Marin Sangha
Marin Sangha is an insight meditation (vipassana) sitting group in Northern California. The group is led by Phillip Moffitt. The Sangha offers a mind-body orientation to vipassana with an emphasis on direct experience and a special focus on living the dharma in daily life. Marin Sangha was established in 1998 with just a dozen members; we now have more than 150 active members.
Sundays, 6:00-8:00 pm
St. Luke Presbyterian Church
Bayview Room
10 Bayview Drive
San Rafael, CA 94901
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About Marin Sangha
Marin Sangha meets on Sunday evenings at the St. Luke Presbyterian Church in San Rafael, Calif. The Sangha offers a mind-body orientation to vipassana with an emphasis on direct experience and a special focus on living the dharma in daily life.
The class begins with a 45-minute sitting meditation, followed by a short period of mindful movement, a 45-minute dharma talk, and a question and answer period. We close with a five-minute meditation that includes metta practice (see explanation below).
Sangha means community. The Marin Sangha holds the intention of building community by creating a space where dharma students may gather to explore the unfolding of the teachings in their lives in a safe and welcoming environment. Everyone who attends is a valued member with a place in our community.
This is an open sitting group. New students are welcome. People with all levels of meditation experience are invited to attend.
Meeting Time/Location
Sundays, 6:00-8:00 pm
St. Luke Presbyterian Church
Bayview Room
10 Bayview Drive
San Rafael, CA 94901
Chairs are provided, but bring your own meditation cushions.
Wheelchair accessible.
Directions
From 101 North:
Take the Central San Rafael exit
Turn RIGHT on 2nd St.
Stay in the middle lanes.
2nd St. turns into Pt. San Pedro Rd.
Turn left on Bayview Dr.
The church is three miles from the freeway.
From 101 South:
Take the Central San Rafael exit, which turns into Heatherton.
Turn LEFT on 2nd St.
Stay in the middle lanes.
2nd St. turns into Pt. San Pedro Rd.
Turn left on Bayview Dr.
The church is three miles from the freeway.
Sangha Protocol
Please honor the teachings and our dharma practice by observing these protocols.
Before class:
Phillip begins sitting at 5:45. All are encouraged and welcome to join.
Please try to arrive before 6:00 and settle in quietly.
Once one person is sitting in noble silence, please support the silence.
Please remove your shoes and store them on the shoe shelves before walking on the wood floor.
Please turn off cell phones and pagers.
During class:
As a sign of respect for the teachings, we ask that you sit upright during the dharma talk unless you have a physical limitation.
If you need to leave early, please exit right after the dharma talk or the movement period. Please do not leave during a meditation period.
Please do not talk with other students during class.
Please do not wear scented products.
Recording of any part of the class is not permitted.
We tape Phillip's dharma talks and often put them on our site, as well as other
dharma related websites. Please keep in mind thati n some cases, the Q&A's that are part of the talk will be posted as well.
Visiting Teachers
Newcomer Information
Metta (loving-kindness) Practice
We end each class with metta practice. Metta means unconditional loving-kindness. It is cultivated and practiced as one of the four sublime states known as the brahma-viharas. It is also one of the ten paramitas, or perfections of character. There are many versions of metta; here are the phrases we use:
May you be safe from internal and external harm.
May you have a calm, clear mind and a peaceful, loving heart.
May you be physically strong, healthy, and vital.
May you experience love, joy, wonder, and wisdom, in this life, just as it is.
Read more about metta.
Dana (generosity) Practice
In the Buddhist tradition, the teachings are given freely because they are considered priceless; therefore, there is no fee for attending the Marin Sangha weekly meditation class. However, in the Buddhist tradition we also practice dana, or generosity, by making monetary offerings for the teachings. Dana is not payment for goods or services rendered; it is given from the heart. Your generosity is a gift that supports not just the teachers, but also the Sangha, the larger Dharma community, and your own practice. The Marin Sangha accepts dana for the teacher, the rental of our meeting space, and the monthly small group interviews. Read more about dana.
Marin Sangha Daylong Retreats
Once or twice a year Phillip teaches a daylong retreat exclusively for members of Marin Sangha. These are held at an off-site location for a modest fee to cover expenses. However, no one is turned away for lack of funds. Announcements about upcoming daylong retreats are made in the Sangha, via email, and on this website.
Reading/Study Group
This informal book group meets on Sunday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. before class at another location. Members select a book and read sections during the week for discussion on Sundays. This is a wonderful way to meet other Sangha members, make dharma friends, and enrich your practice. New members are always welcome to join. Each week the book title, chapters to be studied, and location of the next meeting are announced at the end of Sangha.
Service Opportunities
A substantial amount of effort goes into ensuring that each class goes smoothly. Sangha members are encouraged to volunteer to help set up before class and straighten up afterwards. You may help on a regular or an occasional basis. Jobs include setting up chairs, hanging Buddha’s portraits, greeting new sangha members, and more. This is another opportunity to practice dana and to serve and participate in the Sangha.
Tea Social
There is time set aside at the end of Sangha for socializing. Tea is provided and members bring snacks to share. Feel free to bring a snack, but it isn’t required.
Dinner Group
An ever-changing contingent of Sangha members goes out for dinner after class. Anyone with an appetite for food and the company of dharma friends is welcome. If you are interested, please ask the newcomer greeters for more information.
Small Group Interviews
Phillip offers small group interviews for 4-6 people once a month before Sangha at 4:30 p.m. at an offsite location. This is an opportunity to present your dharma questions to Phillip and receive guidance about your practice in daily life. If you have attended Sangha five times or more, you are eligible to come for an interview.
Beginning in January 2010, interviews will be filled on a “first come, first served” basis. Sangha member Linda Howerton, who maintains the list of yogis interested in having an interview, will contact yogis for interviews in the order in which she receives them. If you would like to have your name placed on this list, please email L [dot] Howerton [at] sbcglobal [dot] net (Linda). If you do not have access to email, please contact her at 415-459- 4976. When leaving a voicemail for Linda, please include your phone number. Directions and other specifics will be provided at the time of notification. Anyone participating in a small group interview is expected to attend Sangha that evening. The small group interviews are offered by Phillip on a dana basis; there will be a dana collection basket for small group interviews at Sangha.
To allow Phillip to have access to as many yogis as possible, once you have had an interview, please do not submit your name to the list for six months.
The Small Group Interview remaining dates for 2010 are:
July 18
August 8
October 3
November 7
December 12
