Tamalpais Shambhala Meditation Group

I had been listening to Pema Chodron cds and reading her books for years. Although, when I tried meditation, it was extremely difficult for me.
I enrolled in a Level 1 class (called The Art of Being Human) at Tamalpais Shambhala, after moving to Marin. The kindness and warmth of the teacher and volunteer staff was a breath of fresh air. The people were so genuine and real. It inspired me to take a book class and I found I loved hearing what others had to say about the teachings and applying them to their lives. Although it was hard for me at first, because I am not the most comfortable in groups, I found that I could make the teachings more real for me by studying them with others. I began to see life in a different way.
Finding this community was such a gift and a relief. I wish that for others — that they could connect with people from the heart and have these precious teachings — this precious wisdom — in their life. That they, like me, could be taught about this «discipline of gentleness» to oneself (so important) and to others. Meditation is now a different exercise for me, since now I realize that meditation is a time to practice this «discipline of gentleness» — a time of non-​judgement, warmth, and kindness — so that these may be carried on to the rest of life.
–Erinn