Community, Practice, Ritual and Creativity

A close look at what’s happening at three US sanghas: Aryaloka, San Francisco and Rocky Mountain Buddhist centers

• ‘Cultivating the Riches of Less’ by Saddhavasini
• ‘Unearthing the Buddha’ at Aryaloka by Suddhayu
• 5 Buddha Mandala to Protect and Celebrate Dharmadhara by Danamaya
• Drop the Story: Turn attention away from resisting pain
• Acting as if: Training to be of benefit to others
• Sangha Connections in US and Canada
• In Love with the World: One Monk’s Jou... Read more

Event Dates: Jan 15, 6:30pm to Feb 5, 8:30pm

A four week introduction on Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:30pm.

On this introductory workshop we will explore the Buddha’s teaching of mindfulness, generally as a living principle, and more specifically as a meditation practice. Participants will learn the Mindfulness of Breathing, a meditation that has been practiced for thousands of years, and learn everything they need to begin a regular and effective meditat... Read more

Event Dates: January 17, 2019 – January 20, 2020

Join us for our annual gathering and celebration of sangha!

Cherish the Doctrine, Live United, Radiate Love – These are the words of Dhardo Rimpoche, a 20th century Tibetan master and one of Sangharakshita’s beloved teachers. Those who met him remember him warmly as a genuine living bodhisattva... Read more

Event Dates: January 25, 10-4

“Even as a mother protects with her life

Her child, her only child,

So with a boundless heart

Should one cherish all living beings”

from the Karaniya Metta Sutta

On this introductory meditation workshop we will explore the Buddha’s teaching of kindness or metta, generally as a living principle, and more specifically as a meditation practice. Participants will learn the Metta Bhavana, o... Read more

Event Date/Time: September 22, 2-6pm

Learn how to make nutritionally balanced and delicious meals with whole food. Topics will include questions about protein, carbs, veganism, vegetarian “meat”, processed food, gluten allergies, how to work with tofu, tempeh, and more. We will be working with the abundant harvest of the season, explore how to eat local on a budget and how to create delicious and satisfying vegan and veg... Read more

Event Date: February 2, 2:30-3pm

Children’s Sangha gatherings are a wonderful way to introduce Buddhism and mindfulness to your young ones. Alisha offers a unique and lovely occasion for you to share with your children and the Aryaloka community. In each class there is a short talk, gentle meditation, and an arts and crafts activity related to a Buddhist theme. Older children are encouraged to come and help with the arts and crafts program.

Parents must remain on premises and parents of very young children are asked to stay with their child to assist th... Read more

Event Dates: February 7, 7pm to February 9, 2pm

It is natural for us to be curious about the process of dying, and to wonder what happens during and after death. In Buddhism, there are many different meditations, rituals and customs around death. One of the best known texts regarding the subject is attributed to Padmasambhava and written down by his primary disciple,... Read more

Event Dates: February 15, 10-4

Buddhism begins with the Buddha sitting beneath a tree, touching the earth. The Buddha’s vision of connection and kindness encompasses earth, sky, and sea; from the tiniest being to the largest. The practice of non-harm invests us with empathy and care for all of life.

On our next Order Mitra Day we will bring attention to our environment, the many changes that are occurring, and how we can bring our Dharma practice into the fo... Read more

Event Dates: February 16, 10 – 4

On this introductory workshop we will explore the Buddha’s teaching of mindfulness, generally as a living principle, and more specifically as a meditation practice. Participants will learn the Mindfulness of Breathing, a meditation that has been practiced for thousands of years, and learn everything they need to begin a regular and effective meditation practice. Suitable for complete beginners, or those looking for a ref... Read more

Event Dates: February 18, 2020

Parinirvana is the annual observance of the death, or Final Nirvana, of the Buddha. It’s an opportunity to reflect upon the final days of the Buddha, and the great mystery of Enlightenment and Death. It is also a time when we remember those we’ve lost. Parinirvana is one of the major days of reflection on the Buddhist ... Read more

Event Dates: Friday, February 21 – Sunday, February 23, 2020

In yoga we seek to find suitable grounding and remain aware of the transitions we make through shifting poses, all the while keeping the breath alive and vital in our practice. So too in meditation we must stay grounded while being open to our changing experience, perhaps anchored by the sensations of the breath. For this weekend retreat we will blend the approaches of yoga and meditation to reach a deeper expression of each. All the while cultivating both inner and outer awareness.

The re... Read more

Event Dates: February 29, 9–1

Our Dharma practice days for men in the first half of 2020 will be themed around the idea or image of inner and outer wilderness. We will be exploring the relationship of our inner world to the outer through Dharma texts, literature, meditation and mindful forestry projects. In the cooler months we will be exploring Dharma texts that touch on the theme of wilderness, facing fear, and transformation. In the warmer months we will be outside ... Read more

Event Dates: March 4, 7pm to March 8, 2pm

Listen to the sound of water
In the clefts and in the gullies:
The tiny streams gurgle loudly
— Mighty waters flow in silence.
From the Nalaka Sutta

This retreat provides a safe and supportive space to practice meditation in an atmosphere of deep silence. There is an emphasis on the collective aspect of practice, with the Five Precepts woven into the fabric of the daily program.

Event Dates: April 17, 7pm to April 23, 2pm

The focus of this meditation retreat will be on the extraordinary way of life of Milarepa. Milarepa’s clarity of vision has been a primary inspiration for Kamalashila. He’ll draw on his own experience of living in simplicity as a hermit and practising aspects of Milarepa’s approach.

We will form a community, focused on practice, supporting one another. With study and discussion for the first few days, and then a perio... Read more

Event Dates: April 24, 7pm to April 26, 2pm

Studying, contemplating and meditating on the Dharma according to the Tibetan yogi Milarepa.

Please join us as we welcome guest-teacher Dh Kamalashila for an engaging weekend of meditation and Dharma reflection with the works of the great Buddhist master Read more

Event Dates: May 8, 7pm to May 10, 2pm

The bond between mothers and daughters is unique, complicated, and full of emotions. Take time to reconnect, to celebrate and to deepen this sacred relationship.

“Complicated does not inherently mean “bad.” It’s just that simultaneously, there are two different people (no matter how similar) with a lifetime’s worth of stuff between them, both trying to exist within the multifarious layers of their unique bond.” — A... Read more

Event Dates: May 14, 7pm to May 17, 2pm

On this retreat we will dive into the layers of meaning found in experience of the six elements. Our explorations will be a kind of deep ecology – of our environment and of our minds. The aim of deepening our connection with the elements – inner and outer – is to support us making wise choices about how to live in this world. We hope to heal any sense of alienation that may have taken hold of us and to inspire a sense of connectio... Read more

Event Dates: June 5, 10am to June 7, 2pm

Mindful eating changes how the brain works by changing neural pathways that can transform your mind, health, and life!  Please join Megrette Fletcher, M.Ed, RD, CDE and Kathleen Costello, MS, DC, two mindfulness professionals, as they describe a way to bring mindfulness from an abstract idea to your next meal.  Learn how to use mindfulness with food and movement using 2500-year-old wisdom from the Buddhist tradition.

E... Read more

Event Dates: June 26, 7pm to June 28, 2pm

You’ve probably been given very specific instructions on how to develop mindfulness. You’ve probably received very clear direction in how to cultivate loving-kindness. But dhyana — even although it’s considered to be the basis of Awakening itself — is usually left to chance. Sometimes it happens to us out of the blue, and we’re not entirely clear how. More often it remains elusive, to the point where we start thinking of... Read more