Living Grace Sonoma Sangha Format for 2023

THIS PAGE WAS EDITED ON DECEMBER 16

Dear Sangha member,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to our recent questionnaire which has given Miranda vital information from which to make important decisions about the future of this Sangha.

The results of our survey revealed some heartening news: that most of you are very dedicated to these teachings on Grace, Surrender and the practice of Ego Relaxation. Most of you are dedicated to following through with your Practice Pods and the Deepening Recommendations. It is great to know that your relationship to our spiritual work together itself is robust.

However, the results were not so straight-forward in terms of how we proceed with our format. Around 70% of you are willing to return to In-Person meetings which is not quite enough to pull that off in a sustainable way. Around that same percentage are willing to merge into Global Sangha if need be. A handful stated they would drop out if we merged into the bigger Global Sangha.

We understand your reasons for all positions and are grateful for your honesty.

We have taken a great deal of time and care to synthesize the feedback and pray into what options will truly serve the majority going forward. On this page, we share in writing with you where we have landed so you can have time to digest this before our meeting next Friday 16 December.  

We believe that we have answered nearly every possible question here, so please take the time to read this carefully before emailing Jenny with any further questions…

SANGHA NUMBERS

Given that our numbers have dwindled to 25 members and that we will likely lose a few more of you whichever way we proceed, Miranda has decided NOT to try to recruit new members into this group for 2023. That process requires many hours of processing applications, holding interviews and then trying to land new people into the group. It is never an easy process and Miranda feels it would be trying to push against the flow of grace to move in this direction.

THE WAY FORWARD FOR 2023

Instead, we see a clear path ahead for this Sangha to merge into the Global Sangha with the addition of 4 ADDITIONAL In-Person meetings with Miranda during 2023 exclusively for our now smaller group and with no change in Sangha Fees.

As long as we have 18 people committed to attending these 4 In-Person meetings they will go ahead.  Miranda will ask for a show of hands at the meeting on Friday 16 December.  If you are unable to attend that meeting on 16 December please let Jenny have your decision by email before Thursday 15 December.

If enough of you are committed to attending, the 4 In-Person meetings will take place between 12.30-4.30pm at Open Sky Retreat Space, Sebastopol on –

January: Friday 20

April: Friday 21

July: Friday 21

October: Friday 27

Those attending will be required to show a negative Covid home test taken the morning of the meeting. All efforts will be made to ensure that the space has 2 high grade air filtration systems and meets current Covid recommendations.  You will be encouraged to do whatever you need to do to feel safe.

**The In-Person meetings will not be recorded.  Those who are unable/unwilling to attend the 4 In-Person meetings can attend the Global Sangha meetings via Zoom for those months or watch those recordings. There they will receive the same transmission as at the In-Person meeting and they can participate in Inquiry Practice and Satsang. The Global Sangha Zoom meetings for those months take place from 9am-12.30pm on January 13, April 14, July 7, October 13.  **

The remaining 8 monthly meetings for 2023 will take place via Zoom in conjunction with the Global Sangha from 9am-12.30pm on the following dates – 

February: Friday 10

March: Friday 17

May: Friday 5 

June: Friday 16 

August: Friday 4 

September: Friday 8 

November: Friday 10 

December: Friday 22 

All Sangha members will continue to receive access to the video and audio recording of all Zoom meetings within 24 hours of each meeting.   

All Global Sangha meetings are hosted by Jenny.

PROACTIVELY SUPPORTING EACH OTHER IN PERSON

Miranda invites you to consider getting together with other Sonoma Sangha members or your Practice Pods to take part in the Zoom meetings together so that you can do the inquiry practices in person with each other.

If you ask Jenny in advance of the Zoom meetings, she will happily pair you with Sonoma Sangha members for the Inquiry Practices as long as both of you have agreed to this.

Miranda also encourages you to make the effort to connect with your Practice Pod and/or other Sangha members in person as often as possible outside of the official Sangha meeting dates.

OPENESS TO CHANGE & MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GLOBAL SANGHA

While we appreciate that you did not come to this Sangha with the intention of it becoming virtual, Covid has changed the landscape of so many aspects of life, including how spiritual teachings and community happens.

A few things we want you to know about the Global Sangha –

  • Both Sonoma and Global Sangha have been receiving the same teachings and practice for the last 18 months so you have actually been swimming in a much larger field than you might have realized.
  • The Global Sangha group field is very rich and robust, with more diversity. 
  • On average approximately 60 people attend the Global Sangha meetings and, given the longer meeting time (3 1/2 hours), everyone who raises their hand during Satsang usually has the opportunity to work with Miranda. 
  • If you have attended Daylongs and Home Retreats, you will already have met and interacted with many of the members (some were previously members of the Sonoma Sangha). You are not strangers to one another as you might think.

SANGHA DAYLONGS

The 2 SANGHA DAYLONGS (included in your Sangha fees) will continue to take place via Zoom (in conjunction with the Global Sangha) from 10am-4.30pm (with an hour for lunch) on –

March: Saturday 25 

September: Saturday 16 

On average approximately 50 people from both Sonoma and Global Sangha attend these Sangha Daylongs.

SANGHA FEES

These will remain unchanged at $660 for 2023.  To reduce further unnecessary administration, payment in advance for the full year is preferred.  However, if your financial circumstances prohibit that, we can accept $165 in advance for each 3 month semester. 

No exceptions or scholarships will be available during 2023.

Your Sangha fees include – 

  • Attendance at 12 monthly meetings (4 In-Person & 8 via Zoom)
  • 2 Sangha Daylongs via Zoom 
  • Optional Monthly In-Between Drop-In Meetings
  • Optional Sangha Circle Meetings which take place several times a year.

YOUR SANGHA FEES WILL BE REQUIRED NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 31 TO CONFIRM YOUR COMMITMENT.

SANGHA AGREEMENT

You will receive a copy of this Sangha Agreement 2023 to sign digitally no later than December 31 in order to confirm your commitment to the Living Grace Global Sangha for 2023.

RECORDINGS

You will have access to the video and audio recording of all Zoom meetings within 24 hours of the meeting.  

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH MIRANDA IN 2023

You are encouraged to join the two 5 Day Home Retreats or any of the 3 In-Person Retreats in California in 2023 where there will be plenty of opportunities to interact with Miranda personally.  Full details can be found here.

Private sessions with Miranda are also available and you can find full details here.

NEXT STEPS

At the meeting on Friday 16 December, Miranda will ask you to raise your hand if you are willing to commit to this new format and to attending the In-Person meetings.

If you are unable to attend that meeting on 16 December, please email Jenny by Thursday 15 December to give her your decision so it can be included in the count.

If 18 or more members agree to the new format, then you will be asked to confirm your commitment by 31 December by digitally signing this Sangha Agreement 2023 and sending your Sangha Fees.

If you have any questions that are not answered on this page, please email Jenny before 14 December.

Stay Connected

Sign up for our newsletter and receive a free gift:

Mp3 recording of “May all Beings Dwell in the Heart,” a track from Miranda’s “Heart of Being” mantra CD.

We respect your privacy as sacred, and never share your email with anyone else. By joining our newsletter you consent to receiving content rich newsletters and updates from Miranda about upcoming events that support you to live the Way of Grace

Scroll to Top

Stay Connected

Sign up for our newsletter and receive a free gift:

Mp3 recording of “May all Beings Dwell in the Heart,” a track from Miranda’s “Heart of Being” mantra CD.

We respect your privacy as sacred, and never share your email with anyone else. By joining our newsletter you consent to receiving content rich newsletters and updates from Miranda about upcoming events that support you to live the Way of Grace