 Clear Dharma Sangha

An online practice community with Oren

Clear Dharma Sangha is an online practice community devoted to deepening spiritual practice, integrating it into our lives, and applying its power to social transformation. The group offers an inclusive, intimate space where we can meditate together, explore contemplative practice, and grapple with the pressing questions of our times.

For 2025, we’ll use the teachings in Oren’s latest book, Your Heart Was Made For This, to guide our conversation. Come listen deeply, steady your heart, and walk the path together.

registration opens January 15. add your name below to be notified

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“Oren’s vast experience, sharp mind, and warm heart lend him the ability to explain complex dynamics with clarity. In a world on fire, Oren delivers not only the what, but the how. ”

— JoAnna Hardy, Meditation Teacher & Mother

What's Included When You Join

Practice, explore, engage.

Join us for a vibrant, heartfelt conversation about walking the path during times of upheaval, uncertainty, and rapid change. Honor our grief and heartbreak, joy and blessings as we hone the capacity to listen deeply, live authentically, and offer our gifts to a world in crisis.

Your Membership Includes:

Two group sessions every other week (4+ per month)
Expert instruction in meditation and contemplative practice
Weekly guided meditations on diverse topics
Live Q&A with Oren
Audio library of 50+ guided meditations
Recordings of live sessions
Input into group format and structure (when you join by March 15)
35% Off Your Heart Was Made For This on Shambhala.com

“Oren’s profound guidance has transformed my approach to life.”

— Jude Wolf, Executive Function Coach & Higher Education Faculty

Group Format and Schedule

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

Format: Each session includes a guided meditation, interactive reflection, as well as Q&A and practice discussions with Oren.

Content: Our sessions will explore a combination of formal meditation instructions, contemplative training for daily life, and conversation on applying spiritual practice to social transformation.

When: Sessions occur every other week, Wednesday 4:00–5:15pm PT and Saturday 9:00–10:15am PT. (See exceptions noted in our schedule below).

Where: Live sessions are online via Zoom. You are welcome to attend live or listen to the recordings during the week at your leisure.

Who: All are welcome regardless of experience or identity. Group size is difficult to predict; we will update this page and our FAQs after the group begins.

Audio library: To support your practice, members have access to an extensive audio library of Oren’s guided meditations. Topics include foundational meditation instructions, cultivating heart qualities, inquiry and exploration, guided rest and relaxation, and more.

“To meditate is to be aware and to try to help.”

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Schedule of upcoming sessions

Open house: Saturday, February 1, 9:00 –10:15am PT (Register here)
Wednesday, February 5, 4:00–5:15pm PT
Saturday, February 8, 9:00–10:15am PT
Wednesday, February 19, 4:00–5:15pm PT
Saturday, February 22, 9:00–10:15am PT

Wednesday, March 5, 4:00–5:15pm PT
Saturday, March 8, 12:30–1:45pm PT *
Wednesday, March 19, 4:00–5:15pm PT
Saturday, March 22, 9:00am–10:15am PT
Wednesday, April 2, 4:00–5:15pm PT
Saturday, April 5, 12:30–1:45pm PT *
[Convert to your timezone]

“Oren is a brilliant teacher whose guidance and practices can lead to true inner fulfillment and a more compassionate and just society.”

— Kaira Jewel Lingo, Author & Dharma Teacher

About our Sliding Scale

To increase access to my teaching while making my work financially sustainable, Clear Dharma Sangha operates on a community-supported sliding scale.* $40 per month covers basic program costs. We also offer rates above and below the standard membership.

* Please read this guide before selecting a rate and joining *

Intentions:

Connection: I want you to feel welcome every step of your journey with me, including the moment you sign up.
Accessibility: I want everyone interested in practicing with me to be able to access this community. I don’t want financial resources to determine whether or not someone can join.
Integrity: I want to honor the ancient Buddhist tradition of dana (generosity), where spiritual teachers shared freely and were supported materially by their students.
Sustainability: I want to provide for my family in a way that is healthy and sustainable for me.

Sliding Scale Rates

Standard Rate ($40/mo): This is the estimated cost of running our program and represents what we’d charge if everyone were paying the same amount.
Pay It Forward Rates ($50+/mo): For those with higher incomes or more financial resources, these rates offer an opportunity to support fellow community members and the overall sustainability of this program.
Supported Rates ($30 – $5/mo): For those who have little-to-no expendable income after meeting their basic needs, and who would experience hardship paying the Standard Rate. The number of spots we can offer at Supported Rates depends on the number of people who pay higher rates, and may sell out. Requests are on a first-come, first-served basis. If we have no spaces available you can join a waitlist here.

This may be uncomfortable, and that’s OK.

This sliding scale invites us to reflect on class and economic justice from the standpoint of access. It brings us into a relationship based on truthfulness, respect for complexity, and accountability. We invite you to discern how much you can genuinely afford to contribute to the community.

* Gratitude to Alexis J. Cunningfolk, whose posts on sliding scales offered practical language and insights. Portions of our text are drawn from their posts. We welcome your input on our sliding scale here. If you cannot afford the lowest supported rate, please email us.

Join our Open House

Sign up to join our open house.
Program registration opens January 17.

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Questions? Check out our FAQs.
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Meet Oren

Oren Jay Sofer teaches meditation, and communication internationally. Known for his accessible and clear voice, his teachings integrate classical Buddhist training with modern disciplines of Nonviolent Communication and Somatics.

Oren holds a degree in comparative religion from Columbia University, spent several years training as a novice Buddhist monastic, and is also a Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner for the healing of trauma.

Born and raised in New Jersey, 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. A husband and a father, Oren lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he enjoys cooking, time in nature, and home woodworking projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

about the program

I’ve never meditated before. Are there any requirements to join?

There are no prerequisites; all are welcome regardless of your experience level. We’re hopeful that the teachings and practices will be useful for everyone, from beginners to seasoned meditators.

Do I need to have a copy of ‘Your Heart Was Made For This’ to participate?

No. You are welcome to join whether or not you have Your Heart Was Made For This. However, we do recommend getting a copy and reading it along with the group, since the core content and themes will be drawn from the book. You can purchase the book online here (audio, paper, or e-book), buy it from your local bookstore, or see if it’s available at your library. If you want to buy a copy, when you register and join the group, you will receive a complimentary discount code in your confirmation email for 35% off when purchased through Shambala.com.

I've already read ‘Your Heart Was Made For This.’ Will I benefit from joining?

Yes. The qualities and practices in Your Heart Was Made For This are rich and complex enough to afford many years of study and practice. If you've already been working with the book, we warmly invite you to join and deepen your embodiment of these transformative qualities.

Am I expected to read the book or meditate any particular amount if I join?

We want this community to be as flexible as possible, so leave it up to you to decide when and how much you participate. You are welcome to read the book and follow the themes week by week, or simply practice with the meditation instructions from our sessions or audio library. You may join the live sessions and/or watch the recordings.

What is the audio library?

The audio library offers an exclusive, high-quality collection of Oren’s guided meditations. They cover a wide range of topics: foundational meditation instructions, cultivating heart qualities, relaxation and sleep, as well as meditations that support investigation. As of January 2025, the library contains over 50 meditations. We plan to add at least one new meditation per week.

Will there be an online group forum?

We are not currently offering an online forum for this meditation group. Instead, our conversation will occur directly through the live, online sessions. In addition, we will provide an optional community contact list for those who wish to be in touch with one another, seek out Dharma buddies, or form small practice groups of their own (e.g., to meet on the off weeks). We will be inviting feedback and are open to adding other ways of connecting should there be significant interest or demand.

Will there be an opportunity to connect with others in small groups?

We will be experimenting with different ways of connecting and building community. This may include the opportunity to check in via small groups at the beginning of some sessions.

Will there be an opportunity to meet with Oren in small groups?

At this point, Oren will not be offering small group meetings. If there is sufficient interest, we are happy to consider adding this as a paid component to the community.

How can I offer input or make suggestions?

After about two months, we’ll ask for feedback and consider adjusting the group structure or adding additional components to the community based on your input.

About the Teachings

What will Oren be teaching about?

Oren will be teaching on a broad range of topics: formal meditation practice, contemplative practice, heart qualities, and engaging with social change. Each week’s guided meditations will center around a theme from Oren’s book, Your Heart Was Made For This, devoting two weeks to each chapter. These guided meditations will help you to build a robust meditation practice and develop the transformative qualities in the book. The Q&A sessions will begin with questions focused on the particular theme or quality for the week, and then open up more broadly to general questions about meditation, contemplative practice, and social engagement.

Will Oren be giving Dharma talks?

Oren will periodically offer short reflections on the theme for the week. The bulk of each session will focus on guided meditation or contemplation, building connection, and exploring the week’s theme through Q&A. After two months, we’ll request feedback and consider adding additional components to the community based on your input.

Will Oren be teaching about communication skills or parenting?

This community of practice focuses on meditation, contemplative practice, and their relevance in our current historical moment. A true contemplative practice includes all of life——our relationships and communication. Accordingly, Oren may address questions on these areas as they relate to applying meditation teachings or contemplative qualities. If you are seeking specific, step-by-step training in mindful communication, we encourage you to check out Oren’s signature online communication course here based on his first book, Say What You Mean.

Live SEssions

How many people are on the live calls?
We don’t know how many people will attend the live sessions, though we estimate between 75-125 people may join. We anticipate that this group will be larger than the Next Step Dharma community was, but smaller than Oren’s former, live communication courses. We aim to create an intimate, safe, and personal environment regardless of how many people are present. Based on the feedback of hundreds of students from Oren’s live online classes, we are fairly confident about our capacity to do this. (We will update this FAQ with additional information on the average group size once the program begins.)

Is there a way to ask questions anonymously?
Yes. You will be welcome to post a question anonymously in the live sessions, or to include your name. 

Will the sessions be recorded?
Yes, we will record all of the live sessions. Each live session will be available for viewing for approximately two weeks until it is replaced by a new recording. All guided meditations will be available indefinitely in our audio library as long as your subscription is active. All recordings are strictly for the personal use of community members and are not to be posted publicly. 

What if I have a question but don’t want to be recorded?
We completely understand needs for privacy and confidentiality, and also encourage you to stretch to engage with Oren in the large group. Over the past 25 years of running groups, Oren has honed his capacity to hold individuals with great care, compassion, and respect. Countless group sessions have affirmed that we all grow, heal, learn, and feel encouraged by sharing intimately with one another. 

Nonetheless, you are compeltely welcome to pose your question in writing, or to request that we pause the recording. We are glad to pause the recording when you are speaking, and will record Oren’s responses so others can benefit from his teaching.



Why are there 2 sessions per week? May I attend only one?
We offer two sessions per week, on different days and times, with the hope that at least one of them will work for your schedule and time zone. You are welcome to attend either session, both sessions, or watch the recordings at your leisure.

Is there an expectation that I attend (or watch recordings for) all the sessions?
You are welcome to participate as much or as little as you like, to attend the live sessions or watch the recordings. Note that the session recordings are only available on a rolling basis and expire after 2 weeks. (The guided meditations will be added to the audio library and available as long as you have an active subscription to Clear Dharma Sangha.)

How soon after the live sessions will the recordings be posted?
We are committed to posting all recordings within 48 hours of each live session, and are often able to post them within 12-24 hours.

Cost & payment

Is ‘Your Heart Was Made for This’ included in the subscription?

No. You don’t have to buy the book to participate in the community. If you wish to purchase a copy, you will receive a discount code in your confirmation email when you join. This code can be redeemed once for 35% off Your Heart Was Made For This, valid on Shambhala.com only.

Do you offer scholarships?

We are committed to making this community accessible to anyone interested in practicing, regardless of their financial resources. As such, we offer a community supported sliding scale for membership with several low fee options, as well as a donation-based options upon request for those unable to pay within the sliding scale. We’ve taken great care in creating our sliding scale and are excited to share it with you. Please read our sliding scale guide here for more information.

How do I update my credit card or adjust my monthly contribution?

You can update your credit card or monthly contribution at any time through our online course platform. To do so, login to the group, then click the round user icon in the upper right. To update your credit card, click "Add / Change Credit Card." To cancel or adjust your monthly subscription, click "Membership & Subscriptions.” If you need help, feel free to email us at support@orenjaysofer.com.

How do I cancel my subscription?

You can cancel your subscription at any time. To cancel, login to the group, go to your “Profile” in the upper right, select “Membership & Subscriptions,” and then Cancel. If you have any trouble doing this, feel free to email us and we can cancel your subscription for you.

What if I just want to try it out first?

The best way to see if this group is right for you is to sign up and try it out for a month. We encourage you to join us for our open house on Saturday, February 1st (click here to register). To provide continuity and stability to the group, we will not offer drop-ins after our February 1st open house. Instead, you are welcome to join for a month and cancel at any time.

Testimonials

What Dharma leaders have said about Oren’s teachings…

“Sofer calls us back to love as the focus of our contemplative practice… and guides us on a path in which we can discover our deepest humanity.”

— Zenju Earthlyn Manuel

“Oren is a brilliant teacher who guides us to deepen inner strength, joy, and love, opening to who we already are. He offers a rare combination of penetrating clarity, powerful practices, and nurturing care.”

— Rick Hanson, PhD. and Author

“Oren offers tender and encouraging practices for our challenging times and daily reminders of what we are made of.”

— Ruth King, Author and Dharma Teacher

“Clear, wise and inspiring, Oren offers a raft of beautiful teachings and practices to awaken the heart.”

— Jack Kornfield

What students have said about Oren’s teaching…

“Oren’s teaching is clear, precise, and relatable. He approaches problems with genuine curiosity, humor, and warmth. I would highly recommend joining!”

— Dr. Eleanor Bessant, MD, England, UK

“Oren’s profound guidance has transformed my approach to life. His teachings blend ancient wisdom with practical tools and have helped me embrace authenticity, cultivate courage and live with compassion. His insights continually deepen my practice.”

— Jude Wolf, Executive Function Coach, Higher Education Faculty

“As a teacher Oren synthesizes an extensive knowledge of the dharma, thorough understanding of Nonviolent Communication, training in Somatic Experiencing, an ability to attune to exactly what is needed in the moment, and most importantly, the warmth, compassion, respect, and vulnerability with which he holds a groups. I’ve felt so seen and held in his groups, and attribute the profound connection I’ve experienced with other group members to the safe and loving container Oren creates.”

— Sarah Ackerman, Psychotherapist

Images by John Callery, Tim Mossholder, Rahul P, and Suket Dedhia via Pexels.

Clear Dharma Sangha

An online practice community with Oren