Where to meet other Buddhists? Or Where to find a Sangha? I am In California.

DaltheJigsaw

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?

DaltheJigsaw

I found this: http://www.bayas.info/
Will let you all know what happens.
If anyone has any other suggestions let me know!:)

fivebells

You're in the Bay Area? You can't swing a Mala without hitting a sangha there.

compassionate_warrior

You're in the Bay Area? You can't swing a Mala without hitting a sangha there.

haha! Ditto, Leon. There's a nice little Tibetan Buddhist monastery/sangha in the middle of a redwood grove in the residential section of Mill Valley. You might check it out. The redwood grove is a great place to sit and meditate, I mentioned it to you once before. You live just north of Mill Valley, don't you? I don't know if TB is your thing, but the setting is exquisite. They have prayer flags strung from the redwood trees. And what about those Zen centers in Marin? Green Gulch Ranch, etc.?

P.S. You mentioned once you were thinking of moving to So Cal. What on earth would possess you to do that?!

Dakini

Leon, I was PMing "NotaGangsta" last year, about his Ch'an tradition, called Fo Guang Shan. It's based in Taiwan, and sounds very impressive. They have centers all around the world, including in California: LA area and San Fran.

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.

bravehawk

That does sound interesting,Dakini. Orlando is still developing in religious culture. I think there is a NKT and Humanistic buddhist temple here. I'll might go to the Humanistic Temple may 15 for Buddha's bday celebration.

Now-Is-reality

Maybe Dharma Punx? It's a really cool Theravadan group, however the one I go to has people from all traditions, and they have groups across America. It was based in Cali too, so you may have some luck there, also the group is a pretty young crowd no matter where you go from what I hear. Best of luck!

DaltheJigsaw

You're in the Bay Area? You can't swing a Mala without hitting a sangha there.

haha! Ditto, Leon. There's a nice little Tibetan Buddhist monastery/sangha in the middle of a redwood grove in the residential section of Mill Valley. You might check it out. The redwood grove is a great place to sit and meditate, I mentioned it to you once before. You live just north of Mill Valley, don't you? I don't know if TB is your thing, but the setting is exquisite. They have prayer flags strung from the redwood trees. And what about those Zen centers in Marin? Green Gulch Ranch, etc.?

P.S. You mentioned once you were thinking of moving to So Cal. What on earth would possess you to do that?!

Lol!
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.

DaltheJigsaw

Leon, I was PMing "NotaGangsta" last year, about his Ch'an tradition, called Fo Guang Shan. It's based in Taiwan, and sounds very impressive. They have centers all around the world, including in California: LA area and San Fran.

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 very much!
That sounds interesting and I will definitely take a look!

DaltheJigsaw

Maybe Dharma Punx? It's a really cool Theravadan group, however the one I go to has people from all traditions, and they have groups across America. It was based in Cali too, so you may have some luck there, also the group is a pretty young crowd no matter where you go from what I hear. Best of luck!

Lol!
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?

compassionate_warrior

Give us a report after you check out Dharma Punx, Leon. A former member of that group has posted on other Buddhist sites that the leader, Noah Levine, has turned Buddhism into a 12-step program modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous. This sounds strange. But the info on their website sounds very cool. You'd be doing us a service by giving us your impressions after you get to know them.

Dakini

I forgot to mention the Fo Guang Shan teachers get courses in Psychology at Buddhist university as well. The tradition seems to be trying to provide a new model for teachers in the Buddhist world that's closer to Western clergy, in that they get professional training, emphasize ethics to avoid the type of scandals that have come up in other traditions (not that Western churches are free of scandal...ha), and promote women teachers to change the old-boy-network image of the guru/teacher ranks. The one thing I don't know about them is whether or not this is part of the Pure Land school, but I don't think it is.

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?).

compassionate_warrior

I checked out the Dharma Punx link you provided on the other thread, Leon. Looks good, let us know how you like it.

Now-Is-reality

Give us a report after you check out Dharma Punx, Leon. A former member of that group has posted on other Buddhist sites that the leader, Noah Levine, has turned Buddhism into a 12-step program modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous. This sounds strange. But the info on their website sounds very cool. You'd be doing us a service by giving us your impressions after you get to know them.

What?! Well I have never heard that... AND I do suppose it would matter on what a 12 step program means, like obviously if it's not Alcohol but rather buddhism, then I suppose that is different. However, all his talks are online, like the podcasts, and I have never encountered anything weird listening to those, nor anything relating to a 12 step program. BUT I do think that "Against the Stream" was one of the better explanations I've found on Buddhism and what it all means, as well as applying it to life. Hmm... I suppose though that because I have never sat with Noah, my experience is purely podcast related, rather than seeing. But, he could always sit with a group outside of Noah's group..
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.

Phoenix

If you're anywhere near Redwood City, I'd give The Insight Meditation Center a go. I'm too far away myself, but listen to Gil's podcasts all the time.

DaltheJigsaw

I forgot to mention the Fo Guang Shan teachers get courses in Psychology at Buddhist university as well. The tradition seems to be trying to provide a new model for teachers in the Buddhist world that's closer to Western clergy, in that they get professional training, emphasize ethics to avoid the type of scandals that have come up in other traditions (not that Western churches are free of scandal...ha), and promote women teachers to change the old-boy-network image of the guru/teacher ranks. The one thing I don't know about them is whether or not this is part of the Pure Land school, but I don't think it is.

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?).

Yep, Zen, but I am really enjoying Vipassana I think that I will combine them.

DaltheJigsaw

If you're anywhere near Redwood City, I'd give The Insight Meditation Center a go. I'm too far away myself, but listen to Gil's podcasts all the time.

I listen to him too!
I am about 45 min away, but I might go once a month or something.
Will let you know how it goes.

NOTaGangsta

To futher what Dakini is saying, FGS centers more on Pureland and Chan practices (probably more Chan me thinks). They tend all to have English Chapters with majority of members being English speaking locals. FGS in America had way longer history than here in New Zealand, hence I would expect the English chapter members to be alot more numerous and developed than here.

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.

buddhajunkie

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/

Malachy12

just spit and you should hit one, lol.

compassionate_warrior

Thanks for a good report, Ashley. On the against the stream website, I liked their interpretation of the Buddha as social radical, and their commitment to inclusion of all races, economic groups, etc., plus their dedication to community service. I was surprised to come across the criticism of Noah, so that's why I was asking; I wasn't sure what to make of it. It was by someone who had been a regular participant in Noah's LA sanghas. I'm glad Dharma Punx is working out for you.

Now-Is-reality

Hmm, very odd CW, but perhaps Noah's group is a bit different than my own. Oh and you should read against the stream if you have time

compassionate_warrior

Also, if you're willing to drive further, you can check out Jack Kornfield's Spirit Rock Meditation Center.http://www.spiritrock.org/

Great idea! Maybe if Leon moves to the north end of the Bay Area....?

buddhajunkie

Thanks for a good report, Ashley. On the against the stream website, I liked their interpretation of the Buddha as social radical, and their commitment to inclusion of all races, economic groups, etc., plus their dedication to community service. I was surprised to come across the criticism of Noah, so that's why I was asking; I wasn't sure what to make of it. It was by someone who had been a regular participant in Noah's LA sanghas. I'm glad Dharma Punx is working out for you.

ATS has Podcasts on iTunes.

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.

zendo

There's a very well-known and well-regarded Zen retreat center in the Bay Area called Tassajara. It's affiliated with the San Francisco Zen Center.

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

Tekchef

North of you near Ukiah CA there are two monasteries-
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.

compassionate_warrior

Leon, why don't you give us a progress report? Did you try out Dharma Punx in San Jose? How'd you like it?

DaltheJigsaw

Leon, why don't you give us a progress report? Did you try out Dharma Punx in San Jose? How'd you like it?

Nah, have been focusing on school and work.
I been meditating at home.
An hour a day.
I will most likely go in a few weeks, will let you know.

Vincenzi

one of the reasons I use a japa mala is to meet other buddhists, but haven't be lucky with that.