"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." --Martin Luther King, Jr. "Hatred never ends through hatred. By non-hatred alone does it end. This is an ancient truth."--the Buddha
Image:
Larry Yang teaches meditation retreats nationally and has a special interest in creating access to the Dharma for diverse multicultural communities. Larry has practiced extensively in Burma and Thailand, with a six month period of ordination as a Buddhist monk under the guidance of meditation master Ajahn Tong. Larry is one of the core teachers and leaders of the East Bay Meditation Center and is on the Spirit Rock Teachers Council. He is one of the coordinating teachers of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader training program.
He writes a blog for the Huffington Post at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-yang
Larry's teaching schedule (subject to Impermanence!)
The East Bay Meditation Center
The East Bay Meditation Center opened on January 20, 2007 with its location at 2147 Broadway at 22nd Street in downtown Oakland, California (near the 19th Street BART). The vision of EBMC is to serve the very diverse communities of Oakland and the East Bay. We have the intention to keep the Center sustained on an all-Dana (or voluntary donations) model, which means that there will be no fee charged for any events except fund-raisers, and practitioners will be offered the chance to practice Generosity at the end of the event. We invite everyone to practice here and find their spiritual home. For more information about EBMC and events, please email
admin@eastbaymeditation.org or visit our website at www.eastbaymeditation.org
EBMC Mission Statement Founded in a celebration of diversity, the East Bay Meditation Center welcomes everyone seeking to end suffering and cultivate happiness. Our mission is to foster liberation, personal and interpersonal healing, social action, and inclusive community building. We offermindfulness practices and teachings on wisdom and compassion from Buddhist and other spiritual traditions. Rooted in our commitment to diversity, we operate with transparent democratic governance, generosity-based economics, and environmental sustainability.
The altar at the East Bay Meditation Center
2011 events Sat, Jul 16 and Sun, Jul 17 – One and the Same: Heart and Mind. A weekend retreat of Mindfulness and Lovingkindness at Diamond Zephyr Sangha, Reno NV. This weekend meditation retreat will explore the interwoven nature of Mindfulness with Lovingkindness (or Metta). Both are practices which create a more expansive heart and more peaceful mind. They are doors into the experience of Freedom. The first day will introduce the Mindfulness practices and the second day will merge the practices of Lovingkindness. Both days will include contemplative sitting and walking meditations along with group exercises and sharing, which support our collective deepening into feeling the Awareness within Love, and the Love that flows from Awareness. You are welcomed to attend either or both days, with an open invitation to both new and more experienced practitioners. http://www.dharmazephyr.org/events
Sat, Aug 27 to Fri, Sept 2 – Annual Residential People of Color retreat with Gina Sharpe, Sharon Salzberg, and Larry Yang, and Bhante Buddharakkhita, at IMS, Barre, MA. www.dharma.org
Sun, Sept 4 – Sun, Sept 11 - Community Dharma Leaders Training Program (CDL) Retreat #3--coordinating teachers: Eugene Cash, Gina Sharpe, Thanissara, and Larry Yang at Garrison, NY.
Mon, Sept 12 – Evening Teaching at New York Insight. www.nyimc.org
Sat, Oct 1 – Holding Your Life in Kindness: Practicing Gratitude a daylong retreat at Spirit Rock. As we expand our meditation practices of Mindfulness and Lovingkindness…As we meet our present moments and lived experiences for what they are…As we meet everything with the gentleness of our simple awareness…As we no longer take our lives for granted—a kindness begins to arise that is the energy of Gratitude—the openness and wonder of what the moment really is like— the “WOW!”of truly living—not a thought, or dream, or wish….but our precious life. Open to both beginning and experienced meditation practitioners. http://www.spiritrock.org/calendarDetails?EventID=3094
Sat, Oct 1 to Thurs, Oct 6 - Annual Residential Meditation retreat for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender communities at Spirit Rock with Larry Yang, Arinna Weisman, and Myo Lahey. www.spiritrock.org
Fri, Oct 7 to Fri, Oct 14 - Weeklong Residential Retreat with Tara Brach, Larry Yang & Pat Coffey at Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC. Contact: La_Sarmiento(at)yahoo.com
Sun, Nov 13 to Sat Nov 19 – Diving into the Dharma: a non-residential week of intensive householder practice. Effort, Commitment, Determination: How have you experienced these intentions in your life? Live them during an entire week of intensive practice which includes your work, home, and recreation. With the support of other spiritual friends, move through your week with your highest intentions of being Aware, Mindful, Open, and Free. Previous meditation experience suggested. www.eastbaymeditation.org
Sat, Dec 10 – Courage to Live: The Practice of Forgiveness daylong meditation retreat at EBMC. www.eastbaymeditation.org
2012 events Fri, Jan 6 to Fri, Jan 13 - Metta Retreat with Sylvia Boorstein, Donald Rothberg, Heather Martin, Heather Sundberg, Larry Yang, Konda Mason (yoga) at Spirit Rock, Woodacre, CA. www.spiritrock.org
Sat, Jan 14 to Mon, San 16 – Honoring the Dharma and Lovingkindness of Dr. Martin Luther King: a weekend retreat with Larry Yang, Julie Wester, Konda Mason, and Charlie Johnson at Spirit Rock. www.spiritrock.org
Sat, Jan 21 – The Great Journey: the Buddha’s Life Is Our Own—a daylong meditation retreat at East Bay Meditation Center. www.eastbaymeditation.org
Sun, Jan 22 – Beginning of Commit2Dharma 3.0 – a year long study program at EBMC with Larry Yang. www.eastbaymeditation.org
Sat, Feb 18 – Mindfulness and Metta: One and the Same, a daylong retreat at EBMC. www.eastbaymeditation.org
Thurs, Mar 1 to Wed, Mar 28 – Month long residential meditation retreat with Sylvia Boorstein, Larry Yang, Donald Rothberg, Mary Grace Orr, John Travis, Heather Sundberg, and Konda Mason (yoga). www.spiritrock.org
Sat, Mar 31 – Living Your Inspiration, a daylong meditation retreat at EBMC. www.eastbaymeditation.org
Fri-Sun, Apr 13-15 – Coming Home: A weekend of Meditation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Questioning and Queer Communities, LGBTQ weekend residential Vipassana retreat on the East Coast with Larry Yang and Maddy Klyne. www.garrison.org
Sun, May 20 – Sun, May 27- Community Dharma Leaders Training Program (CDL) Retreat #4--coordinating teachers: Eugene Cash, Gina Sharpe, Thanissara, and Larry Yang.
Thurs, Jun 28 to Wed, Jul 4 - Annual People of Color meditation retreat at Spirit Rock with Larry Yang, Anushka Fernandopulle, Bhante Buddharakkhita, and Michelle Benzamin-Miki. www.spiritrock.org
Fri, Aug 10 to Wed, Aug 15 – LGBTQ Residential retreat in the Pacific Northwest with Larry Yang and Arinna Weisman. Contact Forrest Rode: onlyonesf@yahoo.com
Wed, Sept 12 – Wed, Sept 19- Community Dharma Leaders Training Program (CDL) Retreat #5--coordinating teachers: Eugene Cash, Gina Sharpe, Thanissara, and Larry Yang.
Mon, Oct 8 to Sun, Oct 14 - Annual Residential Meditation retreat for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender communities at Spirit Rock with Larry Yang, Arinna Weisman, and Pascal Auclair. www.spiritrock.org
Sun, Nov 13 to Sat Nov 19 – Diving into the Dharma: a non-residential week of intensive householder practice. www.eastbaymeditation.org
Sat-Sun, Dec 8 to Dec 9 – Weekend non-residential retreat at EBMC. www.eastbaymeditation.org
Tues-Sun, Dec 11-16, Liberating Intimacy, a residential meditation retreat at Spirit Rock with Eugene Cash, Gina Sharpe, Pam Weiss, and Larry Yang. www.spiritrock.org
If you feel moved to practice Dana (the practice of Generosity) in order to support Larry to teach further, please click on the above "donate" button.
The Teachings of the Buddha are regarded as priceless, so Larry offers his experience with the Dharma, freely without cost in all of the above venues. The intention is to make the teachings as accessible as possible. Whatever you offer is so greatly appreciated as his livelihood is reliant solely on individual and community support of his life work. Your contributions will allow him to continue to provide access to the Teachings to diverse, multicultural communities, as well as do multicultural awareness and change work within sanghas, dharma communities, and spiritual institutions.
Many blessings and "Anumodana" (Sharing in the Joy of Your Goodness) for your offering.
