November 2025 Newsletter

November 13, 2025

The Support of the Sangha

Dear sangha sisters,


I'm looking out my window at a cluster of bay laurels that grow alongside a seasonal creek beside my house. From the topsoil upward, they appear a bit crowded—each one stretching toward a patch of open sky and sunlight. They seem like individuals, each doing their own tree thing.


But over the years, I've come to see how much they need one another to thrive. When storms roll through and the wind howls, I sometimes worry that their narrow, tall trunks won't withstand the force. The way the land is shaped funnels the wind through this area at alarming speeds. And yet, the trees survive. They buffer each other, each taking part of the impact from those gusts. Some even hold one another up, as sagging limbs rest on their neighbors' boughs.


Beneath the soil lies another support system—a vast network of roots intertwined, digging deep into the earth. It's said that trees "talk" through their roots using chemical signals, with the help of the living mycorrhizal networks in the soil.


I like to imagine the sangha in this way. There is the visible support we share—the ways we come together, helping one another through difficult times. And then there is the unseen support—the felt sense of belonging, of being part of something that holds us. A community of people who notice when we're not there, who touch our hearts with their sharing, and who witness us as we grow through our practice.


I don't know what will happen next in our country or in society as a whole. What I do know is that sangha—a spiritual community—is deeply needed and profoundly relevant right now. However we move forward, may it be through togetherness, connectedness, and heroic empathy. Perhaps this is a time of great unfolding—a chance to reimagine how we live on this planet. If so, maybe we already hold the building blocks for what's possible within this rooted network of women. I like to think so.

We have a supportive collection of offerings this month and next. Whether you're new to our community, have been thinking of sitting with us for a while, or you've been a regular, we look forward to seeing you soon. You are very welcome here. 

Wishing you all well,
Kate Munding
Guiding Teacher, Assaya Sangha

 

https://mailchi.mp/assayasangha.org/november-2025-newsletter

 

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December 2025 Newsletter

By Lucia Longhi • December 3, 2025
Dear Sangha, As we enter this season of reflection and gratitude, I wanted to share a brief update about our Fall Appeal. Thanks to the generosity expressed at our recent fundraiser, we are already close to halfway toward our $18,000 goal for 2026. I recorded a short message to share my gratitude and to invite you into this effort as we move toward the new year. I hope you’ll take a moment to watch. To play the video, click here: https://vimeo.com/1142137720/af278a7e30?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci To support Assaya Sangha: https://assayasangha.app.neoncrm.com/forms/fall-appeal-2025 Thank you for your practice, your presence, and your generosity. This sangha is truly shaped by each one of you, and I am grateful we walk this path together. These funds directly support our community: Re-fund the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) Fund. Increase the number of in-person and Zoom full- and half-day retreats. Continue our Dharma Series, with some offered in person. Community outreach and marketing to help people who are seeking refuge and connection find their way to Assaya Sangha. Ways to Give Credit Card: https://assayasangha.app.neoncrm.com/forms/fall-appeal-2025 Check: If you prefer to send us a Check, please make your check out to Assaya Sangha and mail it to: 17 El Rincon, Orinda, California 94563 Donor-Advised Fund: If you would like to donate from your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF), please email Katemunding@assayasangha.org for instructions and support. Again, thank you for your support. We hope to see you at the Winter Solstice event on the 21st. Wishing you all well, Kate Munding Guiding Teacher, Assaya Sangha Check this message and upcoming events in: https://mailchi.mp/assayasangha.org/november-2025-newsletter-17447678?e=ab8754a2bc

October 2025 Newsletter

By Lucia Longhi • November 5, 2025
Message from Kate Munding about our upcoming November 1st retreat
Stone Buddha statue in lush green garden, pink flowering bush nearby.

September 2025 Newsletter

September 16, 2025
Although meditation on the breath is not the only Buddhist practice, it is often taught as a foundational one. The breath has much to share with us. As a practitioner, you already know that when you bring mindful attention to it, the breath helps gather a scattered mind into a state of easeful concentration. It can als