Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center

San Francisco, United States

4.5

Closed now

17 reviews

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Telephone:
+1 415-563-4459
Website:
www.bkSanFrancisco.com
Address:
401 Baker St, San Francisco, CA, 94117
b/t Grove St & Hayes St
NoPa
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.4 miBig Bus Tours Stop 9, Alamo Square
0.5 miMasonic St & Frederick St
0.5 miFrederick St & Masonic St
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Bussiness info

Good for Kids
Yes

Today

Today 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (San Francisco) 07:16 Saturday, 28 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Description

Specialties

The Brahma Kumaris seeks to help individuals re-​discover and strengthen their inherent worth by encouraging and facilitating a process of spiritual awakening. This leads to an awareness of the importance of thoughts and feelings as the seeds of actions.

Some of the programs offered at the meditation center in San Francisco include the Foundation Course in Raja Yoga Meditation, Positive Thinking Course, Stress Free Living and Anger Management Seminars.

Everyone is welcome to the daily evening group meditation. On Friday evenings a special guided meditation sitting called San Francisco Meditation meetup happens for 1 hour.

An understanding of the spiritual context of human existence is offered, helping to make sense of contemporary issues. Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University presently operates about 9000 centers in over 120 countries around the world. It earned the consultative status as an NGO with the United Nations in 1983.

History

Established in 1977.

The humble beginnings date back to 1979 when the center opened in a tiny 1-​bedroom apartment on Irving street by sister Chandru and sister Denise. Everyone who came found out by word of mouth. After about a year, the center moved to Clement street where it operated for about 6 years.

In 1986, the center moved to its current location at 401 Baker street. This was also the first venue of the San Francisco Interfaith Council.

Besides Interfaith work, the center has been serving the community with free meditation workshops, feeding homeless, back-​to-​school programs for underprivileged children, summer kids camp, healing through music and meditation, conscious New Year’s eve celebration among other programs.

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Nearby

Near this location:
110
ft
The Business of Show Biz
1534 Hayes St Apt 3
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ft
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220
ft
Pacific Primary School
1501 Grove St
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ft
Target The Best
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1477 Grove St

17 reviews of Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Downtown Core, Toronto, Canada
This meditation centre is within a beautiful building, staffed with kind and friendly people. I try to make it once a week to enjoy a half hour or hour long meditation. The place isn’t preachy or trying to push any ideology on you. There is occasionally some thought provoking poetry and discussion about life, happiness and balance.
Place rating: 1
Baton Rouge, LA
Um. This is a cult, y’all. See
Place rating: 3
San Francisco, CA
The volunteers that work here are splendid. Even though they are not always open for open meditation, they are extremely kind and compassionate. I definitely recommend coming here as the welcoming aspect leaves you in a state of grace. Limited meditation hours.
Place rating: 5
Sacramento, CA
I am new to meditation and this place welcomes you with open arms. They really have made my first few experience’s amazing. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. If your considering trying something like this for the first time I would encourage you to go here. you wont regret it. Five stares from me:)
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
This is a donation-​based meditation center that practices the Raja Yoga style of meditation. Stop in and have the experience! If you’re new to meditation, this is a beautiful place to begin. The atmosphere is extremely relaxed and peaceful, and it certainly helps one quiet the thoughts that have built up over a day filled with deadlines and stresses. I had been meditating for several months on my own before discovering the Brahma Kumaris Center. After the first session I came back because the experience meditating in a group helps me keep focus and a routine, but also being able to ask an experienced instructor questions is very helpful. As with so many others these days, I define myself as spiritual but not religious. The folks at Brahma Kumaris specifically explained on my first day that they do not believe in a middle man (guru/​priest/​etc) is necessary to connect with the divine. The instructors there simply offer you the gift of teaching. The underlying principle is that through meditation we are all able to go deep within ourselves to access pure states of consciousness. Call this a connection with God, or simply resting a tired machine (your brain), you can’t deny that it works! These meditation sessions will leave you feeling relaxed, free from anxiety, and generally accepting of life and it’s challenges.
Place rating: 5
Sunnyvale, CA
If you want to change your life, be productive, healthy and pure, you have come to the right place. I came back from a war zone and was really struggling. My friend suggested meditation and after some googling I found this place. I left a voice mail and that was it. I thought no one was going to call back. I was surprised to hear few days later a call from one of the Sisters there to come in for a meditation. She was very sweet and peacful, exactly what I needed. My life has changed since for the better. If you start going regularly you may find some of the younger brothers (that’s what they call eachother, brothers and sisters) that work there or live there a tid bit pushy, but sisters are great. They have one sister, a true jewel, a diamond, an ocean of knowledge, her name is Sister Kyoko she is Japanese and I really think she is the backbone of this organization at least for me. If it wasn’t for her, I probably would not have been writing this review. She is very professional and cortegiouse and sweet. She is aware of things that others pay little to no attention. I will give you an example. She would turn the volume slowly up or down before starting the meditation CD, instead of just blasting the sound as is the general practice. She will always leave you with something positive and devine even if it is a simple gesture. You will feel elevated when at this center and especially around this person. I am truely blessed to have met her and found this place. It will change your life, just give it a try. You will know right from wrong and it will put you in the drivers sit of your own life…
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
The Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center is a refuge of peace for me in my hectic big city life. I especially enjoy their downtown meditation group on Tuesdays, 5:30 — 6:30. Peace, Peace, Peace.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I love this center ! The best place to put yourself in peace and get connected to supreme sole .I feel blessed to know them and to be welcome there. Thank you for providing all this amazing classes and priceless knowledge.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Last night’s meditation was possibly the best meditation I ever experienced. Being in touch with one’s self, in non-​illusion, is a beautiful thing. Being in touch with who you are — love — is very liberating. The balance I felt during, right after and now as I write this is delightful. Since that mediation, I began doing healthy things that have been on hold for some time. This re-​kindling has put my spirit front and center with others and I know what I put out there in the world with this spirit affects everything for the better whether that is my prime intention or not at any given moment. Last night was my 4th meditation there. I will be going back many more times I’m certain. The space is also quite beautiful –welcoming, warm, and above all — peaceful. With the planet in crisis right now, meditating and even going to this center couldn’t be more appropriate. — Gene
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I’m new in the City and I was looking for a peaceful place like this one. The Center is amazing! I was really welcome there! I’ve just finish the meditation basic course and it makes me feel much better. I was very homesick and overwhelmed about all this change in my life! If you are looking for opportunity to discover yourself, to find peace within and around you, this is the place. Once I’ve changed, my world have changed as well! Love the Center and the sisters and brothers, I’ve found there!
Place rating: 5
Fremont, CA
This is an absolute wonderful and serene place to connect with oneself. The beauty about this place is the technique of meditation they teach with very universal analogies and anecdotes one can relate to very well to their lives. The events, programs and retreats that are often conducted are extremely rejuvenating and thought provoking. The simplicity with which they present the truths of existence with the help of stories, videos, soothing music and inspiring presentations, compel you to pause your pace and ponder. Their friday evenings 6.30 meditation meet up is a great time to experience meditating in a group and close the week on a peaceful note. The BK Meditation center is a must visit !
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I am gonna be short and sweet: this center is fantastic!
I’ve taken the meditation course for FREE not only once but twice. They always invite me to the women’s group on the third Saturday of every month. It’s so much fun meeting with women of different backgrounds and ages. Right after the group meeting and meditation they serve delish vegetarian lunch and it’s for free. Amazing!
If you live in the city you should definitely check them out. Great atmosphere, easy meditation technique, like-​minded people and free workshops with practical themes. Thanks guys!!!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
How fortunate we are to be blessed with such a peaceful unimposing place to explore our inner selves. I was impressed to learn that most of the instructors are engineers and highly educated people who teach meditation to anyone who walks in while asking for nothing in return. No one asks for $, no one tries to convert you to a certain religion or strange new way of life. They simply teach the art of eliminating wasteful thoughts and seeing a positive perspective. Raja Yoga meditation comes directly from India.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
This place has an overwhelming positive vibe spilling out the front door ! The Friday night 6:30pm meet-​up is a perfect way to
de stress from a long week & recharge your mental battery.
Place rating: 3
San Francisco, CA
Brahma Kumaris offers free drop-​in meditation on Fridays at 6:30 — 7:30pm
The guided meditation is lead by one person and a CD. The CD is ok, but the person speaking can be irritating. If you are new to meditation, you will notice the street noise and people entering the building.
The session is full meditation with a small segment of discussion of how the meditation went. After, they serve something sweet and people leave at their own pace.
Try it out to see if it works for you. The good thing about this session is that they don’t spend time lecturing about a particular religion. It’s straight meditation.
The place would receive 4-​stars, if the moderator’s long pauses between words didn’t bug me so much.
A person who has done meditation for a long-​time wouldn’t be bothered by this, so if you’re a newbie — FYI.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
If your looking for Enlightenment this is the place to go. If your looking for a discipline to bring you peace of mind, this might be the ultimate place to find it. If your attracted to this knowledge, you just might find the change in your life you’ve always been looking for. I thought it was just a meditation center based on yoga, but what I found was a world unto itself and a place to transform not only yourself but the world as well. It will blow your mind if you truly go through the doors.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Great place with awesome peaceful atmosphere. Attended few public events recently and was very impressed with the depth of knowledge by the speakers. BTW, very interesting meditation techniques. I have been able to learn to meditate while doing things such as walking on the street. Simply awesome.