Buddhist Meditation San Francisco
buddhist meditation san francisco
Any Buddhists out there?
I have always been a Christian, but recently I was on a rideshare with someone from Craigslist and she turned me on to the concepts of Buddhism. The Buddhism that I heard about put some real hope back into my heart (after a very traumatic year) and made me feel like I could heal my life through practice, good deeds and meditation. I’ve tried to research it a little and it seems like there is a lot of information and a lot of people using it to get money. Any information about books, seminars or other information would be greatly appreciated. I live in the San Francisco Bay area if anyone knows some good contacts there : ) I’m eager to learn and grow.
Yes, a brief search will reveal a great deal of information on Buddhism. In my experience, much of this information is sectarian or for people who already practice Buddhism.
So what’s the best way to approach this ancient tradition? You might find it best to read a little at the beginning and then find a community that can support you in developing a practice.
There are two books that provide an excellent foundation for those new to Buddhism:
“It’s Easier Than You Think” by Sylvia Boorstein
“Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
Both books are readily available used, in libraries, and also on Amazon and other sites (see links below).
“It’s Easier” sets out the foundations of Buddhism without sectarian bias and in the context of daily life. “Zen Mind” is probably the single most important book in the development of Western Buddhism – and was written by the founder of the San Francisco Zen Center.
As others have pointed out, the San Francisco Bay Area has a large number of Buddhist centers. You can use Buddhanet to find those closest to you. Just type your city into the “Search for Keyword” box at the upper right. http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/province.php?province_id=26
The biggest Buddhist group in the Bay Area is the San Francisco Zen Center. In addition to their location in the city, they have centers in Marin and Tassajara, and affiliated groups throughout California and the world. The Zen center website contains a treasure-trove of resources, including recommended readings and ways to get involved. You might consider spending time on the site to see if there’s something of interest to you.
http://www.sfzc.org/
Best wishes on your path!
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