Learn Meditation and Buddhism
The San Francisco Buddhist Center is a relaxed and friendly place to learn and practice meditation, mindfulness and Buddhism with support from people on a similar path. We are situated in the heart of the Mission District on the land of the Ramaytush Ohlone people. (Land acknowledgement statement.)
Our community is dedicated to supporting the development of spiritual friendship among all those who wish to experience the benefits of Buddhist meditation and practices. Our system of practice emphasizes the value of friendship, study and creativity, as well as Metta/kindness, Mindfulness, Calm Abiding/Samatha and Insight/Vipassana meditation practices, and applying Buddhist principles to everyday life. Everyone is welcome.
Wild, Open Heart, with Jayachitta
Order Retreat with Jayachitta
Movement within Emptiness, Jan 23 to 25, 2026
Meditation for Queer Folks
Drop-in Introductory Class Sunday, Feb 1, 2pm to 3:30pm
Buddhist Meditation Introductory Course
A Six Week Course, In Person on Tuesdays, Feb 3 to March 10, 2026, 7pm to 9pm
Buddhist Meditation - Going Deeper
A Four Week Course, In Person on Tuesdays, March 17 to April 7, 2026, 7pm to 9pm
A Four week "Rainy Season" Series, January 7 to 28, 2026, with visiting teacher Jayachitta
Sangha Nights in February: The Life and Teachings of the Buddha, Part 1
Practicing Dharma and Meditation in Community, Wednesdays, 7pm to 9pm, in person
Drop in Introduction to Meditation
Thursdays 6pm to 7pm, in person, except holidays and January
Yoga mini-retreats
monthly on Fridays, 6pm to 8pm, doors open 5:30pm
Morning Meditations in person
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 7:30am to 8:15am
What’s new with the SFBC and Triratna Sanghas?
January Rainy Season Retreat
Each January we pause most public classes so that committed members of our sangha—including Order Members, Mitras, and people who regularly practice with us—can deepen their dharma life together. If you are interested please read the information here. Our regular programs resume in February.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year!
May all beings be well, safe, and free to be themselves.
Triratna Earth Sangha Conference
Members of the SFBC Green Sangha contributed to this conference in December with a collaborative play – here are the recordings: An Inexhaustible Lamp – Dharmic Responses in an Age of Collapse.
New Books! Bodhipaksa has a great new book: The Heart’s Awakening. It’s 108 reflections, suggestions, tips for practicing kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. Highly recommended.
Samayasri, our SFBC President, visited last week. She gave a great talk on Sangha Night: How to be present with acute suffering in the world, before leaving for our sibling center in Vancouver, where she is also president.
Metta Retreat – reports are that the retreat was amazing – great food, meditation and movement, and amazing weather at Dharmadhara! Many thanks to the team – Prasadachitta, Amy, Pete and Alanna.
Padmasambhava Day was celebrated in style on Wednesday Oct 1 with this beautiful shrine –
Five New Mitras!
On Sangha Night Aug 20 we welcomed 5 new friends becoming Mitras at the SFBC with a lot of beautiful rejoicing and a lovely ceremony. An ever widening circle the Sangha grows….
Sangha as a Force for Good in the World: The Vajra Bell is back!
Connecting Gender Diverse Practitioners in Triratna: Information here.
What if we got it right? Here’s what the SFBC Green Sangha came up with.
Winter EDJI Blog Available: Read it here.