Eve has been a Buddhist practitioner since 1991, and has attended more than 50 silent retreats in the Vipassana tradition ranging in length from 6-90 days. She has been teaching mindfulness, self-compassion and more since 2006. She has been singing, songwriting, and performing since childhood.
Eve is a graduate of UC Berkeley, and the Path of Engagement and Community Dharma Leader training programs at Spirit Rock Center in California. She also completed a two year training in the Hakomi Method (a form of mindfulness centered somatic psychotherapy). She has trained in and teaches the Awakening Joy curriculum developed by James Baraz, the Transforming Judgmental Mind curriculum developed by Donald Rothberg, and Mindful Self-Compassion, developed by Kristen Neff and Christopher Germer.
Eve created and leads groups on ‘Lovingkindness-for-Self’ (teachings, music and practices to increase our capacity for self acceptance). She teaches regular Monday and Wednesday classes on a range of topics based in Buddhism, and coaches people individually. She co-leads, with James Baraz, the Insight Community of Berkeley; she is a mentor for the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program headed by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach; and she teaches for the family program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She has also has podcast, produced by her brother Ben Decker, titled LOVED: Mindful and Musical Perspectives on Daily Life (found on Apple Music and Spotify).
In the 1990's she co-founded, played, recorded and toured with the feminist folk trio Rebecca Riots. Rebecca Riots was dubbed “Best Band with a Conscience” by the San Francisco Bay Guardian. They toured the country multiple times, played lots of sold out shows and folk festivals across the country, and released five CDs.
Since then, Eve has released four solo CDs of original, mindfulness-based music, ("Commentary on Perfections of the Heart", produced by Ben Decker; "Simple Truth", produced by Julie Wolf; and "IN: Chants of Mindfulness and Compassion", produced by Julie Wolf; and "Hey Little Puppy: Songs of Mindfulness and Kindness for Kids and Families", produced by Lisa Zeiler). Eve and Julie Wolf also produced a compilation album titled "Awakening Joy", based on the music performed at James Baraz's Awakening Joy course, hailed in O! The Oprah Magazine.
Eve co-teaches, with Rabbi Chaya Gusfield, workshops that use both Jewish and Buddhist practices and music. They annually lead the service for second day Rosh Hashana at Kehilla Community Synagogue in Oakland. She also works as song-leader and cantorial soloist at Beth Chaim Congregation in Danville, CA.
Eve lives in Berkeley, CA with her partner Diane and their dog, Kimba.
If you would like music and/or mindfulness for your organization, school, or community group
Please contact - info@evedecker.com
PRAISE
Eve Decker has a great big heart, writes a wise and witty lyric, and has a voice that carries with it our deepest longings and fulfillment. She is one of the true artists of our new Western dharma (spiritual movement). – Wes Nisker, Buddhist meditation teacher, author, radio commentator and performer. His bestselling books include Essential Crazy Wisdom; The Big Bang, The Buddha, and the Baby Boom; and Buddha’s Nature. He is also the founder and co-editor of the Buddhist journal “Inquiring Mind."
Eve Decker wonderfully weaves together her deep and alive dharma practice and her beautifully crafted and energizing music, all for the joy, inspiration, and benefit of many, many beings. – Donald Rothberg, teacher for Spirit Rock Meditation Center and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Donald also taught socially engaged spirituality, Buddhism, and transpersonal psychology at Saybrook Graduate School and is the author of The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World.
Listening to Eve’s songs are just what I need to remind myself of the truth inside. They’ve been a big part of my daily practice to inspire and open my heart. I love Eve Decker’s music! – James Baraz, founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center and meditation teacher, 1978. James conceived, and has taught, the Awakening Joy course since 2003. At Spirit Rock, in addition to leading retreats, he coordinates the Community Dharma Leader program, and is the teacher-advisor to the Spirit Rock Family and Teen program and the Kalyana Mitta (Spiritual Friends) Network. James serves on the International Advisory Board of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.
The Buddhist list of paramis (aspects of a contented heart) are ten beautiful qualities born in any human heart when wisdom and compassion join together. And when they join in the heart of a musician as gifted as Eve Decker, this beauty comes out through beautiful music. It is wonderful to listen to these songs and to be reminded of the best of human qualities. – Gil Fronsdal, guiding teacher of the Insight Meditation Center (IMC) of Redwood City, California
Photo: Tina Silano