Local Sanghas
A complete list of worldwide Sanghas in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh can be found at the Mindfulness Bell's Sangha Directory. The list below is a more detailed list of Sanghas in the Southern California area.
The Community of Mindful Living in Southern California
“A sangha is a community of friends practicing the Dharma [teachings of the Buddha] together in order to bring about and maintain awareness. The essence of a Sangha is awareness, understanding, acceptance, harmony and love. When you do not see these in a community, it is not a true Sangha, and you should have the courage to say so. But when you find these elements are present in a community, you know that you have the happiness and fortune of being in a real sangha.” – Thich Nhat Hanh from Friends on the Path: Living Spiritual Communities
You may also like to read our list of Frequently Asked Questions about participating in a Sangha.
About this list
This is the most current version of the list that was previously maintained at the website "esangha.org" and "esangha.squarespace.com" by Peter Kollock and Victoria Emerson. This list of sanghas has now been incorporated into the Deer Park Monastery website and is currently maintained by Phill Conrad.
An online version of this list can be found at http://bit.ly/socalsanghas
Please send additions and corrections to:
Phill Conrad at wabisabisangha@gmail.com
When you do, please also consider updating your entry at the Mindfulness Bell's Sangha Directory. Instructions are available at that site.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Compassionate Heart Sangha (Hollywood), Sunday 11 am - 1 pm, Woman’s Club of Hollywood, 1749 N. La Brea Blvd. (south of Franklin Ave.). Parking in rear. For more info please contact lachsangha@yahoo.com (Current as of 02/17/2012)
Organic Garden Sangha (Culver City), Saturday 7-8:30 am, GODA YOGA, 9711 Washington Blvd. @ Watseka, Culver City (please enter at back door). For more info please contact organicgardensangha at gmail dot com or call Gregory at 310-866-6766. www.organicgardensangha.org. (Current as of 02/14/2012)
Korean Sangha (Los Angeles). For more info please contact Chang at drkim@renewhealing.com or 562-697-1878. (Current as of 02/14/2012)
Malibu Sangha, (Malibu), Thursday at 7:30pm For more info contact: Rosemary Alden at 818-222-2936 or rosemary@rosemaryalden.com (Current as of 02/14/2012)
Ocean Wave Sangha (Long Beach). Please email the Sangha for current meeting schedule: Ocean_Wave_Sangha@yahoo.com (Current as of 02/18/2012)
Pasadena Tree House Sangha, (Pasadena), Tuesday 7:30pm. For more information contact: Eran James at bsharpcflat@sbcglobal.net (Current as of 12/08/2010)
Sacred Sands Sangha (Lancaster). Meets at Center of Light which is the Antelope Valley's Center for Spiritual Living. The address is 1030 W. Ave L-8 Lancaster ca 93534. We meet every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 6:15 in the small room at the back of the church. For more information, please contact Dianna Rimer at 661-361-0117 or voicesinthesky@antelecom.net. (Current as of 04/01/2012)
Topanga Mountain Sangha (Topanga). We meet the second the fourth Sunday of the month from 4-5:30 PM in Topanga, CA. For more info, telephone: Sherry Modell at 310-993-3739 (Current as of 03/07/2012)
Smiling Lotus Sangha (Torrance), Sunday 9:00am – 11:00am. For more information please contact: Niparpon Johansen at niparpon@yahoo.com (Current as of 12/16/2012)
Wake Up L.A.! is a sangha of young practitioners coming together to awaken, in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Meets every other Sunday (10 am-2 pm) for potluck brunch and formal practice at a private residence in the Miracle Mile area of Los Angeles. Please contact Korina DeVinzenzi at korinajochim@yahoo.com or call 323-636-1552. We are also on Facebook! (Current as of 09/27/2010)
ORANGE COUNTY
Palm Tree Sangha (Fountain Valley). Vietnamese--4th Saturday of the month. Vietnamese and Westerners--2nd Sunday of the month. For more information please contact Chan Huyen at 714-963-8086. (current as of 08/06/2009)
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Riverside Smiling Sangha (Riverside County). Meets Mondays at 7 pm at various sangha members homes. For more information please contact Kitty Huang via email at krhuang@aol.com (Current as of 08/03/2009)
SAN BERNADINO COUNTY
No Mud, No Lotus Sangha (Redlands), We meet in members homes each Thursday at 7 pm for guided, walking, and silent meditation, dharma discussions, and tea. All are welcome! For details, contact: Lynn Flewelling via email at lbflewelling@roadrunner.com (Info current as of 08/02/2009)
No Coming, No Going Sangha (Morongo Valley, in the desert near Joshua Tree National Park). Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Visit our website atnocomingnogoingsangha.org. Contact us by email through our website or call Donna Thomas, 760-369-8917. (Info current as of 10/08/2010)
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
The All-Peoples’ World Beat Sangha (San Diego). The World Beat Sangha is a community practicing in the Plum Village tradition of Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. All people of all ages and all faiths are welcome to come and practice with us. We offer Meditation and Mindfulness practice for beginners to advanced. We gather on the 2nd and 4th Sunday from 5pm to 7pm, but sometimes there is a change so it is good to call and check for updates. The World Beat Center is located in Balboa Park at 2100 Park Blvd, San Diego.
Call to confirm date: Laura Hunter, 760-740-9405 or earthlover@sbcglobal.net. To learn more about the World Beat Center visit http://www.worldbeatcenter.org(Current as of 02/14/2012).
Compassionate Heart Sangha (Encinitas), Saturday 11am-12:30pm. For more info please contact Jan McClure at mc006@pacbell.net or 760-942-2630 or 760-613-2873. (Current as of 02/14/2012).
Deer Park Monastery (Escondido), 2499 Melru Lane. Thursday and Sundays Days of Mindfulness, 8:30 am-4 pm. Monthly mindfulness retreats. www.deerparkmonastery.org (Current as of 08/06/2009)
Dharma Bum Kids Sangha (San Diego) We practice mindfulness in kid-friendly form, and include mindful eating, mindful playing, arts and crafts, beginning anew, and lots of fun guided meditations... 2nd and 4th Sundays from 11:00am-12:30pm.
Healing Garden Sangha (San Diego) sits for 15 minutes twice a week at the San Diego Veterans Administration Medical Center off La Jolla Village Dr. For more info please contact Jan McClure at 858-8585 ext 5566 for details. (Current as of 08/21/2012).
Open Heart Sangha (San Diego) We enjoy sitting meditation, walking meditation, and Dharma sharing every Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. The 4th Sunday of the month, we recite the Mindfulness Trainings. Join us in Room 323 at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, 4190 Front Street, San Diego, CA 92103. This is across the street from UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest. For more information, contact Pete(peterkuhnxx@gmail.com). (Current as of 12/16/2012)
Palomitas de Paz Sangha (Vista) Plum Village Tradition, Palomar Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1600 Buena Vista Drive, Vista CA 92081, Saturdays, 9-10:00 am, Sitting and Walking Meditation, Blanca.arias55@gmail.com, (760)598-6805
Peaceful Shores Sangha (La Jolla). 6 to 18 persons meet at 6:30 pm every Friday for meditation, dharma presentation, circle discussion, and joyful singing, followed by an informal teatime. We take weekly turns leading. Info contact: Carolyn Marsden, 858-232-7107. carolynmarsden@gmail.com. (Current as of 09/07/2012).
Still Ripening Sangha (Escondido), Deer Park Monastery, 2499 Melru Lane, Escondido. Order of Interbeing aspirants and members. Meets periodically during Deer Park Monastery Days of Mindfulness, typically on the third Sunday of the month after lunch, under the pepper tree by the dining hall. To confirm meeting days/times, or for more info, please contact khilsberg@sbcglobal.net (Current as of 08/04/2009)
Wat Lao Sangha (San Diego), Monday 7-8:45 pm. Wat Lao Navaram Monastery, 6691 Manning St. For more info please contact Craig Smith at csmith.2468@yahoo.com or call 858-481-5498. (Current as of 08/06/2009)
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Live Oak Sangha (Goleta) A mindfulness practice in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, and in affiliation with the Unitarian Universalist Buddhist Fellowship (www.uua.org/uubf). Meets Tuesday evenings 7-8:30pm at Live Oak UU Congregation of Goleta, for sitting meditation, walking meditation, and other activities including book study, discussion, recitation of the five mindfulness trainings. For more information, contact Jan Ross (jandjross@ox.net, 805 570 3133), or visit www.liveoakgoleta.org and click on the link for the "UU Buddhist Sangha". (Current as of 02/15/2012)
Wabi Sabi Sangha (Santa Barbara), Meets weekly for mindfulness practice, including sitting and walking meditation, chanting, singing, readings and dharma discussion. Consult http://www.wabisabisangha.org for an updated schedule of meetings. For more info, contact wabisabisangha@gmail.com, or phone 805-973-7744. (Current as of 02/14/2012)
VENTURA COUNTY
Being Peace Zendo (Ojai), For the schedule and more information, please visit Ojai Mindfulness. You may also call, text, or email Kenley Neufeld. 805-669-8432 or truejoy@kenleyneufeld.com. (Current as of 12/08/2010)
Friendship Sangha of the Heart (Ventura), Monday 7-8:45pm. Sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, 5654 Ralston St., Ventura (just west of Victoria Ave). For more info please contact Neal Ortenberg at nealstuart@gmail.com or visit the website: http://sites.google.com/site/friendshipsanghaoftheheart/. (Current as of 08/03/2009)
FRIENDS OF CML YAHOO GROUP
To receive announcements and information about upcoming mindfulness community events, join the Friends of CML Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/friendsofcml
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LAY DHARMA TEACHERS
ORDAINED BY THICH NHAT HANH
Chan Huyen, Fountain Valley, 714-963-8086
Peggy Rowe, Encinitas, peggy@thelotusinstitute.org
Larry Ward, Encinitas, larry@thelotusinstitute.org or (760) 715-0279
WEBSITES
SANGHA BUILDING SUPPORT
If you would like to start a new sangha in your neighborhood, support is available. Please contact one of the following people for guidance: Phil Stein (LA County) at philstein@sbcglobal.net or 310-322-3212, Dollie Meyers (LA County) at dolliemey@aol.com or 310-306-4789, Victoria Emerson (Orange County) at l.v.emerson@gmail.com (Current as of 09/04/2009)
