The Kopan West Retreat in March was amazing! Staff were super nice and accommodating. Highly…read morerecommend

What a beautiful retreat with Venerable Rene. The setting was very peaceful, deep in the redwood…read moreforest. The food was very good and health. It is a world away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

So... would you like an update? It's worse. I am not knocking all the amazing teachers that come…read morethrough there, or Kornfield etc... just the elitism in the way its run. I mean, they say in their mission statement they're grounded in Buddha's teachings. I'm sorry, I still don't see it in action. I suppose I have to admit that this exclusiveness approach is serving some people in the community, and so I up my stars to two, but my heart knows this is anything but Buddha like. I don't wish to be negative, but I do feel, especially in times like these, that it's important to be honest and authentic. Small "elitisms" (if you will), are part of a larger dynamic. Its time we started looking at little closer at the reasons behind our choices. Thanks for reading. May all beings know peace.

First I'd like to say, Spirit Rock founding Teachers: Thank You for having created this wonderful,…read moremagical space for people to learn more about how to go deeply into ourselves. Learning how to focus is so important in the chaos of our world and I believe this is a path for Peace. Second I'd like to say: If you are planning to attend a retreat for more than just a few days, prepare yourself. It's important to know there are a people who don't know how to sneeze into their elbow or just stay in their room when they are ill. Wear a mask if at all possible to prevent getting a cold. There are no open windows in the meditation hall so make sure you protect yourself. I didn't and now I have a raging cold. If food is important to you, bring your own extra food. If you are just a little bit late to the food line for breakfast, lunch or dinner, you will find most of it has been eaten. To be fair, they keep boiled eggs and dates for folks in the refrigerator. But, I was sorry I didn't bring my own extra food and was hungry most of the time. The coffee is wonderful, which made is bearable. I also had the misfortune of having an upstairs neighbor just over my head in the dormitory who kept late hours and dropped all kinds of mysterious objects during the night just as I was going to sleep, so I didn't get much sleep. The Manager of the retreat was helpful and created a sign for the door letting everyone know to maintain noble silence even in their room. Unfortunately, the neighbor didn't read the note on the door. The teachers were fine and the instructions were helpful, so it was worth it for me to go there. I wish I would've felt more protected, but maybe that's my job. That's why I'm writing to you so if you are planning to go you will be advised of what you might need to know to protect yourself. I've been to Spirit Rock many times and realize that maybe this is what happens when a business even a spiritual business grows and becomes more like a production line. Hope this is taken in a good spirit. That is my intention. Namaste

Super welcoming, efficient and kind... Keep trying the various teachers and I find there's someone…read morefor everyone in terms of style and Dharma offerings with the various programs in wide variety of teachers... Improvement could be made with donating one portal easy like IMC Redwood City and I would really appreciate less aggressive dana talks and an easier portal /platform for donating going to each individual teachers platform and having to sign up with the platform is not a solution and I appreciate your kind attention and hope this can be made easier for all beings to donate to East Bay Meditation Center because basically I'm waiting until the teachers come to Insight Meditation Center Redwood City and donating to them at that venue because easier. Also another Meditation Center that even has an easier platform for donation is Flagstaff Meditation Center you go in pull down the teacher's name click in the donation arrives to the teacher and or Center....

I have been attending workshops at EBMC sporadically for close to 2 years now. I am not a regular…read moremeditator, despite my intentions, I accept what is for now lol. I value EBMC so much as a learning space. The workshops I have attended always provided information for me, whether about the nature of things or about my inner world that was right on time! I have definitely grown as a result and feel helped along through life's challenges & lessons. I love the gift economics model they use, I just wish we could venmo our donations or some other way online where eventbrite doesn't charge fees. I try to pay cash on site instead when I have it, but yea I hate the fees. Tip: scent free space, and they mean it! I actually love fabric softener (it was a luxury my family did not afford when I was a kid) and now I dump it enthusiastically all over my laundry, so attending events at EBMC requires some extra planning on my part, but I appreciate that they are serious to make it accessible for everyone and it's well worth my effort.

I love this temple Every time me and my husband went to…read morethis temple always make me feel happy and want to praying. Some temple we attend it make me feel scared and not happy, but this one we always go. I recommends this temple because they are always welcome everyone not like some temple at Stockton and sacramento.

I am so glad that the temple is open post Covid. I needed a place to quiet the mind and practice my…read moremeditation and Wat Buddhanusorn is a perfect place for anyone seeking peace. The temple is open for anyone who wants to practice meditation inside or outside of the temple. There is a nice pathway that circles the temple and not a lot of people come here during the morning or afternoons. It's free and open to the public, social distancing is practiced and everyone wears a mask (even the monks). I have been back to my Tuesday evening meditation group here for almost a yr, thanks to Covid (jk), via Zoom. We still meet through zoom bc it is so easy for anyone who lives far away, or can't make it with the commute. I really enjoy talking to Ajahn Maha Prasert, the Abbott at the temple and he is so kind and easy to talk to. The Abbott really cares about the well being of people and I am so blessed to be a part of this community. I really feel so welcome every time I come here. I'm non-Thai and it doesn't matter because everyone here is so kind and will help you if you are new. It's a really lovely community between the sangha and lay people. I really feel like I'm in Thailand at times, lol! If you're missing Thailand and the beautiful Thai community this is the place to be! I'm so glad it's available to anyone for free.

Unreal slice of Heaven nestled in the valley of marin headlands. We hiked from Tennessee Valley to…read moreMuir Beach and decided to hike through the valley on our way back instead of an out and back. What an incredible stumble upon in the midst of our hike. Pictures don't do this beautiful spot justice. It felt unreal when we walked up to the garden then through the zen center. We merely wandered through the grounds, we didn't take advantage of any services so I can't attest to what is available on the grounds besides the incredible gardens. Our round trip hike was almost 10 miles and worth every step taken. Beach, redwoods, valley rolling hills, gardens filled to capacity with beautiful blooms, veggies, and lovingly sculpted grounds. Truly an incredible experience and what a treat to allow it to be open to the public.

I just returned from a weekend yoga retreat at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center. It was my second…read moreretreat here and henceforth second time going here. I was on a digital sabbatical so no photos from my smartphone and no laptop. In retrospect from being there would say it was a lovely experience. It was great to unplug and get out of the city aka San Francisco for a weekend. The farm itself is about 30 acres. Green Gulch Farm Zen Center is affiliated with the San Francisco Zen Center in the City and Tassajara. All three is in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi from the Zen lineage from Japan. Suzuki Roshi wrote Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind and other works. I was primarily with my group here doing our own retreat yet did sit on one talk by a senior Zen teacher which I enjoyed. The talk was followed by an insightful question and answer Satsang aka philosophical discussion and tea. The hiking here is wonderful. They have been an organic farm since 1972 supplying the famous Greens Restaurant in San Francisco. The food here was quite alright. Many vegan options. One improvement would be to simply label the food items vegan or not instead they have symbols donating if the item has dairy or eggs yet majority of the food was vegan anyways. It was tasty and fresh as much of the ingredients are grown on site. The accommodation was comfortable. It was about a mile hike to the ocean to Muir Beach and explored the Tennessee Valley trail for a more challenging hike with amazing vista views of the ocean. I also saw two deer while here. If you get a chance to go to the Green Gulch Farm Zen Center. Go! Recommended!

Everything Excellent veg/vegan meals…read moreExquisite setting CAREFUL it could be life changing

Everything is coming up beautiful if you're planning to stay at the Ratna Ling Retreat Center…read more Joined my daughter for the Radiance Retreat, hosted by the most delightful Yoga and Meditation professionals whose gifts were boundless and generously shared them with us. The Cabin was clean, spacious, and newly renovated with natural light and heavenly views. We were bathed in millions of stars at night, cooled by refreshing fog in the morning, and surrounded by soaring trees and warming sunshine. The staff are volunteers, and delightful without exception. The food was lovingly prepared fresh daily, and absolutely delicious. The Retreat center includes a beautiful lodge, eating area with indoor/outdoor seating and the most enchanting Tibetan Buddhist Temple and we highly recommend the tour and if you are very lucky, George will be your tour guide. Don't hesitate to experience the joy, laughter, and enlightenment of the Ratna Ling Retreat Center. You will remember the experience with reverence.

I've tried a few meditation practices. I found this one to be flat on my expectations. You're asked…read moreto give a donation based on income. I donated 1k and when I arrived the mediation coach was warm and friendly but she complained to me about the fact that she knows how much people make and that their donations don't reflect that. I found that strange to share. I wouldn't recommend this place - there are so many others in SF that are more effective imo.

Jane and Brett are wonderful teachers. I had heard about TM before and finally decided to try it…read morebecause I'd read that there are studies that show it can help with high blood pressure and anxiety. I'm always a skeptic but I figured it couldn't hurt! The cost of the program is not low, but I appreciate that they are very upfront about it (no hidden fees or add ons or upsells - just one course fee) and it does scale with income. No one has asked me to pay for anything since then and I'm always welcomed back for group check ins or meditations. About a month in, other people have already noticed positive changes in my mood and general anxiety. I also really enjoy the meditation sessions. And for what it's worth (small sample size, I know) my blood pressure is down about 8-10 points on average. The training was absolutely worthwhile for me. I'm really glad I decided to start doing TM and I highly recommend Brett and Jane as instructors.

From their website... "Center for Spiritual Enlightenment is a meditation center in the spiritual…read moretradition of Kriya Yoga, welcoming people from all backgrounds who are seeking Self- and God-realization--a path to spiritually conscious, fulfilled living." Absolutely love it! I spent some time in the garden, spoke to one of the folks who volunteers here, got a nice tour, and was truly impressed. Can't wait to go back for either a meditation session or a talk. The world would be a much better place if everyone could go to a center like this.

I attended this center for almost 20 years, usually attending weekly Sunday services and the…read moreoccasional retreat. I really appreciated the teachings and guided meditations, as well as the fellowship....but...I can't help but be concerned about a close family member that got more heavily involved and attended seminary there. She started to detach from family to devote herself to the center, moved out of state to start an ashram for CSE, named it beneficiary of a family trust. I want to say she wasn't encouraged or led to do this, but over the years, the devotion to the center and increased detachment from family has me wondering if there's cult-like grooming going on behind the scenes. It's all been very concerning and bewildering for the family. No spiritual teacher there was been able to adequately reassure me that they are not engaging in practices that command total devotion, tithing, and disengagement with family, and sadly, as a result I stopped all contact with this center. This may just be my family member independently practicing an unhealthy excess of devotion to an organization, not something that they outwardly support, but I still have a lingering suspicion about the influence they yield over her. It feels exploitive. Her increased involvement in the center has really negatively impacted family relationships. I've also heard many folks have left this center in the last 10 years because of "toxic political rifts" between employees, volunteers and devotees. Some are choosing to hold independent Kriya study groups now. I'm grateful for the teachings while there but distance from this organization has been necessary for my mental health and continued spiritual development. I feel my family member has been stolen from me. Or driven to shun and neglect those that love her most. And CSE knows it and yet they not intervened.