At Berkeley Buddhist Monastery
Weekly events
Avatamsaka Sutra Lecture
Saturdays, 7:30-9:30pm
Lecturer: Rev. Heng Sure
Every Saturday evening at 7:30 PM (PST) the Berkeley Monastery community gathers to listen to a lecture on the Flower Adornment Sutra. We investigate the sutra text line by line and endeavor to bring its ancient wisdom up to date for our modern lives in the 21st century. The Sutras point directly to the path of liberation from suffering. Our founder, Ven. Master Hsuan Hua began the work of lecturing on Mahayana sutras in the West in 1969; carrying on this legacy keeps the teachings of the Bodhisattva Path alive as a oasis of clarity and kindness in our contemporary world. Lectures are made available online through webcast. Archives of lectures are at www.dharmaradio.org.
Dharma Roundtable
Time: Every other Mondary starting April 14, from 7:30pm to 9pm, 4/14, 4/28, 5/12, 5/26.
Master Chin He will lead an hour of integrative practice (dubbed Integrative Mahayana Meditation, iMam) that combines both physical exercise with meditation. This is followed by a half-hour of informal discussion for young adults interested in applying Buddhism to their everyday lives and issues.
Saturday Morning Buddhist Practices
Saturdays, 9:00-11am
1st Sat of the month: Shurangama Mantra Recitation
2nd & 5th Sat of the month: Great Compassion Repentance
3rd Sat of the month: Recitation of the Universal Door Chapter of the Lotus Sutra
4th Sat of the month: Ch'an Meditation (6:15am to 3pm)
Lead by Master Chin He
Wednesday Night Buddhist Meditation Course
7:30-9:00pm
Instructor: Steven Tainer
The course will offer detailed instruction concerning methods and
stages of mind training and meditation (dhyana), as this has been
understood by various Buddhist schools (Indian Mahayana, Theravada,
Tibetan Mahayana, and T'ien-t'ai). It will also cover the theory,
terminology, literature and history associated with such training, and
will offer some comparisons with non-Buddhist traditions, including
those found in Western religions like Christianity. The objective is to
provide an opportunity to explore and consider traditional Buddhist
shamatha (peaceful abiding) mind training and ways this latter
facilitates entry into early stages of vipashyana (insight) “nature of
mind” contemplation. It is intended as an introduction to a subsequent
course on the essential practice and realization of the Chinese Ch’an
tradition, to be taught in a later semester.
Friday Night Meditation Class
7:30-9pm
Instructor: Professor Martin Verhoeven
Forty-five minutes of silent meditation followed by a talk and
discussion of the Sixth Patriarch Sutra, an important text of the Zen
tradition detailing the life and teachings of Master Hui-neng, a 6th
century Chinese Buddhist monk. The text teaches the doctrines of
no-thought and non-duality, leading one to direct perception of the
true and awakened nature within all living beings. Suitable for
beginners and experienced practitioners.
Sunday Morning Integral Mahyana Meditation (with no Discussion)
Time: 7:30-8am.
Master
Chin He will lead an hour of integrative practice (dubbed Integrative
Mahayana Meditation, iMam) that combines both physical exercise with
meditation.
Sunday Afternoon Integral Mahyana Meditation & Discussion
Time: 3:00-5pm.
Master
Chin He will lead an hour of integrative practice (dubbed Integrative
Mahayana Meditation, iMam) that combines both physical exercise with
meditation. This is followed by a 30 minute Q&A and feedback session about the practice.
Daily Events
Open Meditation
Morning and Evening
Daily 6:15 - 7:15 AM and 5:15 - 6:15 PM
The Meditation Hall is available daily at this time for sitting meditation without instruction.
Evening Chanting
Daily 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Traditional Buddhist Evening Ceremony is held every evening. All are welcome to participate or observe.
Tai Ji Quan
[Tuesday-Friday Mornings]
Daily 6:30 - 8:00 AM
Guang Ping Yang Style
Instructor: Futung Cheng
Special Events
First Tuesday of every month - the Sanghapala Meditation Group meets at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery. Exception: during the Winter Retreat (January- March) when a guest teacher is scheduled, a monastic is in attendance and presents a Dhamma talk and leads the group in chanting and meditation, 7:30-9:30 pm.
