What Is Big Heart City?

Big Heart City is a San Francisco-based sangha rooted in the teachings of the Buddha and the wisdom we’ve gained along the way.

Who We Are

Big Heart City is a nonprofit Buddhist meditation group that seeks to honor your authentic experience, whoever you are. All are welcome.

Founded in 2019 by Vinny Ferraro, Big Heart City sangha (Buddhist meditation community) welcomes you to join us weekly. We’re in-person in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill district the first Friday of every month and online on zoom the other weeks.

What We Offer

We offer a meditation sitting group, recordings of our weekly talks, daylong meditation retreats, as well as multi-day silent retreats.

Our nonprofit sangha is donation-based and no one is every turned away from lack of funds.

WHY WE’RE HERE

Mission: We seek to be a safe, welcoming spiritual community offering teachings in a way that is relevant and accessible and honors what it’s actually like to be human. We draw from the wisdom of the Buddha and everything else we’ve learned along the way.

Vision: We support the growing freedom in our own hearts and find ways to express love and service in the world.

CORE VALUES

GENEROSITY / Dana

Dana is the ancient Pali word for Generosity or Giving. This inclination to give is a voluntary expression of our gratitude and appreciation.

Being of Service

Dana isn’t just about money, we can give our time and energy; we can give our attention; we can give thanks; we can give encouragement; we can do metta.

Learn About Our Service Project

Vinny Ferraro

Founding Teacher, Big Heart City Meditation

Vinny Ferraro is the founder and guiding teacher of Big Heart City, where he brings a grounded, heart-centered approach to meditation. Vinny’s teachings are infused with authenticity, humor, and heartfelt insight, making ancient wisdom feel accessible and relevant.

With roots in Vipassana (insight meditation) since the early 90s, Vinny’s road from rough beginnings to respected Dharma teacher is a testament to his resilience and dedication. He is a fully empowered teacher through Spirit Rock and Insight Meditation Society.

Prior to founding Big Heart City, Vinny was the co-founder of Dharma Punx and has led a weekly sitting group for 20+ years. He was the training director of Challenge Day, a senior trainer at Mindful Schools, and a teacher at Mind Body Awareness Project. His extensive real-world experience includes working with incarcerated people and at-risk youth.

His sessions at Big Heart City blend meditation, Dharma talks, and Q&A, encouraging students to show up authentically and embrace their own basic goodness. That means you, too.