René Rivera is a meditation teacher, restorative justice facilitator, and leader, working and learning in all the spaces in-between race, gender, and other perceived binaries, as a queer, latinx, trans man. René teaches heart-centered, trauma-informed meditation, at the East Bay Meditation Center and other meditation centers. He has co-led the first residential meditation retreats for transgender, nonbinary and gender expansive people. René is a restorative justice facilitator for the Ahimsa Collective, working to heal sexual and gender based violence.
Events with René Rivera
August 20 - 27, 2025
Join us for a seven-night silent retreat in LGBTQIA+ community on the beautiful land of Vallecitos. This year we will immerse ourselves in the heart practice of lovingkindness, or Metta, supported by the natural world, the Dhamma, and queer community. We will build a continuity of practice together cultivating this friendliness towards ourselves, others, and ultimately towards all beings. In this practice we will reconnect with our belonging and essential goodness as LGBTQIA+ people. We will offer Dhamma talks, still and walking meditation, guided exploration on the land, and chanting. These practices will be offered mostly outdoors, in a container…
September 27 - October 2, 2025
We are excited about this unique offering for Vallecitos, guided by teachers who interweave colonial and Indigenous perspectives. This offering is an opportunity to explore the significance of naming our personal connection to the land while honoring the inherited histories that shape the land. While there are periods of silent reflection, it is not held in noble silence and includes space for journaling, dialogue, and group discussion. Here is what the teachers say: How do we engage with Land, Water, and Time to increase our capacity, practices and experiences of Interbeing? Given the histories of colonization, how can we understand…
October 10 - 15, 2025
We invite you to be our guest at Vallecitos this fall for self-retreat time on the land gently held by our treasured visiting teacher, René Rivera. Please join us to connect with your practice alongside the depth and magic of the land. We are offering you the simple experience of being on the land, safely using our facilities, receiving three nutritious meals a day along with daily guided sits in the mornings and evenings. Aside from optional morning and evening sits and meals, your time is your own to structure. Enjoy ample time to rest, explore, hike and continue your…