Clear Dharma Sangha

An online practice community with Oren Jay Sofer

 
 

Clear Dharma Sangha is an online practice community devoted to deepening spiritual practice and living the Dharma in a rapidly changing world. Together, we meditate, explore contemplative teachings, and engage the personal and collective challenges of our time.

In 2026, we are exploring core themes of the path through structured teachings and ongoing practice. We began the year with The Foundations of the Dharma, an eight-week introduction to key principles of the path. In May and June, we turn toward cultivating of the heart through the Brahma Vihāras—practices that support both concentration and liberation.

Come listen deeply, steady your heart, and walk the path together.

Program Overview:

  • What: An online practice community integrating the Buddhist path into contemporary life.
  • Weekly Rhythm: Wednesdays, 4:00–5:30 pm PT, plus first & third Saturdays, 8:00–9:00 am PT (with Asst. Teacher Lily Huang).
  • Session Format: Guided meditation, Dharma talk, and interactive Q&A.
  • Who: Open to all — no prior experience required.
  • Resources: Full audio library, session recordings, plus access to Foundations of the Dharma.
  • Participation: Join live as your schedule allows—or practice with recordings at your own pace.
  • Cost: Community-supported sliding scale (standard membership: $40/month).

Freeing the Heart:

The Four Sublime Homes, May – June 2026

In May and June, we are exploring the Brahmavihāras—kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity—four deeply freeing, innate capacities of the heart. These practices cultivate embodied care and connection, supporting how we relate to ourselves, others, and the wider world.

The Brahmavihāras serve multiple roles on the path: they steady and unify the mind, open the heart in ways that support wise action, and liberate the mind from ill-will, fear, and separation. In a time of great uncertainty and division, they offer a way to remain grounded without closing off, and to stay connected without becoming overwhelmed.

You are welcome to join CDS at any time and participate live or through recordings.

 

Foundations of the Dharma:

Free Access When You Join

Foundations of the Dharma is an eight-session course originally taught live through Clear Dharma Sangha, offering a clear and practical introduction to the core principles of the Buddhist path. Designed for both new and experienced practitioners, it explores themes such as Refuge, Right View, Intention, and Mindfulness as living principles.

If you’re newer to CDS—or simply looking to reconnect with the fundamentals—we warmly encourage you to move through the course at your own pace. It offers a strong orientation to Oren’s approach to Dharma practice and a shared language for walking the path with honesty, care, and courage.

As a member of Clear Dharma Sangha, you receive complimentary access to the full course as part of your membership.

Join Annually and Save
Get two months free, full access to the audio library, session recordings, and Foundations of the Dharma.

About Clear Dharma Sangha

In a world fraught with challenges, how can our spiritual practice provide strength and tenderness, guiding us through the noise and uncertainty? The most potent questions rarely have simple answers. Even as we each take responsibility for our spiritual development, we don’t have to walk the path alone.

Clear Dharma Sangha offers a different approach to the path—one that recognizes our shared needs for community, personal guidance, and honest inquiry.

Meditation practice is often taught in a “one-size-fits-all” way. Yet the path unfolds in unique and mysterious ways. What steadies the heart, heals us, and returns us to our true nature may look different for each of us. This group provides a supportive space to explore your practice in ways that resonate most deeply with your life.

I envision this community as a place where you can come as you are—to connect, reflect, and grow together. I hope this group offers strength, clarity, and inspiration, not only in your meditation practice but in how you live each day of your life.

Benefits of Membership

 
 

Practice, reflect, engage.

Clear Dharma Sangha is a relational Dharma practice community devoted to integrating the teachings into contemporary life. Sessions blend meditation, Dharma reflection, and interactive discussion on how spiritual practice can help us meet personal and collective challenges.

Join us for a grounded, heartfelt exploration of walking the path during times of uncertainty, upheaval, and rapid change.

Practice Together

A warm, inclusive space for sincere practice
  • Guided meditations with downloadable recordings
  • Teachings on core themes of the path
  • Seasonal areas of focus
  • Optional small-group Dharma discussion

Integration

Living the Dharma with honesty and care
  • Embodied and trauma-informed practice
  • Personal and collective themes
  • Relational and ethical dimensions of practice
  • Support for practicing during times of uncertainty and change

Guidance and Resources

Ongoing support for sustaining your practice
  • Interactive, live Q&A
  • Individual practice meetings with Oren
  • Exclusive audio library and recordings
  • Access to Foundations of the Dharma course
  • Practice resources and archived teachings
  • Join live or practice with recordings
To meditate is to be aware, and to try to help.
— Thich Nhat Hanh

Additional Information

What is Contemplative Practice?

While meditation is central to our sessions, contemplative practice extends far beyond formal meditation. It involves cultivating awareness in how we relate to ourselves, engage with others, and respond to the complexities of the world around us. The aim is to meet life more fully—with presence, wisdom, and care.

The tone of our sessions

Each session is relaxed, warm, and supportive. We begin with a guided meditation, followed by a Dharma reflection and interactive Q&A with Oren. These exchanges explore nuances of the teachings and offer practical guidance.

What You Can Expect

Participants often report greater steadiness, emotional resilience, clarity, and connection in their relationships and daily life. Many find that the teachings support both their meditation and how they relate to family, work, community, and the wider world.

Who is This For?

Clear Dharma Sangha welcomes anyone drawn to exploring the intersection of spiritual practice, daily life, and social change. Whether you’re new to meditation or have years of experience, you’ll find a supportive environment for practice and inquiry. Beginners receive accessible guidance, while more experienced practitioners can discover new layers of depth. We welcome folks of all backgrounds, identities, and faiths.

What Makes This Community Special?

Clear Dharma Sangha is more than a weekly meditation group—it is an ongoing practice community rooted in care and sincere inquiry. Together, we explore how contemplative practice can support both personal transformation and wise engagement with the world.

This sangha offers a space for honest reflection, learning, and steady practice alongside others walking the path.

Questions? Check out our FAQs. Drop in by donating for a session here.

Session Format and Schedule

Join anytime. Learn together. Attend live or listen later.

Session Format:

  • Guided Meditation: To support your practice.
  • Community Check-In: Share in the large group or in optional small groups after each session.
  • Teaching & Dharma Discussion: Focused teachings, interactive Q&A, and personalized guidance.
  • Recordings: All sessions are recorded with closed captioning and are available for one month.

Program Schedule:

Clear Dharma Sangha meets regularly:

  • Every Wednesday: 4:00 – 5:30 pm PT, with Oren
  • 1st & 3rd Saturdays: 8:00 – 9:00 am PT, with Assistant Teacher Lily

Click here for dates and topics of our upcoming sessions.
Convert to your time zone here.

Learn about our community supported sliding scale.

Meet Oren

Oren Jay Sofer has practiced Buddhist meditation and Nonviolent Communication for over two decades and teaches internationally. He holds a degree in comparative religion from Columbia University and is a Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner for the healing of trauma.

Oren is the author of several books, including the best-seller Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication and Your Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices to Meet a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity and Love. His teaching has reached people around the world through his online courses and guided meditations. Born and raised in New Jersey, Oren lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he loves learning about life from being a husband and a father.

 

Assistant Dharma Teacher

Lily Huang fell into in-depth Dharma practice in 2019. She has studied in early Buddhist traditions with teachers at Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Society, Insight Meditation Center (IMC) Redwood City, and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Her primary teacher is Oren Jay Sofer, with whom she has also trained in Wise Speech and Nonviolent Communication. Lily is a participant in IMC’s Dharma Leader Training program with Gil Fronsdal and teaches regularly at Roaring Fork Insight. Lily has a background in primary care medicine for the underserved and is a wife and mother of two teenage daughters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions? Please read our FAQs. If you have a question not listed here feel free to email us.

GETTING STARTED

I’ve never meditated before. Can I join?

Yes! This group is open to everyone, regardless of experience. Beginners will find accessible guidance, and seasoned practitioners will discover depth and new perspectives.

Do I need a copy of any of Oren's books to participate?

No, there is no required reading for the sangha. Oren may recommend a follow-up resource from time to time, which is optional.

Is there a required amount of attendance or meditation?

No. Participation is flexible—you can attend live sessions, or use the audio library as fits your schedule.

sessions & Schedule

How often are the sessions?

Clear Dharma Sangha meets every Wednesday from 4:00 – 5:30pm PT with Oren. Assistant Dharma teacher Lily Huang also offers one-hour practice sessions on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 8–9:00 am PT.

What if I can only attend every now and then?

You’re welcome to attend whichever sessions fit your schedule. Recordings are available for one month if you can’t attend live.

Are the sessions recorded?

Yes. Recordings are available for one month after each session. Active memberships also include access to our audio library, including a year of Oren's teachings and guided meditations from Your Heart Was Made For This.

How soon are recordings posted?

Recordings are typically available within 24 hours, and always within 48 hours.

Teaching & Content

What will Oren be teaching about?

For the latest curriculum, see the introduction to CDS at the top of this page or click here.

Will Oren be teaching communication skills?

Not directly. The focus is on meditation and contemplative practice, though questions about relationships or communication may be addressed in relation to meditation. Oren offers a separate communications course, based on his book Say What You Mean.

What traditions inform the teachings?

The teachings are rooted in early Buddhism and Insight Meditation, informed by Oren’s training in Nonviolent Communication and Somatic Experiencing. Teachings emphasize practical, universal insights.

Can I ask questions or get support from Oren outside of the live sessions?

At present, Oren offers optional 15-minute private meetings for those who have been members for three months or longer. Members with 3+ months in the sangha may schedule up to two meetings per year.

Community & Interaction

Will I have opportunities to connect with others?

Yes. Each session includes space for large-group sharing. We also offer optional small-group check-ins for 20 minutes after each session, and a community bulletin board to connect with Dharma buddies or form small practice groups.

Is there an online forum?

We offer a simple community bulletin board to connect, share resources, and stay in touch with others.

How many people are in the group?

Live attendance at our Wednesday sessions fluctuates from 50–80 people. Saturday practice sesssions generally have 12-20 people. We aim to create an intimate and personal environment regardless of size.

Cost & Commitment

How does the sliding scale work?

We offer a sliding scale to ensure accessibility, including low-fee options and a donation-based option for those with low or unpredictable income. More information is available here.

Can I cancel my membership or adjust my monthly contribution?

Yes. You can cancel or adjust your membership any time through your account settings.

Can I try the program before committing?

Yes. You're welcome to drop in any time by offering a donation for one of our sessions here. (Click a date, then click the "Drop In" button.) We also encourage you simply to enroll for one month to try it out; you can cancel at any time if it’s not a fit.

Do you offer refunds?

No, we do not offer refunds. Our sliding scale is designed to be accessible and you are welcome to cancel at any time. If joining for a year, we encourage you to check out the sangha before paying. If you are on a monthly subscription and wish to avoid paying for another month, please cancel before your subscription renews.

Accessibility & Technology

Can I access the sessions on a mobile device?

Yes. Live sessions can be accessed via the Zoom app, and recordings are available on mobile browsers. For the best experience, we recommend a desktop or laptop.

Are transcripts or closed captions available?

All live sessions and recordings include closed captions. We do not currently offer transcripts, but we’re exploring ways to improve accessibility.

What if I need tech support?

Email us at support@orenjaysofer.com for assistance.

Other details

Can I download recordings or guided meditations?

Yes, sangha members are welcome to download the recordings of live sessions for personal use. We ask that you get in touch first to request permission before sharing a recording with others.

Will my questions during live sessions be private?

Yes. You can ask questions anonymously or request to pause the recording during personal sharing.