Awakening Joy

James Baraz -Teaching Schedule


DATE/TIME

 

LOCATION AND EVENT

San Francisco Standard Time is UTC-8. (California practices Daylight Savings Time, during which San Francisco is UTC-7)
James' Weekly Meditation Group - Online

Every Thursday

7:30 - 9:00 PM
San Francisco Time

19:30 - 2100
(UTC-8, except during daylight savings time, when California is UTC-7)

 

Weekly Meditation Session with Dharma talk and discussion, sponsored by Insight Berkeley, Berkeley, California

www.insightberkeley.org

Annual Awakening Joy Course - Online starting Each Year in January

Starting
Jan. 28, 2025

Every Other Tuesday

6:30 - 8:30 PM
San Francisco Time
(UTC-8)

18:30 - 20:30
(UTC-8, except during daylight savings time, when California is UTC-7

2025 Awakening Joy Course runs for 5 months, January 28 - June 3

Ten themes are presented and practiced.

Recordings of online sessions are available through the end of 2025.

Participants in the Awakening Joy course may join during the course.

Register for the Awakening Joy Course.

If interested in the accompanying Teacher Training, you can find more information and the application here.

JANUARY 2025

January 10 - 12

See Daily Schedule here

An in-person, long weekend with James, sponsored by Esalen Institute
Big Sur, California

“Being Present for Your Life”

In this workshop, you’ll be introduced to this meditation practice and the principles on which it is based. There will be periods of silent sitting and walking meditation as well as discussions to help provide a foundation for your own mindfulness practice in your everyday life

Register at the Esalen Instistute:
https://www.esalen.org/workshops/being-present-for-your-life-introduction-to-mindfulness-meditation-011025

January 17 - 19
Starting
Friday 7:30 - 9 PM

Ending
Sunday 5:00 PM

 

An online, long weekend with James, sponsored by Mid-America Dharma (Kansas and Missouri)

“Connecting Mind and Heart”

The Mind and the Heart are not separate. We’ll take this weekend of silence to explore and put into practice skillful means and teachings to let go of unproductive habits of mind. We can then experience insights that heal, uplift and ultimately free us. This results in a clear, quiet mind and a relaxed open heart. This online retreat will consist of periods of silent sitting and walking practice, meditation instructions and dharma talks.

Register at the Mid-America Dharma:
https://midamericadharma.org/index.php/2025-01-baraz-online/

Registration closes January 13, 2025.

January 28
Tuesday

6:30 - 8:30 PM
San Francisco Time (UTC-8)

First Live Zoom session for the Awakening Joy Course

Register here for the Awakening Joy Course. Registrations are accepted after the course begins. It's easy to catch up.

FEBRUARY 2025

 

 

 

 

MARCH 2025

March 22 - 23

9:00 AM -
4:00 PM
California Time
9:00 - 16:00 (UTC-7)

Hybrid Weekend Retreat, sponsored by White Heron Sangha, San Luis Obispo

with James Baraz

Through periods of silent sitting and walking, meditation instructions geared to cultivating equanimity, talks and practice discussions, this retreat will explore the development of equanimity in our formal practice and aspects of equanimity that can be applied pragmatically to our life off the cushion in the midst of uncertainty. This course is appropriate for both new and experienced practitioners..

 

APRIL 2025

April 3 - 7 USA

April 4 - 7 AUS

(See registration link for schedule.)

 

 

5-Day Online Retreat for US, Australian and other International Participants

"Awakening Body, Mind and Heart - The Joy of Mindfulness"

with James Baraz, Suzie Brown, Zoe Zohs and Nadine Levy 

This 5-day silent online retreat will provide you with the precious opportunity to deepen your practice and engage in embodied mindfulness from your home environment. The focus of the 5 days will be on cultivating joy, ease and balance through the practice of sustained mindfulness, embracing mind, body and heart and offering experience a soft place to land. 

Information and Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-online-retreat-awakening-body-mind-and-heart-the-joy-of-mindfulness

April 13

9:30 AM -
4:00 PM
California Time
9:30 - 16:00 (UTC-7)

 

Insight Berkeley Daylong (Hybrid event - in person and online), sponsored by Berkeley Buddhist Monastery

"Outer Chaos, Inner Peace"

Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to meditation, this daylong retreat offers a space for quietly connecting to the stillness within at the Monastery or in your home. James will offer instructions, Dharma talk and discussion.

Registration and Information:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/insight-berkeley-daylong-hybrid-event-in-person-and-online-tickets-1273129397299?aff=oddtdt

April 24 - 30

Thu. Arrive
4:00 PM

Wed. Depart
2:00 PM

 

 

Weeklong retreat, sponsored by Rocky Mountain EcoDharma Retreat Center, Ward, Colorado ( 1.5 hours from Dennver)

*Cultivating the Joyful, Resilient Heart"

with James Baraz, Jean Leonard and Kerstin Deibert

Nourished by the natural beauty of this peaceful alpine setting, we will explore the true nature of the human mind/heart. With the support of community, we will inquire into what life is asking of us as human beings in these unique times. Engaging in nature-based practices and rituals we intend to acknowledge and celebrate our interconnectedness and shared belonging to the larger web of life including how to be with the ecological and social challenges of our times in a way that cultivates balance, resilience, and responsiveness. 

Registration: rmerc.org

MAY 2025

 

 

 

 

JUNE 2025

June 6 - 8

Fri. Arrive
5:00 PM

Sun. Depart
12:00 PM

 

Long weekend retreat at Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA

"Awakening the Heart"

with James Baraz

This workshop is designed to support us as we open to our own goodness and learn practices to awaken love in others. Based on timeless Buddhist principles, as well as key findings in modern neuroscience, we will explore how to cultivate and sustain certain wholesome states, which, through practice, become the perspective we embody.

 

June 22 - 29

Starts with dinner Sun.
6:00 PM
18:00 (UTC +2)

Ends with Lunch Sun.
1:00 PM
13:00 (UTC +2)

 

Weeklong silent retreat at Arbor Seminaire, Rahden, Germany

"The Shining Through of the Divine" - Cultivating Healing States

with James and Jane Baraz

 

This retreat will focus on cultivating states states of true well-being such as gratitude, kindness, and compassion. Rather than taking ownership of them, we will keep connecting to the source within us from which they arise.

Register here.

 

JULY 2025

July 28 - Aug. 3

Sun. Arrive
4:00 PM
14:00 (UTC +3)

Sun. Depart
in the afternoon

Weeklong silent retreat, sponsored by Nirodha at Kreivila Center, Finland

"Connecting Mind and Heart"

with James, Kerstin Deibert

The Mind and the Heart are not separate. We’ll take this week of silence to explore and put into practice various skillful means to let go of unproductive habits of mind. We can then experience insights that heal, uplift and ultimately free us.

 

AUGUST 2025

Aug. 11 - 17

Timing TBA

Weeklong silent retreat at Yenice Vadi Retreat Center, Turkey (near Akaya)

with James and Kerstin Deibert

 

Event will be posted here: https://yenicevadi.com/events/

Until then, contact: info@yenicevadi.com.tr

 

Aug. 27 -
Sept. 1

Wed. Arrive
2:30 - 4:30 PM

Mon. Depart
11:00am

5 night silent retreat, sponsored by Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Woodacre, California

Traditional Labor Day Retreat

with James, Tuere Sala, Howie Cohn

This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing clarity and depth of practice. Traditional instructions will be combined with a spirit of lovingkindness, and our time together will include a schedule of silent sitting and walking periods, guided Yoga/movement sessions, as well as practice meetings with teachers and daily Dharma talks.


Information and Registration:
https://spirit-rock.secure.retreat.guru/program/labor-day-insight-meditation-retreat-256r25-on-land/

SEPTEMBER 2025

 

 

 

OCTOBER 2025

Sept. 26 - 30

Fri. Arrive
2:30 - 4:30 PM

Tue. Depart
11:00am

4 night silent retreat, sponsored by Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Woodacre, CA

"Devotion to the Sacred"

with James, Trudy Goodman, Anam Thubten, Alexa Redner

This retreat will focus on cultivating states states of true well-being such as gratitude, kindness, and compassion. Rather than taking ownership of them, we will keep connecting to the source within us from which they arise.

NOVEMBER 2025


 

 

 

DECEMBER 2025

Dec. 12 - 17

Fri. Arrive
2:30 - 4:30 PM

Wed. Depart
11:00am

5 night silent retreat, sponsored by Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Woodacre, CA

"Equanimity: Finding Balance in Uncertain Times"

with James, Mei Elliott and Gullu Singh

This retreat will offer instructions, talks, sitting and walking meditations, and practice discussions to support the development of equanimity in our formal practice. We can then apply equanimity to our life off the cushion.

Information and Registration:
https://spirit-rock.secure.retreat.guru/program/equanimity-riding-the-waves-with-balance-288r25-on-land/?lang=en