California fires threatening meditation centers

The Creek Fire has grown so serious that on Monday, an evacuation order was issued for all of North Fork, including the California Vipassana Center, a meditation center in the S.N. Goenka tradition.

It has certainly been a tough time for northern Californian meditation centers, as just last week, the Silent Stay Meditation & Peace Center in Vacaville saw over 800 of its buildings damaged.

Both centers have put out statements on the tragedy. The SSMPC announced:

Dear friends and family, 

With much sadness we share with you that our beautiful retreat center has been destroyed in the recent fire.  We are safe and well but the whole retreat center is gone.  So much love has been shared on the property.  This love is always with all of us. One step at a time, we continue...

If you have an upcoming reservation we will reach out to you as soon as we can.  Our free daily zoom meditation will continue as we catch our breath and heart! Please be in touch with us in your heart, prayer, and email!  Silent Stay remains in each of us. 

The loss of the beauty of Silent Stay is great, but the real loss is our meeting space to enjoy together the silence of our hearts, simple peace ! 

​Rebuilding Silent Stay will be an expensive process we appreciate your support.  You can make tax deductible donations here:  Support Fund

As you can see peace and happiness are still flying. Read the flag up close !!!

The CVC, known as Dhamma Mahāvana, just recently celebrated its 30th birthday. It released the following statement:

As the Creek Fire continues to spread, it threatens CVC and the surrounding North Fork community. All students and servers have been safely evacuated from the area. We are sending metta to those impacted and our Dhamma land.

Last year, the nearby Spirit Rock Meditation Center was put in harm’s way by a Petaluma man who had burned his physical effects.

Meditation centers serve a vital role in the mental and spiritual health of a community, and so it is a great loss to society to see these important institutions threatened as the fires continue to rage.