Rev. Kyosho Valorie Beer is an itinerant teacher for SF Zen Center's Branching Streams sanghas. She received dharma transmission from Edward Brown in 2013. In addition to leading retreats, Valorie is a teacher for sewing Buddha's Robe, sutra copying, practicing with aging, and writing as a spiritual practice.
The ‘way-seeking-mind talk’, gives a sangha member the opportunity to tell dharma friends the story of how we came to Zen practice. It usually emphasizes two aspects - the suffering and the fortuitous circumstances that brought us here.
Zazen surfaces our "mind of clover," a pliant mind, a flexibile mind, a mind like clouds and water. This mind that is not "our" mind, but rather one that comes to us as a gift of practice. Informed by that mind we are inspired to be kind, to be flexible with others, to bend like […]
In April 2017, Jim Hare traveled with a group of Western pilgrims to visit (and stay in) Buddhist monasteries in Zhejiang Province, south of Shanghai. Jim will present a thematic slide show and narrative, touching on devotional practices, the Bodhisattva Guanyin, T’ien T’ung Ssu (the monastery where Eihei Dogen met his teacher), and the T’ang […]
After meditation & service, join us for tea and conversation. Taking care of the Sangha is a treasure to appreciate along with Buddha and Dharma.
Enjoy Labor Day weekend with family and friends.
Please enjoy the holiday with family and friends! We will start up again on Monday, September 11.
Led by sangha members who learned this method of sharing at the 2017 Branching Streams Network conference in Chicago.
Retreat night consists of three 25-minute sitting periods with walking meditation in between. All are welcome.
The theme for our Fall Study Period is the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, or Prajñāpāramitā, mother of all Buddhas. Prajñāpāramitā refers to the perfected way of seeing the nature of reality, as well as to a particular body of sutras and to the personification of the concept in the Bodhisattva known as the "Great Mother". Doralee's Handouts: Suggestions for Practicing […]
In our Soto Zen-style one-day sittings we engage with alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, Dharma talks, and silent bag lunch (please bring your own). If this is your first one-day sitting, please speak with Practice Leader Jim Hare (916-456-7752) prior to signing up. Sitting all day brings forth the great mirror awareness in […]