Alameda Sangha

Alameda Sangha

Sundays 7-9pm  Free!

Buena Vista United Methodist Church

2311 Buena Vista Ave

Alameda CA 94501

The Alameda Sangha is a place to practice and discuss mindfulness meditation and 

Buddhist teachings. Founded in 2008, we are led by three teachers of the Theravada tradition, 

Pauletta M. Chanco, Rebecca Dixon, and Anthony Rodgers.

Everyone is welcome.  There is no charge or fee for attending.  According to the ancient tradition of Theravadan Buddhism, we practice dana: the mindful generosity that opens the heart.  We provide a donations basket so those who attend can practice dana in turn and keep the sangha going so that others can also attend freely.

There are plenty of comfortable chairs that are good for meditating and zafus (cushions) available, but no mats.  Feel free to bring a blanket to cushion your knees, or any of your own sitting equipment.

Our Sangha

We are dedicated to making a space available for people in Alameda to meditate and discuss the dharma. 

 Begun in 2008 and initially taught by Martina Schneider, the group was led by Rebecca Dixon in 2009.  

Starting this year, leadership of the sangha has been shared by Pauletta, Rebecca and Anthony, 

and we look forward to having occasional guest teachers, too.

Everyone is welcome.  There is no charge or fee for attending.  According to the ancient tradition of Theravadan Buddhism, we practice dana: the mindful generosity that opens the heart.  We provide a donations basket so those who attend can practice dana in turn and keep the sangha going so that others can also attend freely.

Alameda Sangha meets at the Buena Vista United Methodist Church at 2311 Buena Vista Ave. in  Alameda (near Park). There are plenty of comfortable chairs that are good for meditating and zafus (cushions) available, and a rug but no mats.  Feel free to bring a blanket to cushion your knees, or any of your own sitting equipment.

The format of the meeting can vary, but generally we meditate, have a dharma talk and then open discussion.  Paticipation is optional, but encouraged in order to build community, and we hope that, whenever you come, you will feel part of and supported by our sangha.

OUR SCHEDULE

Sundays 7-9pm

February

19 Rebecca* Faith in Practice

26 Rebecca Anthony Pauletta

            #6pm Yoga

March

 4 Anthony  Lay and Monastic Tradition

11 Anthony  Resolve in Practice

18 Pauletta  Sabbasava-sutta: Discourse on Removing Troubles

24 Pauletta   The Four Brahmaviharas: The Four Heavenly Abodes  

                                       

April

 1  Anthony  Strength of Compassion

 8  Rebecca*  Gradual Awakening

15 Rebecca*  Beyond Joy

22 Anthony  Reviewing the Path

29 TBA

* Please note that on nights when Rebecca teaches, the meeting will be held from 7:00 - 8:30 pm.

Teachers

Pauletta M. Chanco is a long-time student and practitioner of meditation in the Theravada Buddhist 

tradition. She was recently nominated to the Community Dharma Leadership Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre and hopes to begin this in 2012. She has taught beginning and ongoing meditation classes at Alameda Yoga Station since 2007. Pauletta has a daily meditation practice and incorporates spiritual practice in her daily life interactions and shares her insights in her passing on of the teachings with real life examples.  

She is a mother of 3 children aged 14, 16 and 30 (plus a new grandchild).

Pauletta is also a professional fine artist whose abstract paintings are inspired by her meditation 

and spiritual practice. View her art work online at www.paulettachanco.com. She explores the interconnection 

between art, creativity and spirituality to see how they relate and interact with one 

another in daily life, and treats us to a tasty recipe.

Rebecca Dixon has spent many years sharing the dharma and practice opportunities with hospice patients, incarcerated women, and the chemically dependant.  A graduate of Spirit Rock's Community Dharma Leader program, she is a member of the Chaplaincy Council at Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City and helped found the East Bay Meditation Center.  Rebecca has taught meditation in a variety of settings, including dharma study groups, courses in various locations in the East Bay and on line, and short retreats.  She was the 

Alameda Sangha's teacher during 2009, and has led a sitting group on Monday nights in Oakland for over five years.  You're welcome to visit her web site for Mindful Life Group.

Anthony Rodgers has been practicing in the Theravadin tradition of Buddhism for several years and is studying towards a Masters in Buddhist Studies from the Graduate Theological Union/Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley.  He is a graduate of the Dedicated Practitioners' Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and the Buddhist Chaplaincy Training at the Sati Center in Redwood City.  Anthony completed the Zen Hospice Project's Volunteer Caregiver Training in 2009 and volunteers weekly at Laguna Honda Hospice.