Calendar and Events

This page lists special events, the schedule of teachers and dharma talk topics for our Thursday evening meetings, and the Activities Newsletter.

Scroll down or click on a topic for more information:

• Special events
• Schedule of teachers and topics for Thursday meetings
• Activities Newsletter

Special Events

Events such as daylongs and retreats produced, sponsored, or supported by the Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley will be listed here. If no such events are currently scheduled, please see the websites of affiliated local meditation communities for a wealth of dharma events and practice opportunities. Also check the IMCB Activities Newsletter for other community events.

• Spiritual Activation with Julia Butterfly Hill - Thursdays, Aug 26 and Sep 2

Julia Butterfly Hill will be a guest teacher at our sangha meetings on 8/26 and 9/2. Julia is a prominent environmental activist best known for living in the redwood tree Luna for 738 days (1997-1999) to prevent loggers from cutting it down. She is author of the book The Legacy of Luna and co-author of One Makes the Difference. Website

James invited Julia to inspire our sangha to identify and participate in a focused environmental project connected with the Global Work Day that www.350.org is sponsoring on 10/10/10. James also hopes to invite other Bay Area sanghas to join with us in our chosen project.

Susan Silber of 350.org will also join us, and Elizabeth Little, Program Coordinator for Green Sangha, where Julia is an advisor, will also be present with information about Green Sangha programs. See the Expanding Your Practice page and Green Sangha website for more information.

• Five-night Spirit Rock Labor Day Retreat with James Baraz

Wed Sep 1-Mon Sep 6

Spirit Rock Meditation Center

Woodacre, CA

With James Baraz, Sharda Rogell, Howie Cohn, Terry Vandiver (yoga). Five days is an ideal time to feel the fruits of a practice without going away for an extended time. This is a good retreat for both beginning and experienced students.

Note: this retreat is FULL with a wait list. See the Spirit Rock website for details and to be added to the wait list.

• East Bay Sangha-Palooza Community Meditation Gathering

Sat Sept 11, 11:30am-4:30pm

First Congregational Church of Berkeley
2345 Channing Way (at Dana)

Berkeley, CA

Please join us for this uniquely inspirational and historic community gathering. Sangha-Palooza is the first large scale gathering of mindfulness and meditation practitioners from approximately 30 diverse East Bay groups, sanghas, religious and secular organizations, and individuals interested in cultivating present moment awareness. The intention is to create an annual and ever-more inclusive event.

Organic lunch: 1:15-2:15pm.

Speakers include: James Baraz, Anam Thubten Rinpoche, Tom Gambell Sensei; music by Eve Decker, Kent Welsh, and Sean Feit.  

There is no charge; the entire event is offered by donation.

Volunteers needed: email Rob

Due to a Cal football home game, parking will be limited but will be available for carpools and for those who need to drive. Please call 510-495-7511 for parking reservations and information.

• 6-Week Beginning Class Series

James Baraz will offer a 6-week “Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Series” starting Monday, September 20, assisted by Alexa Ouellett. Classes are held on Monday evenings for six successive weeks, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda, between Solano and Marin Avenues), Berkeley, CA. Details

• Qigong and Sound Healing Day led by Master Mingtong Gu with James Baraz

Sat Sept 25, 10 am-5pm and 7-9:30 pm

Marin Civic Center

San Rafael, CA

Awaken your joy and aliveness, release pain and stress, and obtain tools for self-healing. James will be a guest speaker at this event where Master Mingtong Gu will help create an energy field that is truly healing. In the daytime workshop you will learn meditation, movement, and sound healing for emotional transformation, including activating the energy of the spine to increase flexibility and enhance alignment. The evening program will focus on practicing sound healing. 

Both day and evening programs are open to all; no experience is required.  For more information and to register, please go to the Chi Center website. Through August 28 there is a Two for One deal.

• Inquiring Mind Benefit/Dance Party

Sat Oct 2,  7:30 - 10:30pm 

Northbrae Community Church

941 The Alameda

Berkeley, CA

Come enjoy an evening of music and entertainment while helping to support one of the first, best and longest lived Buddhist journals in the US. Dance to the music of CLASSIFIED (featuring Inquiring Mind Publisher, Alan Novidor) and enjoy performances by Wes Nisker, Nina Wise and special musical guest Kevin Griffin. A sliding-scale donation of $20-$100 is suggested, and all proceeds from this event will go towards the continuing publication and distribution of Inquiring Mind.

Order tickets by mail, postmarked by Sept 20, by mailing a check to:

Inquiring Mind Dance Benefit

PO Box 9999

Berkeley, CA 94709

Please include your email address. Tickets will also be available at the door by cash or check. Doors open at 7 pm

• Online Registration for 2010 Awakening Joy Course + James' Awakening Joy Book
  
  

The Awakening Joy Course is a 10-month experiential course to develop our natural capacity for well-being and happiness. The course was developed and is led by James Baraz with a variety of guest speakers and musicians. The Awakening Joy website has full details about the course and instructions for enrolling online.

The course feature the companion book Awakening Joy: 10 Steps That Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness by James Baraz and Shoshana Alexander. More information about the book and a schedule of James' other events is available on his website.

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Weekly Schedule of Teachers for 2010

Following is a list of teachers and topics for our Thursday evening meetings. You can also receive email notification of the teacher and topic for the following Thursday by subscribing to our email lists. Visit the Recorded Dharma page to download or listen to these dharma talks.

Archive of 2009 schedule

Archive of 2008 schedule

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Activities Newsletter

Following is a list of the activities the IMCB planning committee scheduled for the current month to encourage a sense of community in our sangha. You can also pick up a copy of the Activities Newsletter at the greeter table on Thursday evening, receive it by email by subscribing to our Announcements email list, or view or print a PDF of the newsletter. (You need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print a PDF, which you can download here.)

September 2010

CARPOOLS. If you need a ride to the Thursday night sitting or just want to be green, you can use the Bulletin Board email list to find a shared ride.

1. MONTHLY POTLUCK. Thu, Sep 2, 6 pm at the Monastery before the sitting. To accommodate the precepts of the monks, no meat, no garlic, no onion. If you want to eat, please be there by 6:30 to allow cleanup time.

2. NEWCOMERS QUESTION AND ANSWER. Thu, Sep 2, 7 pm. An informal opportunity for people who are new (or relatively new) to the Sangha to find out more about it. Meet in the dining room from 7-7:25. Come to the potluck beforehand or just come to the q/a. We have some materials for you and we will be happy to answer your questions.

3. PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING. Sun, Sep 19, 6 pm potluck, 7–9 business. Help plan and execute these Sangha activities. All are welcome, come and be part of the group. At Gay’s house, 525 Woodmont (near Grizzly Peak and Spruce), 526-1544.

4. BEGINNERS CLASS. Mon, Sep 20, 7:30-9:30. An introductory meditation class continuing for 6 Monday nights. Taught by James with Alexa Ouellett. Invite your friends or come for a refresher. At the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. By donation, no preregistration needed.

5. SHORELINE CLEANUP. Sat, Sep 25.

World Shoreline Cleanup Day at the Berkeley Marina, 9 AM-noon. Raffle at 12:30. Work as a sangha to collect trash and data for research and legislation. Meet at Seabreeze Market at 9 (intersection of lower University Ave. and the Frontage Rd.) Our specific site will be near the NW end of the Doubletree Hotel and the boat launch area. More info at www.cityofberkeley.info/marina. Contact Giedra by email or phone: 508-2680.

6. SEP MOVIE NIGHT. Sat, Sep 25. 7 pm potluck, 8 pm film. The movie is “Amongst White Clouds”, a documentary about Buddhist hermit monks living and practicing in the remote mountains of China. These recluses are following a tradition five thousand years old. At Jackie’s house, 30 Alta Road (near Spruce and Grizzly Peak), 524-4454.

7. INQUIRING MIND DANCE PARTY. Sat, Oct 2, 7:30 – 10:30. At the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Music by CLASSIFIED (a great dance band!). Performances by Wes Nisker and Nina Wise, special musical guest Kevin Griffin. Suggested donation $20 - $100 per person. The proceeds support the continuing publication of the Inquiring Mind.

DHARMA FRIENDS (KALYANA MITTA) GROUPS. Generally consisting of 8-10 members, these groups usually meet every two weeks for about two hours to meditate and discuss a reading about Buddhism. They are a rich way to maintain and expand your practice and study of the dharma, and connect with like-minded spiritual friends. To join an existing group, to form your own, or to find new members for your group, contact Melissa, 569-3043, hazymsh@gmail.com.

SPIRITUAL CARE PROGRAM. A Buddhist trained chaplain is available to offer spiritual support to Sangha members and their families who are experiencing a health, end-of-life, or other spiritual crisis. Contact Janet, keyhub@sbcglobal.net.

DANA TALKS. Volunteer to give one of the weekly dana talks, share your thoughts and feelings about generosity. Help in what to say can be provided. Sign up at the greeter’s table or contact Giedra, 508-2680.

ACTIVITY LEADERS WANTED. If you are interested in leading an activity that the Sangha would enjoy, contact Ernie, 526-0711. It could be anything – a poetry night, folk singing, drawing/painting, outdoors, drumming – you can be creative about it.

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