A community sangha and affiliate of the Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley. This website is a resource for mindfulness geared toward the LGBTQIA+ community. We are based in Oakland and Berkeley, California.
Click here for Guided Meditations!
Click here for recommended readings
About Our Sangha:
Co-Led by Eve Decker and Ray Grimsinger, our queer sangha is a safe space for all LGBTQIA+(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual) 🏳️🌈 individuals to gather in community as we meditate, and share our experiences together. Our focus is on supporting each other in mindfulness so we can take on the challenges we face as a community and celebrate each other with loving presence. By focusing on mindfulness, compassion and lovingkindness we can face our challenges from a place of wisdom and love. We are hybrid and meet every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month in-person in Oakland, CA or on Zoom from 6:30- 8pm. We would love for you to join us! Please click the link above for more info about attending in person or on Zoom.
Format:
6:15-6:30 arrival time in person
6:30-6:40 Brief Introductions
6:40-7:00 Guided Mindfulness Meditation
7:00-7:30 Teachings shared by Ray and/or Eve
7:30-7:45 Discuss questions about the talk or challenges/fruits of our practice
7:45-8:00 Discuss some actions that might support LGBTQIA+ rights
ABOUT THE TEACHERS:
Ray Grimsinger (He/Him)
Ray is a proud queer/gay man. He received his certification from the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. Ray has been practicing mindfulness meditation since 2018 and has taken the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course (MBSR)created by Jon Kabat Zinn. He attended a course titled “The Path of the Bodhisattva” at East Bay Meditation Center where he received a certificate of completion, and formally received the 16 precepts and vows of the Bodhisattva. Ray was a volunteer coordinator for EBMC in 2023/24. He has studied the Awakening Joy program offered by James Baraz and has studied and learned from many great teachers, including Tara Brach, Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield, Howard Kohn, Vinny Ferraro, James Baraz and Eve Decker. Ray considers himself to be a secular and spiritual Buddhist. In his teachings, he focuses on aspects of mindfulness that are based on over 2500 years of Buddhist practices and teachings. Ray believes in meeting our experiences with non-judgmental, spacious awareness focused on kindness and compassion. Ray lives with his husband Steve in Oakland, California.
Eve Decker
Eve began Insight Meditation practice in 1991, and has attended more than 50 silent retreats in the western Vipassana tradition of Buddhism ranging in length from 8-90 days. She is a graduate of the Path of Engagement (social justice and spiritual practice training) and Community Dharma Leader trainings at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She is trained in the Hakomi Method (a mindfulness-centered somatic healing practice); Awakening Joy, developed by James Baraz; Transforming Judgmental Mind developed, by Donald Rothberg; and Mindful Self Compassion, developed by Kristen Neff and Christopher Germer. Eve teaches regular classes on a range of topics based in Buddhism and coaches people individually. She co-leads, with James Baraz, the Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley; she is a mentor for the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program headed by Jack Kornfield and Tara Branch; and she teaches for the family program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Eve is also an accomplished musician. She was a founding member of the feminist trio Rebecca Riots, and since then has released five collections of “Dharma Music” (songs inspired by Buddhist teachings). She has podcast titled LOVED: Mindful and Musical Perspectives on Daily Life. Eve lives with her partner Diane in Berkeley, California.