The practice of meditation has been around for thousands of years. But what's happening in this room is unique. This is believed to be the first meditation project in the nation designed for those who are homeless or living on the edge.

Rev. Jana Drakka, Buddhist monk: "Our aim is to be at peace with whatever comes up."

You might think meditation is something only yuppies do, but one purpose of meditation is to reduce stress, and as anyone living on the streets will tell you, it's certainly stressful being homeless.

Rev. Jana Drakka is a Buddhist monk who grew up in Scotland. She first began working with the homeless by going into the city's single room hotels to conduct funeral services for those who died. Meditation is her way of helping the living.

Rev. Jana Drakka, Buddhist monk: "Everything in this life can and will be taken away from us, but while we're alive, there's one thing no one can take away. They can take away your home, your job, your health can go, but freedom of mind -- we are all free."

Steve Eastman believes meditation is helping him move forward despite being surrounded by poverty, violence, alcohol and drugs.

Steve Eastman, meditation client: "The more calm, the more centered, the more rational you are, the more likely it is that you can get some services or find some help."

Carla Thompson, meditation client: "People are doing drugs and alcohol because they are looking for an escape. They are looking for peace and someone needs to teach them how to become at peace with themselves."

That's what 54-year-old monk, Priscilla Fleischer, is trying to do. She facilitates five groups a week. Priscilla Fleischer is a clinical social worker from UCSF. She works with the homeless and sometimes sits in on the sessions.

Priscilla Fleischer, UCSF: "She has offered to people who one would not think could benefit from this kind of intervention, I think a lot of hope."

At a drop in center in the Tenderloin, Drakka adds movement and stretching along with deep breathing exercises. Research has been done on the medical benefits of meditation, but not specifically on this population and these sessions. There's plenty of anecdotal evidence.

Anibal Mejia, Mission Neighborhood Resource Ctr.: "We've seen a lot of our clients who've attended the groups regularly use a little bit less drugs or cease using drugs."

Carlos Mendoza Hernandez, Tenderloin Housing Clinic: "Their attitudes have changed completely. They are able to focus on every day, normal life."

Drakka was once homeless herself. Now, as a monk she lives at the San Francisco Zen Center and considers the meditation sessions a way of giving back to the community.

Porter Davis, Meditation Client: "She's reaching out to try to engage people in something she has a passion for." Drakka receives no money for her work, but would like to expand the program. And is hoping to do that someday with community support.

For more information please click on: www.sfzc.org
# Email outreach@sfzc.org
# Phone: 415-354-0380