After the three traditional refuges, sometimes I use a fourth refuge: taking refuge in the great mother. I take refuge in the supreme mother, the perfection of sublime knowing, that straddles both the understanding of the empty nature of things, and the relative way in which we work. It is a bridge between the relative and the absolute, and is called “the mother of all Buddhas,” because it is through this depth of understanding that Buddhas become Buddhas—understanding saṃsāra and nirvāṇa, the absolute and the relative, and how they are inseparable.
Margarita Loinaz
Guest Teacher
Margarita Loinaz began buddhist practice in 1977 with Kalu Rimpoche and trained in the Theravada and Tibetan traditions. Her Dzogchen teacher is Lama Drimed Norbu. She began teaching in 1997 leading the Women of Color Sitting group with Marlene Jones and co organizing the first People of Color Retreat at SRMC in 1999. She worked as a public health physician in San Francisco serving the homeless and Latinx communities. Her current teaching blends Dzogchen practice with social justice and environmental awareness. She was born in the Dominican Republic and is a grandmother.
Margarita Loinaz's Upcoming Programs
Retreat | On-Land
July 1 - July 7, 2026 | Wednesday - Tuesday | 6 nights
Beneath the Noise: A Journey into the Mind’s Quiet Power - Annual BIPOC Retreat
For those who identify as BIPOC. Spaces Still Available! Designed to support the BIPOC community only. Dharma practice is a journey of unveiled mysteries that can bring profound transformation. During this retreat we are invited to quiet the noise of striving, meet ourselves fully, discover the peace that arises when the mind is steady and enter a space where truth is felt rather than defined. With deepened internal inquiry, we will explore how thoughts shape our reality and learn to work skillfully with the mind rather than against it.
Amana Brembry Johnson
Bhante Buddharakkhita
Gullu Singh
Margarita Loinaz
Jonathan Relucio
Upcoming Drop-Ins
Drop-in | Online
Sunday, April 19 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
BIPOC Voices: Weekly Sunday Saṅgha
For those who identify as BIPOC.
The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Sangha is a weekly gathering for BIPOC practitioners that provides a safe place to meditate and explore the Dharma. Beginners and experienced meditators are welcome.
Margarita Loinaz
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Margarita Loinaz through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.