Vipassana Santa Cruz is happy to announce a special 3-week class on the Burmese Forest tradition from the teachings of Bob Stahl's venerable teachers, Taungpulu Sayadaw, Hlaing Tet Sayadaw, and Pakokhu Sayadaw. Learn about the teachings of the forest monks of Burma.

When: Fridays, July 10, 17, and 24, (10:00-11:30 AM)
Teacher: Bob Stahl.
Registration: no registration required.
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.

This will be a daylong event to explore the teachings and practices of Vipassana meditation. We will have guided and silent sitting periods with walking meditation and gentle movement interspersed throughout the day. The main theme of the day will be to deepen our awareness of the present moment as well as open to the insight practice of clear seeing.

When: Sunday, July 12 (10:30 - 4:30 PM)
Teacher: Jason Murphy.
Registration: register by email with
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.

Living examples of illness, aging and death, were 3 of the 4 "heavenly messengers" sent to the Buddha to awaken him to reality of the human condition. He saw that everyone is subject to impermanence in the form of sickness, old age and dying. The fourth messenger showed that there is a path to freedom and an end to suffering. Our culture says that you must be young and healthy to be happy; Buddhism tells us that happiness and freedom come from within, not from external circumstances.

When we are feeling fit and well we can easily forget this truth. When we experience illness or disability, then the limitations, vulnerability, and imperfection of existence and the brevity of our human life are obvious. We can take advantage of this to develop understanding and compassion and to reveal the deep teachings of the dharma.

In this monthly, ongoing, drop-in group, we look at these messengers in our own lives. You are welcomed to attend whether you have an illness, disability or chronic pain or are dealing with the usual array of physical or emotional challenges of human life.

We begin the session with a 30-minute meditation (you are welcome to lie down or move to accommodate pain). Through our mindfulness practice we learn to connect with and accept ourselves as we are, to be present with our experience without reactivity and to be able to spaciously "hold" all our joys and sorrows.

The rest of the session includes teachings, discussion and sharing. We will explore both how the teachings help us work skillfully with our difficulties and how our difficulties can teach us wisdom and compassion. Some of the topics discussed included: developing greater acceptance, kindness, compassion for oneself, facing fear, working with anger and resistance.

Often in daily life we feel we must hide our chronic challenges so that we do not burden (or bore) others. In this group, we can share the truth of our experience and find others who understand our situation.

When: First Monday of the month (noon - 1:45PM)
Teachers: Bob Stahl and others.
Registration: no registration required.
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.

An exploration of recovery through meditation and Buddhist philosophy.

"And what is the cause by which suffering comes into play? Craving is the cause by which suffering comes into play." -The Buddha-

We crave to have things be other than they are. We often feel that life is unsatisfactory, and so we develop strategies to avoid this feeling of dissatisfaction. Often these strategies lead to unskillful behavior. For example, we become addicted to drugs, alcohol, food, sex or shopping in an attempt to find satisfaction and happiness.

The Buddha called this craving Tanha meaning thirst. This thirst cannot be quenched externally. and is the fundamental cause of our suffering in this life.

Recovery from this state of craving is possible through the Buddhist path of meditation,inquiry and ethics.

Mondays 7:00 to 8:30 Each Meeting will included guided meditation instruction, Questions and answers about meditation and 12 step recovery.

More Info about the Teacher: Jason Murphy: is the teacher of the Santa Cruz Dharma Punx group. He is a licensed addictions counselor. He has 20 years recovery from addiction and has been studying and practicing Buddhist meditation since 1994.

When: Mondays, June 15 - August 3 (7:00 - 8:30 PM)
Teacher: Jason Murphy.
Registration: no registration required.
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.

This will be a daylong of Mindfulness Meditation. There will be periods of sitting and walking meditation. The day will be held with noble silence and minimal eye contact to help deepen practice. Brief meditation instructions will be offered.

When: Saturday, August 15 (9:30 - 4:30 PM)
Teacher: Bob Stahl
Registration: no registration required.
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.

This day will weave together alternating strands of silent & guided sitting meditation, walking meditation, and gentle qigong movements with just enough group discussion to help identify and ground the experience. It will be a day of self-discovery as we deepen our practice of mindfulness of the body and open to embracing what we find there. All abilities and practice levels are welcome. This may be an especially good workshop for those wanting to try an entire day of practice, but who are concerned about not being able to sit for long periods.

When: Sunday, August 30 (9:30 - 4:30 PM)
Teacher: Marcy Reynolds
Registration: no registration required.
Cost: There is no charge, dana accepted.
Location: Vipassana Santa Cruz, 1010 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.