“We are here to awaken from the illusion of separateness.”

Thich Nhat Hahn

A meditation room with cushions on the wooden floor, a large window revealing a scenic landscape of mountains and a sunset sky, with the text 'Welcome to Buena Vista Sangha. Thank you for joining our meditation community. Amador Meditation Community' displayed.

Buena Vista Sangha

Welcome to Amador County California’s meditation community! We practice various traditional Buddhist meditation methods taught in a secular fashion that respects all faiths, spiritual traditions and philosophical orientations. Anyone with an interest in traditional meditation and awakening to our true nature is welcome. One-on-one and group meditation instruction is available upon request.

Please check for upcoming events!

Our group practice is offered on a donation basis. No one is turned away for lack of funds.

Be sure to check the Sign up for news and updates checkbox to be notified of upcoming events and receive our newsletter when you join our community!

Upcoming Events

Events
Awakening to Our True Nature - 10/1/26
Oct 1
Awakening to Our True Nature - 10/1/26

You are cordially welcome to join our online community exploring the theme, Awakening to Our True Nature. In each one hour session, we will discuss what it means to awaken to our true nature and explore meditation methods that bring us to the clear, direct experience. We will leave time at the end for questions that may arise from practice.

This class is appropriate for all levels of experience. Those new to meditation as well as those that have been practicing meditation for decades are welcome.

This online event is offered on a donation basis.

We draw from Theravada (Burmese), Chan (Chinese Zen) and Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhist traditions but our presentation is secular in nature and respects people of all religious and philosophical persuasions.

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Experiencing Our True Nature - 10/4/26
Oct 4
Experiencing Our True Nature - 10/4/26

Join us at Sage & Tansy Wellness Studio in Ione, California for a group meditation practice. We will be exploring the theme, Experiencing Our True Nature. In each one hour session, we will discuss and discover what it means to experience our true nature and explore meditation methods that bring us to the clear, direct experience. We will leave time at the end for questions that may arise from practice.

This class is appropriate for all levels of experience.

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Featured
How Accurate is Vedic Astrology?
Barry Wadsworth
How Accurate is Vedic Astrology?
Barry Wadsworth

Barry Wadsworth explorers using Parashara’s Light Vedic astrology software and ChatGPT to analyze and interpret the chart of a prominent politician in an effort to see how accurate Jyotish astrology is in describing an individual and predicting future success. See if you can guess who this chart describes to judge for yourself.

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Barry Wadsworth
Imagining a Better Future
Barry Wadsworth
Imagining a Better Future
Barry Wadsworth

Just for fun, I created a project in ChatGPT called Creating Utopia, uploading a file that ChatGPT helped me create to set the parameters of the Creating Utopia Project. What I present here is a first draft of our collaboration on what such a project would look like.

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Barry Wadsworth
Full Awareness of Breathing
Barry Wadsworth
Full Awareness of Breathing
Barry Wadsworth

Buena Vista Sangha teaches Anapanasati, Full Awareness of Breathing, as the introductory meditation method. This gives us a common foundation from which to develop our practice and explore vipassana, Silent Illumination, Metta Meditation, and other practices that settle the mind and open awareness to deeper insight into the nature of the mind. Includes basic instructions on following the breath and shifting to Silent Illumination, or Just Sitting.

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Barry Wadsworth
Anthropic Guardrails and Mystical Experiences
Barry Wadsworth
Anthropic Guardrails and Mystical Experiences
Barry Wadsworth

I ask Claude AI about guardrails and then about Claude’s views of mystical experiences, relating one I had with Charlie Lutes, a former member of Maharishi International University’s Board of Trustees. Claude discusses views on mystical experiences, including past lives and telepathy, and their relevance to true spiritual progress and awakening.

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Barry Wadsworth
Mind-to-Mind Transmission (According to Claude)
Barry Wadsworth
Mind-to-Mind Transmission (According to Claude)
Barry Wadsworth

Claude comments on a transmission experience between a Chan Master and myself, the gradual stabilization of awakening, and Native Spirituality. Whether or not there was an actual Dharma transmission, stabilization, or mystical experiences, I’ll leave to you to ponder. I see great potential for self-deception when using AI for the analysis of spiritual experiences. Claude seems to have been programmed to be more than a bit sycophantic—I can’t help but wonder if it is just telling me what I expect to hear.

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Barry Wadsworth
A Conversation with Claude
Barry Wadsworth
A Conversation with Claude
Barry Wadsworth

Now, with the rise of AI, which inevitably will transform society exponentially more than any previous invention or period of human development, we are all left to wonder, will we use it for good or will it be our undoing? A discussion on meditation and awakening with Claude.ai.

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Barry Wadsworth
Vigil for Minneapolis Victims
Barry Wadsworth
Vigil for Minneapolis Victims
Barry Wadsworth

Today's group meditation session will be postponed until next Sunday. When the federal government begins executing people in the streets of our cities, it is important to stand in solidarity with the victims. This is a non-partisan issue that impacts all of us, regardless of political affiliation, and it cannot stand. You are welcome to join us for a vigil for the Minneapolis victims at Creekside UMC in Sutter Creek Sunday evening, tonight, January 25th at 5:00 PM.

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Barry Wadsworth
Find a Reputable Teacher
Barry Wadsworth
Find a Reputable Teacher
Barry Wadsworth

Barry Wadsworth introduces members of the Buena Vista Sangha to his most influential teachers, including Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Chan Master Sheng Yen, Ven. Chanmyay Sayadaw and Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche. Barry suggests that finding an authentic, traditional meditation teacher is very helpful and can save one a lot of time developing one’s practice.

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Barry Wadsworth
The Path to Awakening
Barry Wadsworth
The Path to Awakening
Barry Wadsworth

I provide this for our Buena Vista Sangha in Amador County, California and any meditation students who may need a little background on the Buddhist tradition from which our meditation practices come. These practices have traditionally been practiced in the context of a broader understanding that is very helpful, even essential, to make deeper progress with these methods. It's my hope that the following short summary of The Middle Way, The Four Noble Truths and The Noble Eightfold Path help make a rewarding difference in your practice.

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Barry Wadsworth
Sage and Tansy Studio set up for meditation class

Sage and Tansy Studio set up for meditation class

Sage and Tansy Studio meditation cushions. Chairs also available

Sage and Tansy Studio meditation cushions. Chairs also available

Sage and Tansy Wellness Studio setup for Chan Silent Illumination meditation group practice

Sage and Tansy Wellness Studio setup for Chan Silent Illumination meditation group practice

Barry Wadsworth near Buena Vista Butte

Barry Wadsworth near Buena Vista Butte

Barry and Laura at temple gate in Bhutan

Barry and Laura at temple gate in Bhutan

Barry and Laura by prayer wheel walking to Tiger's Nest in Bhutan

Barry and Laura by prayer wheel walking to Tiger's Nest in Bhutan

Barry and Laura at old temple in Bhutan

Barry and Laura at old temple in Bhutan

Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche giving talk near famous cave entrance in Bhutan.

Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche giving talk near famous cave entrance in Bhutan.

Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche in Bhutan

Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche in Bhutan

Laura with Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche in Bhutan

Laura with Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche in Bhutan

Chan Master Sheng Yen was Barry's teacher from 1984 - 2008.

Chan Master Sheng Yen was Barry's teacher from 1984 - 2008.

Padmasambhava thangka purchased in Bhutan during our 2025 trip

Padmasambhava thangka purchased in Bhutan during our 2025 trip

High quality meditation cushions can be purchased at Dharma Crafts.

High quality meditation cushions can be purchased at Dharma Crafts.