2015 is the second year I've attended the Japanese Cultural Center's Summer Festival. It is going…read moreon this weekend (August 8th and 9th) and has a variety of activities and Japanese foods - great fun for your whole family! Adults can shop at a couple small booths for trinkets and small goodies. Children's games with prizes are in the lawn area at the back of the Center. Food booths include fire-roasted chicken with rice and cucumber salad and edamame ($8), udon soup ($5), teas and ice cream and sodas ($1-2 ea) and beer, BBQ beef (this was the best) 3 skewers for $6, fried tempura, and gyoza ($5). The lines moved quickly and food is served fast. Tons of tables and chairs are under a shade structure so you can eat and enjoy the cool breeze! The bonsai displays outside are beautiful and the plants are between 15 and 150 years old this year! Inside the Center are beautiful plant/floral displays and calligraphy lessons. There is also a band and dancers that perform. Tonight at 7:30 and tomorrow at 6:30 pm will be a group dance. It's only a couple simple moves and is the traditional Japanese dance to call the spirits of the dead. The event is small but it's very fun. A shuttle from Ygnacio Valley High School will pick you up if you don't want to try to find parking on Treat. It's free to get in too!

This is a great event filled with games great food music and artwork…read more There is gyoza, beef teriyaki, tempura . Udon, edamame, rice, and chicken dinners. The chicken and edamame were delicious. There was a traditional Japanese band that was very fun to listen to. The best part of the event for me was the bonsai competition. Some of the bonsai's were absolutely amazing. Personally I'm 0-2 with bonsai's and I really respect all the work that they put into to making these magnificent works of art.

Serene and beautiful monastery grounds. Happy to discover a hidden gem in the hills. When you first…read moreturn in you'll drive along a small tree-lined road and go up the hill to their gated entrance. You may have to call their intercom to enter through the gate if they are not currently hosting an event. When you first visit, go to the reception office for an intro about the monastery and their activities. You can join their regularly scheduled meditation classes and dharma classes. The building to the left of that is where they hold Buddhist classes and talks. To the left of that is a small hill and walking nature loop to see a Kuan Yin statue placed within a circular, eight petaled lotus mandala. The walk has beautiful views of the surrounding distance. Down towards the right is the temple, which is only open to the public during events. They recently finished some renovations inside their main temple and outside gardens. The gardens behind and below the temple opens to expansive views too, yet is still undergoing construction. You can see a small pagoda with a Kuan Yin statue and a rectangle platform with a statue of the Buddha. Inside the temple, it is common etiquette to remove your shoes, place them in a shoe cabinet along the wall, and wear socks inside (no bare feet allowed here) during events. There are bathrooms and a water station too. I joined a recent Friday meditation gathering and it was nicely organized and run very well. They have a welcoming sangha community too.

Beautiful scenery and grounds. The peace I felt was incredible. I love it here. I highly recommend.read more

MDZG has been wonderful. Zazen with them over zoom each morning at 8 am has helped me start off the…read moreday with a very meaningful meditation practice (just sitting). Grateful to Myosho Baika and everyone at Mount Diablo Zen Group.

Mt. Diablo Zen Group is led by Baika Heaton, Zen Priest and Dharma teacher. This group meets…read moreWednesday evenings for Zazen (meditation), study and discussion. Once a month, one day or half day silent retreats are offered for a nominal fee. These retreats include Zazen, Qi Gong, rest period, a mindful meal, a short service and Dharma talk. All members are encouraged to establish a daily meditation practice, with consideration for their daily life schedule. Celebrating it's tenth year this May, Mt. Diablo Zen Group offers an intimate setting and access to the teachings in the Soto Zen Buddhist Tradition.

very laid back friendly temple. a great experience. interesting architectural statuary and outdoor…read morescenery.

Wahoo indeed. Michael is a wise, compassionate & humorous teacher. Often times, I may feel that I…read morehaven't really gotten "it" and the (talks) apply to future life situations. Michael holds a space for those open to questioning what we are certain about and challenging even that...For those living close enough to benefit from experiencing a physical presence, we are extremely lucky to have someone like Michael in our daily chaotic life. If your geographical location makes it impossible to sit on Monday, the Dharma talks are accessible via Infinitesmile.org or I tunes.

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 have just completed three shamonic journeys with Erica and feel changed in the most delightful…read moreways. My goal for these journeys was to be able to tap into deeper wisdom within myself around some perplexing parts of my life. Erica's guidance gave me specific tools to find my guides and to work with them in the journey world and to feel safe while I was there. Her reflections after each journey helped me to expand my understanding of my experience and to move forward with confidence. Erica is clearly called to do this work and has immense skill and warmth as a practitioner. I look forward to continuing this transformational work with Erica and recommend working with her to all who are ready to really go deep in their own work.

I wanted to do a follow up review to say that two years later, and I still talk and "meet" with…read moreErica. I not only feel different; I can quite literally measure and review the progress I have had from two years ago until now. I have switched to monthly check ins, but Erica's guidance was a life saver and life changer.

They have many different weekly meditation groups to choose from, as well as special events. The…read morestaff/volunteers are friendly and welcoming. And the space itself is comfortable and calming.

Some of the groups are really well facilitated.... Wonderful offerings and I recommend keep…read moreexploring until you find a group you resonate with