Clear Dharma: Weekly Meditation at BPF Office

By Oren Sofer, BPF Administrative Director.

Since September of 2007, Oren has held a weekly sitting group in the meditation space at the BPF National Office in Berkeley.

From my first days of practice studying abroad in India as an undergraduate, I felt a yearning to share the dharma, which was beginning to bring so much benefit and joy to me. Last fall, after some ten years of study and practice, I decided to begin a weekly sitting group in gratitude for all that I have received from my own teachers and the Buddha’s path of practice.

It took some courage to put up those first few flyers around town announcing the group! I remember sitting alone in the meditation room the first night thinking to myself, “I wonder if anyone will come?” In that moment, I had a powerful sense of clarity: if no one came I still would sit and hold the space each week. As the Buddha said of his teachings, “Ehipassiko: Come and see.” Here is an open invitation.  A few moments later a young woman wandered in, then another man, and so on…

The Monday night “Clear Dharma” sitting group has been going strong ever since, for nearly one year! There is a core group of regular practitioners, and a few new faces from week to week. A typical evening includes 30-40 minutes of Vipassana meditation with guided instructions, a dharma talk, and some time for question and answer/discussion.

It brings me so much joy to sit and practice together every week; I feel a real sense of well-being from contributing something of value to the community. Perhaps one of the greatest honors of leading the Clear Dharma group has been introducing people to the dharma for the first time. Two participants even did their first week-long meditation retreat this summer at BPF’s young adult retreat!

The entire class, space, articles and other resources, and teaching are all offered for free on the basis of dana, or generosity. In the same spirit, I invite those who come to contribute to support BPF, the teacher, and the group's continuation. In a culture so based on consumerism and material exchange, I have felt humbled by this tradition of giving and receiving that so embodies our interdependence: offering the teachings, inviting participants to arouse generosity, and freely accepting the gifts they offer – everything from money to volunteer hours for BPF, from lemons and oranges to a hand-made alms bowl!

“Ehipassiko.” Come and see. This is the spirit of the Clear Dharma Meditation Group: it is an open invitation to come, sit, talk, check things out and see for oneself. If you live in the area and haven’t yet had a chance to join us for an evening, come and see for yourself what is true!

Clear Dharma Meditation Group meets every Monday night (except holidays) from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at 1840 Alcatraz Ave., Suite A-1, Berkeley, CA 94703.  For more information, email: cleardharma [at] gmail.com.

Oren Sofer has been studying and practicing Vipassana meditation since 1997 and holds a degree in Comparative Religion from Columbia University. He began studying the dharma with Acharya Anagarika Munindra in India, and has since studied extensively with Joseph Goldstein, Michele McDonald, and Ajahn Succito. Oren is also a poet, musician, trained mediator and leads local trainings in Nonviolent Communication.  He is available for group facilitation, private mediation, and one on one coaching. Oren is the Administrative Director at the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.