Welcome to June Everyone,

Isn’t it remarkable that our swirling world of causes and conditions continues to unfold, unceasingly! How many times this past year did June 2021 seem so very far away? It is now time for Common Ground to carefully begin our in-person offerings. We are asking for everyone’s understanding as we navigate this uncertain process with many competing demands. We have been listening to our state and city leaders as well as our doctor advisors: Board Chair Dr. Ramesh Sairam, Dr. Steve Hillson and Dr. Megan Brandeland. We deeply value making our programs accessible and helpful for anyone who wishes to practice the teachings of the Buddha. We also want to protect the health of all our participants, teachers and our wider community. With all this in mind we will begin a gradual reopening of our physical center starting with Open Sits every morning beginning this week – see below for more information. On Tuesday, June 8th, 15th and 22nd, there will be a new Community Tea and Dharma practice discussion, 8-9 a.m. that I will lead. We will meet either in the community room or outside depending on how many people show up so please dress accordingly. In early July we expect to add an in-person Sunday evening weekly practice group led by Mark Nunberg and our summer Buddhist Studies Course that will be designed for both in-person and online communities. This will be the first phase of our in-person programming for the months of June and July. We also expect that several of our smaller community groups will start meeting at the center whether in the yard or in the building. And for this next phase we will require that all people in the building be masked and observe social distancing. Although we are not requiring that participants be vaccinated, we do strongly encourage anyone who is able to be vaccinated do this as an act of generosity and kindness for oneself and others. We know that the decision of whether or not to get vaccinated can be quite specific to your circumstances. Please feel free to reach out to us staff if you have any questions about how you might best participate in the center’s in-person or online offerings.

PLEASE NOTE: As we begin to slowly include more and more in-person programs, it is important for everyone to know that Common Ground remains committed to our online community. We are now an extended online community and it is hard to imagine that changing. For the next few months all our online programs will be continuing as they have been. Exactly how the schedule will evolve over time is still unknown but it will include both in-person programs and programs designed for our online community. Finally, we will explore hybrid programs where we attempt to integrate both the in-person and online communities at the same time. Please read the weekly email in the weeks and months ahead to hear about how all this will unfold.

Wishing everyone health and the deepest spiritual healing,

Mark Nunberg
Guiding Teacher

In-Person Open Meditation Schedule
Monday-Saturday, 7:30-8:30am,
Sundays, 8:30-9:30am
come for one or both half-hour sits.

We are limiting capacity to 20 in the meditation hall. If the event fills up, a program host will put out a sign inviting overflow participants to sit in the Community Room or outside on the porch.

Read our COVID Safety protocol before attending, thank you!

Upcoming Program Highlights

The public calendar is working now! See all programs listed there.

• Weekly Practice Group with Shelly Graf. A cornerstone for one’s practice by providing ongoing instruction and teachings that will help illuminate the simple but challenging practice of mindfulness, 7:30-9:00pm, Zoom In

• Lovingkindness Practice Group with Mark Nunberg. This weekly practice group is for people interested in developing the heart by training in the four beautiful emotions of lovingkindness (metta), compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity, 7:00-8:30pm, Zoom In

• Dharma Practice Reflections with Ramesh Sairam. This biweekly practice and reflection group is an opportunity to explore the practical implications of following the path of dhamma. The emphasis is on establishing and sustaining mindfulness practice, and, especially, its integration in daily life, 10:30am-12:00pm, Zoom In

• Weekly Practice Group with Mark. A cornerstone for one’s practice by providing ongoing instruction and teachings that will help illuminate the simple but challenging practice of mindfulness, 10:30-11:45am, Zoom In
• Community Practice Check-In with Mark Nunberg and Wynn Fricke. Please join in for a guided meditation and Community conversation and Q&A about our practice. Everyone is welcome, 4:30-5:30pm, Zoom In