San Francisco Insight Meditation Community

Eugene Cash offers sunday night group meditation. showing up for this is a for sure way to recalibrate my being. very simple guided meditation then a dharma talk. he is very skilled in what he does and also cracks me up at the same time. it is a very chill group of people with out the spiritual pretense that i sometimes encounter in sanga. i am very grateful for this valuable resource.

Amazing meditation group, with wonderful dharma talks! So thankful it exists.

Note that 1887 Franklin is not correct address — it should read 1187 Franklin (at Geary)
Insight Meditation Community is meeting Sunday evening from 7pm to 9pm in the Starr King Room of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Francisco.
Again: 1187 Franklin Street (at Geary)
Check the website to confirm future dates and times!
Best,
Lori

This review is for the San Francisco Meditation Community, otherwise known as SF Insight, which meets mainly on Sunday evenings but also at other times at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Francisco at Franklin St and Geary St.
The group is an independent organization and may someday be located at its own signt up near Fort Mason or in another area of the city (doublecheck the address on the website before you go!). To my knowledge, it was started as a spin-​off sitting group for vipassana /​insight meditation by Eugene Cash and is affiliated with Spirit Rock Meditation Center up in Woodacre, CA. In order to bring vipassana /​insight meditation more into daily life (i.e. not just on weeklong retreats once in a blue moon), weekly sitting groups were brought into communities throughout the Bay Area years ago.
I’ve been coming to the Sunday Night sitting of the group for about a year and really find it to be a helpful start to my week. I’ve also gone to the Wednesday night group a few times, which is smaller and more intimate — also very good.
Each sitting follows a similar format — the group meditates for approx. 45 minutes, then breaks for 10 – 15 min. for everyone to grab tea and connect as a community, then sangha announcements are given, and a 50 – 60 min. dharma talk is given by the teacher — sometimes with room in there for questions and answers with the audience. The sitting and teachings are given freely, but attendees are encouraged to give a donation (dana) at the end of the evening to help with operating expenses and give a contribution to the teacher.
I really enjoy the SF Insight community and recommend checking out — there is a wide amount of diversity in attendees and everyone is friendly and welcoming. I do not feel pressured when I am there to keep up appearances or to commit myself religiously — I am not asked to «accept anyone into my life» — many people there are either past or present participants of other religious traditions and find the meditation, mindfulness training, and observations about the nature of life given here helpful in their daily living — for me it is a great way to reduce anxiety and stress. I encourage you to come and see what you think — on their website there are also free downloads of talks so you can explore before attending if you’d like.
A few FYI’s:
1. Once per month (usually the first Sunday), there is a potluck prior to the main event — very fun — great way to meet other sangha members.
2. Once per month (usually the second Sunday), there is an optional orientation for new attendees or those less familiar with insight /​vipassana meditation.
3. Most Sundays when there is no potluck there is a free offering of Chi Gung (stretching) from approx. 6:15 pm — 6:45 pm in the main sitting room to help participants prepare for sitting meditation. I try to go whenever I can make it — it’s a nice way to unwind from the day.
4. Eugene Cash is the founding teacher of SF insight (and an excellent meditation teacher). He was in a bicycle accident in Summer/​Fall 2011 and is still recovering — his return date to teaching is unsure. Until then, Anushka Fernandopulle will be filling in for him (at least until Feb 2012), and the group is committed to keeping the group going with her and guest teachers from throughout the Bay Area. If you are interested in contributing to Eugene’s recovery, you can do so at
.