Special Community Daylong Retreat Events

In his lifetime the Buddha saw social unrest, the rise and fall of various ruling factions, and many forms of suffering. His message, conveyed throughout, was unwavering and remains relevant today: Awakening our heart and mind, upending the roots of greed, hate, and delusion, is the way towards peace and happiness.

Yet these are extraordinary times that we are navigating. How do we walk this path of awakening while also encountering so much suffering in our world? One response is that we don't have to do it alone.

On this retreat, we will come together, connected by our care for the world and our love for the Dharma. The day’s theme will center around Self-Compassion and Worldly Compassion. We will be led by Spirit Rock Retreat Center teacher Anushka Fernandopolle and Kate Munding, Guiding Teacher of Assaya Sangha. We will cultivate compassion in our hearts in order to attend to our own challenges and then practice extending that compassion outward.

This will be a day of meditation, movement, connection, and teachings. The tone of the day will be heart-opening and empowering. All levels of meditation experience are welcome.

This is a fundraising event. All donations received will go to Assaya Sangha, a women's Insight Dharma Community based in the San Francisco-East Bay area.

All genders are invited and welcome! Pre-registration is recommended.

Your support will help us continue to meet Assaya Sangha’s current and immediate future costs. All the dana donations are for the Sangha (i.e., to fund General Operations ).

Your contribution will help fund the following:

Your gift of $50 purchases necessary supplies.
Your gift of $100 provides funds to sustain our basic operations.
Your gift of $200 supports payments to guest teachers.
Your gift of $300 supports Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging training.
Your gift of $500 covers the space rental costs of in-person community gatherings for one month.
Your gift of $1000 will help fund our operational costs for 1 month.

Assaya Sangha started as a conversation between five women who wanted to know what a Dharma community might look like if envisioned and run by women for women. We launched Assaya Sangha almost three years ago, the week before the state went into full lockdown due to the pandemic. Since that time, our sangha has grown in the following ways, thanks to the many dedicated hours of our volunteers, teachers, and a very supportive community.

Perhaps most importantly, we’ve been a steady spiritual home to women through a time of great global challenge and grief. We have thrived during this time because of the tender hearts and collective wisdom that guides this community. We are so fortunate, and we are just getting started!

"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." - Maya Angelou

A Benefit for Assaya Sangha

What Your Donation Will Support

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