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Joy reminds us of what is worth protecting, nurturing, and sharing.

Join Assaya Sangha for our annual benefit day, a gathering devoted to muditā —the Buddhist practice of appreciative or sympathetic joy.

Muditā is the capacity to recognize and delight in goodness: in another person’s happiness, in our own moments of ease and aliveness, and in the beauty and generosity that continue to emerge even during difficult times. Far from asking us to turn away from suffering, the practice of joy helps strengthen the heart so that we can meet life with greater courage, resilience, and love. Joy reminds us not only of what is difficult, but also of what is worth protecting, nurturing, and sharing.

Our day together will take place at Gyuto Foundation Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery nestled in rolling hills, open sky, and peaceful gardens. This beautiful setting will support a spacious day of silent and guided meditation, walking and gentle movement practice, Dharma teachings, and community.

Assaya teachers Kate Munding, Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith, and guest teacher Anne Cushman will lead the retreat. Anne Cushman is a senior Spirit Rock teacher, mentor, and author whose books include the memoir The Mama Sutra and the novel Enlightenment for Idiots. Her teaching weaves together meditation, embodied practice, and creative expression. In the afternoon, Anne will lead a playful, heart-opening session of meditation and writing in the spirit of muditā: using simple prompts to gather "field notes" from our ordinary lives and discover the joys already shining there. For those who wish, we’ll share what we've written in small, supportive groups — listening only, no critique. No writing experience necessary! 

This gathering is also Assaya Sangha’s annual fundraising benefit. All proceeds will directly support Assaya’s programs in 2027, helping us continue to offer regular meditation gatherings, retreats, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ events, and maintain Assaya’s offerings on a donation basis, making our community a welcoming and accessible space for all women.

The practice of generosity is itself a form of joy: a recognition that what nourishes us can also be shared. By participating in this benefit, you will support your own practice while helping sustain a refuge where women can awaken together and bring greater wisdom, compassion, and vitality into the world.

This day is open to all genders. All are welcome to join, regardless of what you can offer financially. This is a dana day, and no one is excluded. We warmly invite you to join us for this day of practice, creativity, beauty, and shared joy.

 

What to bring: 

• Bag lunch and water 
• Comfortable clothes. Appropriate layers as the temperature may fluctuate through the day.
• Sunscreen, sun protection, and appropriate shoes for walking outside. 
• Optional: meditation cushion, shawl or throw blanket 

What will be available onsite:

• Tea and hot water
• Chairs and meditation cushions
• Masks and a section for immunocompromised (ask us for more details)