

SF Zen Center, Green Gulch, Tassajara (CA):

Deer Park Monastery (CA):