on going
Zen Mindfulness Fellowship
Wednesdays 4:45 – 6:15 pm @ University of San Francisco, 650 Parker, the Pedro Arrupe Room in the tradition of the Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism —– small practice group (±6), enjoying sitting still quietly, walking meditation (meditation, walking), & sharing our practice … [ … sit … walk … listen … ]. Please email me at least a day ahead for directions. Gary [dot] Gach [at] Gmail
-=[ since 2010 – now resumed following the Lockdown ]=-
. : .
Longevity Stick Qi Gong
o
… free nirvana …
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~{ please feel free to contact me for more info }~
soon
Authors on the Move
Sacramento Public Library Foundation’s premier literary event
March 14, 5–9PM, Hyatt Regency
Shining Wind
Spring Haiku Playshop at Sacramento Dharma Center.
March 15, 1–4 PM.
past
Bay Area Book Festival
Saturday, May 4, 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM, Morning Mindfulness, at The Marsh Cabaret, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Lately, it seems everything is calling itself mindful. This morning’s session will set us straight. Join two longtime Buddhist teachers who happen to be very funny: Gary Gach, author of Pause … Breathe … Smile, and Wes “Scoop” Nisker, author of Crazy Wisdom and You Are Not Your Fault. Find out what mindfulness is, and what it is not. And see for yourself, as they lead us in guided mindfulness meditation. Experience greater ease, awareness, and joy in your Festival day.
Get tickets here.
Saturday September 9 at 5pm
1680 Market ( in “The Hub”) San Francisco
The inaugural launch of Pause Breathe Smile
Saturday, September 15 7:30–9 p.m.
East West Bookshop
324 Castro Street
Mountain View, California
Pause Breathe Smile: Awakening Mindfulness When Meditation Is Not Enough
Free • reserve a ticket online or call 650-988-9800 EXT 306
It’s no secret. Mindfulness has become the fastest growing self-help trend since yoga. Yet, as is the case with many things, popularity can lead to trivialization and misunderstanding. Gary Gach makes his 4th appearance at East West, this time to celebrate the inaugural month of his new handbook of mindfulness. Five years in the making, Pause Breathe Smile is a simple, elegant guide to support the cultivation of awareness, compassion, and joy in the midst of our everyday lives. A fresh, much-needed return to the vital, ancient roots of popular, modern mindfulness. Seekers old and new are warmly welcome.
Sunday, September 16 1:30-4:30pm East West Bookshop
Returning To Our True Home: A Half-Day Mindfulness Retreat
$20 thru Sep 15 / $30 day of the event
650-988-9800 EXT 306
Sometimes in order to advance in our spiritual journey, we need to retreat. As summer’s warmth and light is drawing inward, this is a great opportunity to pause and appreciate this deep autumnal transition together. Gary Gach, author of Pause Breathe Smile, will guide a half-day retreat of mindful sitting and walking, learning and listening together, and observing life within and all around us. Return to your true home within. Regenerate, and thrive. Blankets and chairs are provided; bring your own your favorite cushion if you prefer floor sitting.
Thursday September 20, 7–8:30 pm
I’ll be at Readers Books – a gathering place for booklovers of all ages130 East Napa St.Sonoma, CA, 95476(707) 939-1779info@readersbooks.com
Sunday, September 23, 4 pm
I’ll be offering a book event at Book Passage
Friday, October 5, 5:30 – 7pm
I’ll be signing books at the Fall Discovery Show
of NCIBA (Northern California Independent Booksellers Association)
Oakland Convention Center
550 10th St,
Oakland, CA 94607
Friday, October 12, 6:30pm
I’ll be returning to Copperfields
Saturday, October 20, 1–4PM
How To Haiku: Autumn Leaves
Book Passage University
(in back of the bookstore)
51 Tamal Vista Boulevard
Corte Madera, CA 94925
March 5 Al-Mutanabi Street Starts Here .
If you’re at Sustainatopia 2018
I’ll be offering mindfulness
[ further details TBA ]
Arrive together in the present moment
with an open heart
a clear mind
and a smile
–——= #sustainability #impactinvestment #socialentrepreneurs #resilience #SRI #ESRG #greeneconomy =——–
M O O N V I E W I N G
A How-To Haiku Workshop
With Gary Gach and Rita Cummings
in the Conference Center at 308 Page Street
Sunday, December 18, 2016, 1 pm – 4 pm
Celebrate midwinter with the world’s most popular Zen art. See for yourself. What is haiku?
Get rid of words and get rid of meaning:
poetry remains.
—Yang Wan-li, Sung dynasty
It’s no secret. Haiku are the most universal poetic format of our time. And they’re pure zen.
Awaken your child mind. Your beginner’s mind. See for yourself how this briefest of literary forms can open into immeasurable worlds beyond words.
What is haiku? As with any koan, there’s no right or wrong answer. There’s only your own adequate response. Over and over again.
In this special afternoon, we’ll map the basics, take a relaxed haiku walk (ginko) in and around City Center, then share what we encounter, written and unwritten.
Discover how entering the way of haiku can train our clear seeing and deep listening, intuitive wisdom and warm heart. Let’s water our spiritual roots, and extend the wingspan of our creative awareness. With haiku, we can learn how to make each word, each moment, each breath count (not necessarily in 17 syllables) … sensing our senses …harmonizing perception and expression … refining concentration and mindfulness … sharpening our discernment … uncovering surprise mind, our beginner’s mind, our child mind … our innate Buddha nature. Recommended for all ages (8–108), no prior background necessary; writers and non-writers, practitioners and the merely curious.
scooping up the moon
in a pail of water
pour it out on the lawn
Fee: $40; $36 current SFZC members; $32 limited income.
- Afternoon tea provided.
- Some partial scholarships available.
To Register: Register Online, or call toll-free number (888.743.9362) or (415.475.9362).
