Feb 3rd: Making Peace with Our Ancestors

Making Peace with our Ancestors: Dharma for the 21st Century

For self-identified people of color who are of all genders, sexualities, abilities and class.

Led by Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John and Shahara Godfrey

East Bay Meditation Center

285 17th Street, Oakland

Saturday, February 3rd, 10AM - 5PM

"S/He abused me, s/he beat me, s/he defeated me, s/he robbed me,"--in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease.

"S/He abused me, s/he beat me, s/he defeated me, she robbed me,"--in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease.

For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule. The Buddha

The focus of this daylong is to explore, celebrate, and heal from intergenerational wounding. We will acknowledge and appreciate our ancestors, through loving-kindness and compassion meditations, dharma talks as well as make peace with our pain.

As Alice Walker said, “Healing begins where the wound was made.”

Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John is a senior teacher in the Triratna tradition. She is the author of Detox Your Heart – Meditations for Emotional Trauma, and won an award for her book Borrowed Body, which was called the British Color Purple. In 2017 she won a European Diversity Award for her services to diversity. Chairperson of Vancouver Buddhist Center, she travels internationally as a public speaker.

Shahara Godfrey has trained in the Theravada Buddhist tradition for over 20 years. Other influences have been spiritual teachers from various cultures and traditions as well as the creative arts. She is a graduate of CDL and POE programs from Spirit Rock. Shahara has a Ph.D. and currently works as an Educator.

EBMC TEACHERS ARE NOT PAID BY THE CENTER. You are invited to offer a voluntary financial gift to them at the class. The East Bay Meditation Center operates using a generosity-based, gift economics model. This means we charge no set registration fees to attend our events and instead rely on the generous giving of our community. All classes at the Center do come with a financial cost. Class participants are offered an opportunity to make a voluntary gift to EBMC during the registration process or at an event itself. Please note that no one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you would like to explore any EBMC volunteer positions, please send an email expressing your interest to admin@eastbaymeditation.org.

In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including natural fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.