Saturday Sit with Mary
2024-05-18 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-05-25 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-06-01 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Hollywood Lutheran Church, 1733 N New Hampshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90027, United States
A weekly meditation group suitable for all levels of practitioner, but especially good for those new to meditation or Buddhist teachings. Each week will consist of a meditation period followed by a dharma talk and discussion. The talks and discussion will cover the basics of Buddhism and meditation practice. We will focus both on the wisdom and compassion teachings. No registration is necessary and all are welcome.
Bring a friend!
Zoom Link
We meet every Saturday from 5:00 to 6:30pm at the Hollywood Lutheran Church at 1733 N New Hampshire Blvd.

Morning Meditation
2024-05-19 07:00 - 07:30, 2024-05-20 07:00 - 07:30, 2024-05-21 07:00 - 07:30, 2024-05-22 07:00 - 07:30, 2024-05-23 07:00 - 07:30, 2024-05-24 07:00 - 07:30, 2024-05-25 07:00 - 07:30, 2024-05-26 07:00 - 07:30 and 11 more dates
A virtual half hour sit every morning, seven days a week, with Mary Stancavage.
Freely offered, everyone welcome.
Join Zoom Meeting
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 827 329 747
Password: [REDACTED]
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Meeting ID: 827 329 747
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Foundations of Mindfulness
2024-05-19 10:00 - 11:30
with JoAnna Hardy
Every 3rd Sunday
10 – 11:30am
312 E Queen St.
Inglewood, CA 90301
Whether you’re a curious beginner or someone seeking a deeper understanding of mindfulness, this class is designed to make the ancient wisdom of Buddhist practices accessible and applicable to modern life.
Free (generosity giving accepted)
Offered jointly by Black Being and Meditation Coalition

InTune: A Neurodivergent Affinity Group
2024-05-20 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-06-03 19:00 - 20:30
Facilitated by Pete Grella
Meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month
7:00 – 8:30pm
on Zoom
Our mission is to utilize the tools derived from contemplative practices and psychology to ease the friction and discomfort that high functioning neurodivergent adults have navigating a neurotypical world. We focus on Neurodivergences like autism, ADHD and other neurodivergent issues.
You will be in a community of people with shared experiences. You’ll be guided in a 30 minute meditation practice with clear instructions. After the meditation there will be an opportunity to ask questions about your experience, followed by an hour discussion regarding Autism and Mindfulness. The whole class will last about an hour and a half and is donation based.
Pete has completed InsightLA’s meditation facilitator program and has been diagnosed with autism. For more info, you can visit Pete’s website.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85794089192?pwd=[REDACTED] (password: “1111”)
Signing up is not necessary, just click on the zoom link (the zoom link will remain the same)

Thursday Evening Meditation
2024-05-23 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-05-30 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-06-06 19:00 - 20:30
A weekly online meditation group suitable for all levels of practitioner, even those new to meditation or Buddhist teachings. Each week will consist of a meditation period followed by a dharma talk and discussion. The talks and discussion will cover the basics of Buddhism and meditation practice. We will focus both on the wisdom and compassion teachings. No registration is necessary and all are welcome.
Bring a friend!
Zoom Link

9th Annual Women's Retreat
2024-05-25 16:00 - 2024-05-29 16:00 | Big Bear Retreat Center, 1000 Sugarpine Rd., Big Bear City, CA, 92314, United States
The 9th Annual Women’s Retreat – Canceled
May 25-29, 2024 (four nights)
with Sydney Reece & Mary Stancavage

At Big Bear Retreat Center
We regret to announce that this year’s Women’s Retreat has been canceled. We are so sorry for this and apologize for any inconvenience. Please fee free to reach out to us if you have any questions. Sending you all much love.
We’re excited to announce that our annual women’s retreat is back at the beautiful Big Bear Retreat Center in Big Bear, CA, and we’ve moved the dates to May. We are looking forward to being in community with you.
Developing a Deep Intimacy with Our Experience

Our practice is a journey to equanimity which is an appropriate response to each moment and is grounded in Wisdom and Compassion. This retreat will be a chance to experience an extended period of meditation that is so vital to the development of Equanimity.
There will be periods of sitting and walking meditation, with instructions and daily dharma talks held in a safe container of loving kindness. There will be an opportunity for affinity and break out groups. Retreats offer the opportunity to move deeply into our experience and know the poignancy of the human condition and the capacity of the heart. This form of practice supports our deepest intention to be free. Join us for what promises to be a wonderful experience. This retreat will be held in noble silence
We use an inclusive definition of “woman” and “female” and we welcome trans women, genderqueer women, and non-binary people who are significantly female-identified. Attendees only need to identify as women in a way that’s significant to them.
More info about what to expect and what to bring to BBRC is found HERE.
COST
The retreat fees cover the accommodations and three meals a day with additional snacks available in the dining hall which is open 24/7. Coffee is served daily. Each residence cabin has 3-4 rooms, sharing bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. Every building offers outdoor decks to enjoy the natural environment and trails throughout the land (and adjacent national forest) for nature walks. All the linens, towels, bed sheets, blankets and pillows are provided by BBRC. The cooks and staff work for BBRC are paid however teachers are not compensated for the retreat and offer the teachings freely. They receive dana as an expression of gratitude. There will be an opportunity at the end of the retreat to learn more about the practice of dana (generosity) for both the teachers and the retreat manager. A deposit of $175 is required to reserve your space. Full payment is due at the beginning of May – you will be billed.
PRICING OPTIONS

Triple Shared Room
$645

Double Shared Room
$730

Single Room Shared Bath
$815

Single Room Private Bath
$945

Sydney Reece, M.Ed., is an international educator in social justice advocacy and a meditation teacher specializing in addiction and trauma resilience. She has over 20 years of experience supporting adults, formerly incarcerated individuals, and homeless youth, as well as the health professionals who serve them. Over the last 8 years, she has worked in school districts, nonprofits, meditation centers and universities; building access to mindfulness meditation practices. Sydney educates on understanding internal systems of oppression and self-regulation based in insight meditation practices. She is particularly attuned to the subtleties of diversity dynamics and needs of women and People of Color. While teaching abroad for the Chambre de Commerce Orlèans, France and the Education Nationale; Sydney taught cross cultural negotiations and effective communications helping students and executives bridge cultural misunderstandings in times of crisis and conflict. Contact sydneyreece7@gmail.com for more information.

Mary Stancavage has practiced meditation, yoga, and cultivated a spiritual practice for over 35 years and in 2009 was empowered to teach Buddhadharma. Mary is based in the Los Angeles area and teaches classes, retreats and does individual mentoring both locally and internationally. She has taught mindfulness at recovery centers, has co-facilitated Year-to-Live groups since 2008, and has had a weekly dharma class for over a decade. Her Morning Meditation group has met daily at 7am PT since March 2020. Mary is part of the Guiding Teachers Council at Insight Community of the Desert and a founding teacher at Meditation Coalition. Mary completed the Buddhist Chaplaincy Program at the Sati Center and served as volunteer chaplain at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. She also served as Executive Director of the Mind Body Awareness Project from 2016 to 2018. In taking the practice off the cushion, Mary is honored to serve on the board of CLUE: Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice. Along with teaching, she continues to investigate what it means to live with an undefended heart. Fun fact: Mary has a Masters Degree from UCLA and worked as an archaeologist in Syria. More info can be found at her website, marystancavage.org

BIPOC and Ally Group
2024-06-02 11:00 - 12:30
This is a meditation group for people of color and their allies interested in using the Buddhist principles of mindfulness and compassion to help work with and understand better the many painful issues that people of color encounter in America.
This is open to all who care about the future of racial issues in America, not just Buddhist practitioners.
Meeting in person each month at the Elysian/Clockshop, 2806 Clearwater St., Los Angeles
Bring a friend!
