Hello dear sangha sisters, I'm writing this on the tail of our Townhall event. Thank you so much to those who join us. We've included the video recording below, along with a link to submit your questions and comments to the BoD regarding the presentation. Overall, we have so much to be celebrating and be grateful for as a community. That celebration and thanks are not separate from the larger context of these times. There is so much happening locally and nationally that has been enormously destabilizing for so many. Before hitting the record button, we took a moment to honor those who have just this month lost their lives to the continued violence of ICE - those in the detention centers and those on the streets in protest. We took time to acknowledge the significant harm being done and the families and individuals directly affected by it. It is through this wider lens that we can truly understand the value of spiritual community and support. We can celebrate Assaya's accomplishments, knowing that what we offer in this world is needed to bring more balance, wisdom, and peace. I am deeply thankful to be in community and on this path with you all at this time. with love, Kate Munding Guiding Teacher, Assaya Sangha Check this message and upcoming events in: https://mailchi.mp/assayasangha.org/january-2026-newsletter-17449121?e=ab8754a2bc
Happy New Year, Sangha Sisters! As I take stock of the rollercoaster year we've just completed and move through the mixed emotions that such reflection brings, my heart eventually lands in a place of great gratitude for this practice and for the strength of this community. Before you jump forward too quickly, please consider this an invitation to take a sacred pause to reflect on all that you've cultivated in your practice in 2025 and to listen deeply for what you'd like to tend to next. Looking back, I'm touched by the extraordinary resilience I've witnessed in this community. Time and again, you've returned to practice with courage and tenderness—even through loss, uncertainty, and fatigue. Your dedication to keeping community care alive has been truly inspiring. Sangha has been our refuge and strength—a beautiful embodiment of what becomes possible when we practice together, drawing courage and compassion from one another as we meet life exactly as it is. I look forward to beginning this year practicing together—grounded in the Dharma, warmed by community, and open with wonder to all that is coming into being. As you look through the upcoming offerings, you'll notice that we've changed some of our offerings, though much will remain the same. We will no longer be holding the Monday Night sit, but we will be adding more series and daylong retreats, some of which will be in the evenings. We are bringing back the BIPOC sit with Ramona Lisa, and it will be held on Saturdays at a more accessible time. Our monthly volunteer meetings have changed, too. Instead of monthly meetings focused on Assaya's business, we'll have occasional hybrid (in-person and online) events focused on building community, with some Assaya business sprinkled in. We look forward to practicing and connecting with you soon! With warm wishes, Kate Munding Guiding Teacher, Assaya Sangha Check this message and upcoming events in: https://mailchi.mp/assayasangha.org/january-2026-newsletter?e=ab8754a2bc
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
Message from Kate Munding about our upcoming November 1st retreat
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
