A warm, welcoming, and inclusive community, ever-evolving while offering refreshing teachings and…read moreopportunities to reflectively cultivate engaged practice as applied to daily life. An oasis.

In 2007 I had the good fortune to attend a Qigong workship at the Berkeley Shambhala Center led by…read moreEva Wong. I was somewhat apprehensive about the physical demands of such a practice since I was 60 years old, overweight, and not in good physical condition. I found that the qigong was taught in a gentle way with great sensitivity to participants' physical infirmities. I was quite surprised to find that I felt better after six hours of Qigong than I did before I started and that I was not sore at all the next day. I was even more surprised to find that the second day of instruction was also invigorating and pain free. I have continued to practice this Qigong and have taken additional classes from Eva. My wife and I both have found that this Qigong practice has made us stronger, healthier, and more flexible. It has truly improved our lives at a time when we needed it. Why am I telling you about this old news? Because Eva Wong is returning to teach again at the Berkeley Shambhala Center on December 5-6, 2009. I hope that others can learn to improve their lives as my wife and I were able to.

I have been attending workshops at EBMC sporadically for close to 2 years now. I am not a regular…read moremeditator, despite my intentions, I accept what is for now lol. I value EBMC so much as a learning space. The workshops I have attended always provided information for me, whether about the nature of things or about my inner world that was right on time! I have definitely grown as a result and feel helped along through life's challenges & lessons. I love the gift economics model they use, I just wish we could venmo our donations or some other way online where eventbrite doesn't charge fees. I try to pay cash on site instead when I have it, but yea I hate the fees. Tip: scent free space, and they mean it! I actually love fabric softener (it was a luxury my family did not afford when I was a kid) and now I dump it enthusiastically all over my laundry, so attending events at EBMC requires some extra planning on my part, but I appreciate that they are serious to make it accessible for everyone and it's well worth my effort.

Super welcoming, efficient and kind... Keep trying the various teachers and I find there's someone…read morefor everyone in terms of style and Dharma offerings with the various programs in wide variety of teachers... Improvement could be made with donating one portal easy like IMC Redwood City and I would really appreciate less aggressive dana talks and an easier portal /platform for donating going to each individual teachers platform and having to sign up with the platform is not a solution and I appreciate your kind attention and hope this can be made easier for all beings to donate to East Bay Meditation Center because basically I'm waiting until the teachers come to Insight Meditation Center Redwood City and donating to them at that venue because easier. Also another Meditation Center that even has an easier platform for donation is Flagstaff Meditation Center you go in pull down the teacher's name click in the donation arrives to the teacher and or Center....

I'm a long-term meditator and yoga practitioner and I came here for a personal retreat. Tibetan…read moreBuddhism has been close to my heart since college for personal reasons and I love supporting local non-profit organizations in general. My room cost (with fees) was approximately $2,800/month. Positives - The meditation classes with Mark Henderson (6:45am-7:30am M-F "The way of the Bodhisattva") and Hugh Joswick (Intermediate meditation) were worth the trip themselves.The morning class is definitely one of the most challenging meditation practices I have encountered, which is exactly what enabled me to learn more about my own personal meditation practice obstacles. The reminder of the Six Paramitas was both timely and deeply appreciated. - Eddie deserves honorary membership in the Department of Knowing Things. Whether I needed information, directions, or help figuring something out, he was consistently helpful and funny at the same time. - Beautiful hillside location with trees, birds and wildlife. - Quiet environment well-suited for meditation and personal retreat - Convenient access to classes and programs - Short walk (~20 mins at my walking pace) to downtown Berkeley (BART etc.) Accommodation & Facility Issues - The room contains a twin-size innerspring (spring coil) mattress. I found it uncomfortable for a month-long stay and would have appreciated more detailed information about the bed in the listing - The room carpet appears not to have been deep-cleaned for an extended period (dust, extensive stains) - whether you stay for a single week or a month, laundry detergent is not provided. Laundry fees still apply. Dish detergent, sponges, hand soap, toilet paper and towels are provided. I believe that guests are expected to buy laundry detergent and wash the towels themselves. - Room vacuum cleaning and dusting is not included, even for longer stays; guests are expected to clean their own room with their own cleaning supplies. - The balcony door is my room repeatedly opened on its own during the night despite being closed before bed. This allowed for cold air into the room. There may be an issue with a stroke plate and the latch. - Information provided to guests (i.e. both AirbnB app and the room printed materials) is inaccurate. - I was shown a pantry containing shared spices but it was not clear what was free to use (e.g. cinnamon yes, oil no?) All guests are provided two boxes (1 for their dry food, 1 for refrigerated food) - coffee beans and tea are provided, coffee cream, milk etc are not - I couldn't find a tea strainer for loose tea in the kitchen; it was handed to me that day and it disappeared again. I am now only using tea bags provided by the institute. - I wasn't able to find cookware compatible with the guest kitchen induction stove one morning. All pots were located in the staff kitchen guests do not have access to that day. - I received 7-8 AirBnB messages containing photos of dirty dishes left in the shared areas though it was not clear who was responsible. As a guest, I found this approach very uncomfortable and impersonal. Overall: This may be a peaceful retreat if you are looking for unanticipated daily challenges to get in the way of your practice. The Four Noble truths still stand in 2026. There is suffering (no laundry detergent on a Sunday evening before a busy Monday) and a way out of suffering. The path sometimes requires a pilgrimage and the return carrying a full-sized jug of laundry detergent up the steep Berkeley hills.

Great Tibetan Buddhist place to relax meditate and find yourself…read more Excellent teachers.

I'm in Sonoma County but did my class at the Berkeley TM center which I am grateful for. I find the…read moreteachers there friendly, accessible, knowledgeable and kind. I've done several retreats thru this center and have had nothing but positive experiences. For what you receive from TM - not just in instruction but from the practice itself - I find the center invaluable.

I received my TM instruction in Seattle but am so happy to have found this community now that I…read morelive in the East Bay. I've been to one tune-up and one weekend retreat (both firsts for me) and look forward to attending more. The Zoom meditations during the week are a great complement to my practice. I always feel like I learn something new and come away feeling rested, refreshed, and reinvigorated. And it's always lovely to meditate with others, see familiar faces, and share in the experience.

I highly recommend this program to all living beings! Neelam is the perfect teacher! I promise that…read moreyou'll be able to breathe and live easier after completing the Happiness Program. I haven't had a proper vacation in 10 years, and this surely made up for it!

I love that there is a spot in Berkeley where we can have Art of Living workshops and events! This…read moreis a sweet gathering spot and the teachers and people are wonderful. I love the Art of Living and highly recommend signing up for the next local Happiness Program!

I have been to one of the talks by one of the meditation students. Very friendly atmosphere inside…read morethe building. I liked how down-to-earth and practical the approach to meditation was, basically it's about giving people tools to gain a first hand experience about states of consciousness. And they had snacks!

I have been taking weekly meditation classes here for years and love it!!! The instructors are…read moretop-notch and the material is solid.

I grew up in the East Bay but only heard about this place as an adult. It's been on my list and I…read morefinally got a friend to go with me. My friend and I arrived about 10 minutes before official open, but we were able to find parking two blocks away and start getting the tokens. We strategized and split up. I got in the mixed plate line whole she got in the beef noodle line. We got the panang curry, yellow curry, and pad thai for our three items. I also grabbed the mango sticky rice which was in limited supply and right next to the mixed plates. I grabbed a shady spot and hunkered down while she grabbed the beef noodle soup and the khanom. It was a lot of food for the two of us but we wanted to try everything. I also brought tupperware just in case of leftovers. We did not even touch the sweets so had to bring that home. The beef noodle soup was very fragrant and reminiscent of pho. The panang curry was a bit too spicy for my friend but I liked it. Yellow curry was good and so was the pad thai. We got there at a good time because people started having to sit on the grass. It got busy! It is a little confusing when you walk in, but once you get over the crowds, it's a good system. We also didn't use all of our tokens and I'm glad you can get a refund on tokens. The mango sticky rice was delicious, coconut milk was fragrant. Dessert was good, my favorite was the fried taro. I would absolutely return!

This Thai temple is such a hidden gem, was super grateful for friends who introduced us to it. It's…read morea legit Thai temple in Berkeley that has a Sunday morning/afternoon market. You trade in cash for tokens, and then trade the tokens for food that is worth different token amounts (I think that's how they get around the taxes and tip). You can always return the tokens at the end of your meal to get your cash back. My top hits were this pho-like soup with beef and I think bone broth? the Thai iced tea, and the kanom krok dessert (the coconut dessert pastries). CASH ONLY Pros: - the soup is delicious - my friend always brings a container to take the rest of the broth home if she doesn't finish it - all the food is super delicious, and all the workers are super nice - LOTS of options to choose from! Thai food everywhere. Decent prices for the amount of food you get - The temple is beautiful and the statues are gorgeous, even if you're not Buddhist it's a really cool environment to be in - They have covered and uncovered tables to sit and eat at, and you dump your leftovers and dirty dishes in a designated pile, the whole thing is a very well-run ship. Cons: - parking can be tricky - Food can run out if you come closer to noon - lines can be long because the food is so good, recommend you come early - can get loud and crowded - lots of dogs, families, kids, etc. this place is popular. an introvert's nightmare LOL I recommend coming with a party of 2-3 so that one of you can stake out a spot, one of you can stand in a longer line , etc.

great facility- have happily participated in a few events here, tho it's been awhile since I…read moredarkened that door. Always clean and well lit.... the only negative I remember is difficulty Parking

LOVE TUES YOGA CLASS: I came almost every single day for a week (free yoga class week), about two…read moreor three months ago. Now I go regularly on my favorite day which is Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:15 PM with Juliana (who is the nicest person ever!!!). She focuses on your breath (ujayee?) which helps me focus on the present and on my body. Otherwise my mind wanders and worries. Her class is very relaxing, and her poses are not too difficult. She also has a style that doesn't stay on one pose for too long. She sees yoga as a way to enhance your connection to your body. If you really want a work out, this class is not for you. FEE IS DONATION BASED- recommended price is $10-15- but no one checks, you just put the money in a box on the side. Honestly, what I put it depends on the week.

Yesterday was my first time there. First impression: very unpretentious, intimate temple space. The…read morealtar isn't all that impressive if I were to use the standard of some really dignified, solemn, grand temples I've been to in Taiwan, cuz here, things are sort of random, sort of like a patchwork. There're Buddha and bodhisattva figures on stained glass; statues made of ceramics and wood; flowers real and (I assume) plastic; gongs and bowls and incense burners; small sculptures of Arhats in the glass cabinet, and Chinese calligraphy on the wall. Makes me think of some sort of mismatched collage. Obviously Mahayana / Chinese Buddhism, and clearly devotional in nature. Strangely familiar and comforting - for me, as a Taiwanese - yet different, and a little bit odd. Aesthetically speaking, it's not the most stunning where Mahayana / Chinese Buddhism is concerned. But there's something about it that warms the innermost cockles my heart. There's something touchingly sincere about this place... For one thing, I am familiar the ritual, the chanting, the recitation of the Buddha and Bodhisattva's names - it's what I had been doing all my childhood years back in Taiwan, and it's real nice and heart-warming to be able to do it here, in the US... For another, the vibes are really good, genuine and down-to-earth. Most participants are Asians: sincere, modest, unassuming, earnest, somewhat straight-laced - again similar to the Buddhists I know in Taiwan. There were also Caucasians and a few Jews wearing kippah in the audience (maybe because this is not only a Buddhist monastery, it's also the Institute for World Religions). Daily evening worship is 6:15 to 7:15pm. Every Saturday at 7:30pm, there's talk by Reverend Heng Sure, a very good speaker. Makes the Flower Garland Sutra come alive with stories and anecdotes relevant to modern everyday life. I always love white monks, but initially I was a bit worried if he would be too moralistic for my taste since he is the disciple of Master Hsuan Hua. Well, turns out that he is wonderful. I was really moved when he played his guitar and sang the song about the Buddha's encounter with Sunita. The song (which he composed himself) was about how this "untouchable" flower scavenger, who had been suffering all his life, was awe-filled upon meeting the Buddha; and, after being accepted into the Supreme One's community of monks, eventually attained Arhathood. By then, even the Brahmans bowed before him - this once outcast and rejected, the lowest of the low - with sincere reverence and respect. It was really moving. Beautiful experience. For me it's more cultural than spiritual, though Heng Sure balances it up. I wish I had discovered this well-hidden monastery earlier.

We went here recently to sit with Ajahn Amaro, a Theravadan monk in the Thai Forest tradition. He…read moreteaches here once a month. It's an interfaith Buddhist monastery, and there is a variety of stuff that happens here -- sittings, classes, ceremonies, etc. The space is absolutely gorgeous! The main temple room is like 3 stories high, with gorgeous stained glass. There are cushions and chairs, the chairs being quite comfortable and sturdy. You have to remove your shoes, and there is a nice plush carpet (light blue, no less!) in the temple room. If it's winter and you're going to sit here, I recommend wearing a lot of clothing or bringing a blanket. We were freezing when we were there. I imagine it's hard to heat a room that's 3 stories high.