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Where to meet other Buddhists? Or Where to find a Sangha? I am In California.
Where to meet other Buddhists? Or Where to find a Sangha? I am In California.
I need a group that I could be a part off.
The Zen Temple I attend most of them are older than I and do not speak English.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
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Will let you all know what happens.
If anyone has any other suggestions let me know!:)
P.S. You mentioned once you were thinking of moving to So Cal. What on earth would possess you to do that?!
The training the teachers recieve is very professional: they go to Buddhist universities and study professional ethics (appropriate behavior with students), as well as Buddhist topics. They have a structured curriculum, and the teachers challenge the students to do self-evaluation, insight meditation, etc. They teach meditation (I've never been to a sangha that does this). They have a lot of women teachers, and go around SE Asia ordaining nuns. They sound very interesting. The Fo Guang Shan temple nearest you is: San Bao Temple, 1750 VanNess Ave., San Fran. If I ever manage to move back to the bay Area, I'm going to check it out.
Thank you!
I live in San Francisco Bayarea. And the Temples I have been, most do not speak English or are old geezers:)
I am trying this place called DharmaPunx...http://www.sanjosedharmapunx.com/ Will let you all know how it goes.
And yes, I was planning on moving to Socal... The reason of course is artists live there!:)
The area I live they are all robotic drones:)They don't call this area the Silicon Valley for nothing...Lol.
That sounds interesting and I will definitely take a look!
Funny I posted my previous message to Compassion Warrior before I read your post.
Thank you for suggesting them.
I have looked them up and they are quite interesting.
What have been your experience thus far?
Many temples in the Bay Area were founded by and for the area's Asian population, Leon, that's why they aren't English-language-based. But there are plenty of sanghas for Westerners too. The San Francisco Zen Center, for example (are you in Zen?).
I positively love the group that I sit with, and Steve, my group leader, was taught by Noah and Jack Kornfield so the groups should be similar, assuming. YET, the only way to know if you like it is to try it out. And personally I have had some really good experiences with this group, it is a 30 minute meditation and then the rest of it is spent with a talk and a discussion from the group for usually another hour. I like the openness of the my group because I feel as though everyone is equal, rather than some being superior, because everyone talks on equal levels and yet I have learned so much, as well as been able to hear about other people's experience with the Dharma and practicing it.
Hope that helps a bit, and as I said, the only way to really see how it is, is to test it for yourself. Best of luck, and I hope you find a good group, Ashley.
I am about 45 min away, but I might go once a month or something.
Will let you know how it goes.
Fo Guang Shan practices "Humanistic Buddhism" which emphosises more communication and adaptation with the wider community rather than isolation and "private clubs". So people will come out more positive rather than judgemental.
You've got to check out the Insight Meditation Center (Theravada/Vipassana), in Redwood City.
http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/
Check out Gil Fronsdal's podcasts. He's the lead instructor at the IMC and you're lucky to be in a position to check out his lectures live! The secondary teacher, Andrea Fella is also good.
http://www.audiodharma.org/
Also, if you're willing to drive further, you can check out Jack Kornfield's Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
http://www.spiritrock.org/
Despite all the 'dharmapunx' stuff they are pretty straight-forward Theravada-American. All the tattoos, punk imagery, swearing and artiness is ultimately superficial, and possibly just a marketing ploy. I say this in a good way. It's a good organization.
http://www.sfzc.org/tassajara/
In northernmost California, in the town of Mt. Shasta, there is a Soto Zen monastery called Shasta Abbey. I have been there three times, and can't wait to go back again--it was a great experience.
http://www.shastaabbey.org/
There is also a Vippassana center in North Fork, CA (near Fresno). They do 10-day silent Vipassana retreats--another very powerful (and for some life-changing) experience--though probably not appropriate for beginners.
http://www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schmahavana.shtml
The City of 10,000 Buddhas(Chan/Zen)
Abhayagiri(Theravada..Thai Forest Tradition)
You can find some info on their sites and some links to Sanghas in the SF Bay Area.
I been meditating at home.
An hour a day.
I will most likely go in a few weeks, will let you know.