Weekly Meditation Classes
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All classes include seated meditation, instruction, and a talk about mindfulness. Each teacher offers a unique style, based on their own experiences on the Path. Click on the teacher’s name to learn more about him or her. We welcome adults at all levels of experience, including beginners. We have both chairs and cushions for use during class. No reservation is necessary.
Current Schedule of Classes
Tuition: $10 per class / $5 for members
FREE CLASSES on THURSDAY
New! OPEN MEDITATION – Tuesdays 11:45am – 1:00pm click here for details
Mondays at 7:00 pm with Joseph – Seated Meditation & Mindfulness Talk
*no class May 21st
Tuesdays at 7:00 pm with Julie – Meditation Spa: Instruction, practice, Q&A
(Julie’s class meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month)
*no class May 8th, 22nd, or 29th
Thursdays at 7:00 pm with Samadhi – Meditation & Dharma Discussion
*no class May 17th
Saturdays at 11:00 am with Dhamma – Seated Meditation & Mindfulness Talk
*no class May 19th
Monthly Book Club Retreat!
BOOK CLUB RETREAT (click for more details) with Samadhi!
Sunday, May 6, 2012 1:00pm to 4:00pm
The Book: The Enlightenment Cycle by Rama ~ Dr. Frederick Lenz
Volunteers, Donations, and Memberships make Dharma Center possible.
Thank you for your support!
A Note About Tuition
The tuition collected for classes pays the rent and insurance for the room and for teaching supplies, such as informational handouts, music, furniture, advertising, and office supplies. Memberships also pay for these expenses, in addition to the member’s benefits like the library and Thunderbird Journal. Teachers, administrators, and the volunteers who run Dharma Center are not paid for their time.
For the first 8½ years, we offered free public classes. We relied upon donations and memberships to pay the expenses. Unfortunately, this subtle approach to financing a center for meditation and self-discovery did not work, and forced our teachers to spend a great deal of energy on fundraising each year instead of on teaching. The idea that people would, of their own accord, understand the need pay for a place to practice because it is important to their lives was overshadowed by the American concept of getting the most and paying the least for it.
During our first years, we were fortunate to find people who know the intrinsic value of the practice of giving, and they supported Dharma Center with very generous membership donations that kept our doors open. It is unfair to expect these individuals continue to carry the bulk of the financial cost, and it is unfair for the students who attend weekly classes to miss the opportunity to access the power that comes with paying for your own spiritual practice.
Tuition for the public classes has been set at $10, roughly the price for a few cups of gourmet coffee. Most students would agree the energy boost they obtain from attending a class is much greater and of longer lasting value than a cappuccino.
We realize some people have financial difficulties, both temporary and chronic. We ask that you first take an honest look at your expenses and determine if you are spending your money on what is most important to you. Perhaps there is a small sacrifice (like giving up a couple of afternoon lattes) you can make in order to pay for your class tuition. After going through this exercise, if you find the tuition is an obstacle and you are serious about your spiritual practice, please discuss your situation with one of the teachers. Money should not prevent anyone from having access to the Teachings.
Money, in this society, is a symbol of power. Money, like power, allows you to experience things that are not available to those lacking in money. If you find yourself unable to pay for the things you need, there is a problem related to your personal power. A spiritual discipline will help you develop personal power and allow you to resolve the issues interfering with basic survival. Without a stable base on which to build, spiritual progress is unlikely. To rise above the suffering of the world and enter into the higher mindstates, a certain amount of power is required. To go beyond all mindstates and enter samadhi, even more power is needed.
Utilizing your personal power appropriately, that is spending energy and money on the things truly important to you, are the first steps towards serious spiritual development. Paying for your spiritual practice is one small way to send a message to yourself and Eternity that your practice is important to you.
For those of you who are ready to make an ongoing commitment to your spiritual practice, we invite you to join as a Dharma Center Member. Please see our class handout or visit our Membership Options page.
Sunset Cliffs
Sunset Cliffs