Valley Streams Zen Sangha

CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY
2016-09-05 19:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | CA
Please enjoy a summer break with family and friends! We will start up again on Monday, September 12.

Introduction to Zen Meditation
2016-09-12 18:00 - 18:40 | CA
For those who are new to Zen meditation, we offer this 40-minute introduction on the second Monday every month.

Discussion: New Programing At Our New Home
2016-09-12 19:00 - 20:45 | CA
In our new location at the Sacramento Dharma Center, we will have opportunities to schedule more teaching and events. Please come share your ideas and hear from the board about future programs sponsored by Valley Streams Zen Sangha.

Great American River Clean Up
2016-09-17 08:45 - 12:00 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Once again our sangha will participate in the Great American River Clean-up along the banks of the Parkway, at 1400 Northgate Blvd. and Hwy. 160. We will be collecting trash in a section of the parkway that is especially impacted by homeless campers.
What to bring: Work gloves, water bottle; trash grabber and small rakes are helpful.
What to wear: Sneakers or closed toe shoes, a hat, sunglasses and sun screen.
Bring a bag lunch so we eat together in the shade after our work is done!
*Contact Sarah if you want to join our crew: sarah_ogara@yahoo.com or sign up at a regular Monday night meeting.
Download PDF.

Dharma Talk by Rev. Myo Lahey
2016-09-19 19:00 - 20:45 | CA
Rev. Myo is our guiding teacher and abbot of Hartford Street Zen Center in San Francisco.

Moving to the Dharma Center!
2016-09-26 19:00 - 20:45 | CA
Everyone is invited to help with our move into the Sacramento Dharma Center. Meet at the Yoga Solution, then load up our cars with zafus and bells for a caravan to 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento. We’ll sit and have a short service to welcome ourselves to our new home.

Half-Day Sitting with Work Period
2016-10-01 09:00 - 13:00 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Sitting together, working together, eating together we create sangha. (Bring a bag lunch and work clothes.)

Dharma Talk by So On Jim Hare
2016-10-03 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Our fall study period begins. Our topic will be Dogen’s The Bodhisattva’s Four Methods of Guidance.

Dharma Talk by Edward Espe Brown
2016-10-10 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Edward Espe Brown is a Soto Zen Buddhist priest and teacher. He was ordained in 1971 by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, who gave him the Dharma name Jusan Kainei , “Longevity Mountain, Peaceful Sea.” He leads sitting groups and meditation retreats in Northern California and internationally.

Introduction to Zen Meditation
2016-10-10 18:00 - 18:40, 2016-11-14 18:00 - 18:40, 2016-12-12 18:00 - 18:40 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States

Sangha Brunch and Annual Meeting
2016-10-16 10:00 - 13:30 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Bring the whole family, a potluck dish to share and enjoy each others’ company in our new space at the Sacramento Dharma Center. Meet new Board members and help us celebrate milestones of the past year, as well as look to the future of our Sangha.

Discussion: The Bodhisattva's Four Methods of Guidance
2016-10-17 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
The Bodhisattva’s four methods of guidance are giving, kind speech, beneficial action, and identity action.

Discussion: The Bodhisattva's Four Methods of Guidance
2016-10-24 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Rev. Myo Lahey was not able to make it due to illness.

Sejiki Ceremony
2016-10-31 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Our Sejiki, food-offering, ceremony is an opportunity to call forth the spirits of those who have passed this way before, offering them solace and acknowledging our ongoing connection. Treats, tea and conversation after the ceremony.

One-day Sitting
2016-11-05 09:00 - 17:00 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
This is our first one-day sitting at the Sacramento Dharma Center! Fall study period participants should make a special effort to attend, as this is the sole opportunity to “sit long” during the study period. Of course everyone is welcome. This gentle one-day sitting will include a work period and exercise period. We will have formal tea in the afternoon if enough people attend. The day will include a Dharma talk by Practice Leader Jim Hare.
*Please note our one-day sittings are now held on Saturday instead of Sunday.

SDC Opening Celebration
2016-11-06 13:00 - 15:00 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Members of Sacramento Insight Meditation, Valley Streams Zen Sangha, and Sacramento Buddhist Meditation Group are invited to come together for our Opening Celebration. Each Sangha will contribute a message or ritual of blessing our new space. We will sit together, celebrate, and enjoy refreshments.

Discussion: The Bodhisattva's Four Methods of Guidance
2016-11-07 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
We continue our study of the Bodhisattva’s four methods of guidance: giving, kind speech, beneficial action, and identity action. Download text in PDF.

Dharma Talk by So On Jim Hare
2016-11-14 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States

Dharma Talk by Rev. Myo Lahey
2016-11-21 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Rev. Myo Lahey is our guiding teacher and abbot of Hartford Street Zen Center in San Francisco. Fall study period ends.

New Moon Ceremony
2016-11-28 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
The ceremony is an affirmation of the vow to live for the benefit of all beings.

Memorial Service for John Briggs
2016-12-04 14:00 - 16:00 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
To celebrate the life and practice of Kogan Fukuden – Ancient vow, Field of Blessing
May 20, 1940 – October 10, 2016

Rohatsu Retreat Night
2016-12-05 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Retreat night consists of three 25-minute sitting periods with walking meditation in between – a time to sit quietly with no interruptions. With Rohatsu we observe the enlightenment of the historical Buddha.

Dharma Talk by Guest Teacher Susan Moon
2016-12-12 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Susan Moon is a writer, editor, and lay teacher in the Soto Zen tradition. She has been a Zen student since 1976, practicing in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi at Berkeley Zen Center, Tassajara Zen Mountain Monastery, Green Gulch Farm, and with Zoketsu Norman Fischer’s Everyday Zen sangha. She received “entrustment” as a lay teacher in 2005.

Dharma Talk by Rev. Myo Lahey
2016-12-19 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Rev. Myo Lahey is our guiding teacher and abbot of Hartford Street Zen Center in San Francisco.

Winter Solstice Celebration
2016-12-26 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Come share music, poetry, stories and refreshments with the sangha.

Introduction to Winter Theme by Doralee Grindler Katonah
2017-01-02 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
“The highest value of Buddhist practice is to shine the light of awareness on habits of mind that perpetuate prejudice and discrimination so all may wake up together. This includes learning how we are conditioned to separate ourselves by race, gender, age, ability, sexual orientation and other forms of cultural identity.” (VSZ Diversity Statement)
This season we will take up the concept of “other” and the object-seeking mind. Using our Diversity Statement, we will “study the self”, the object-seeking mind, and our human tendency to “other” that which is different, helping us to see how our practice supports the development of skillful means in turning toward, rather than away from, difficult interactions. Through talks by sangha members and guests, readings and discussion, we will explore together the “harmony of difference and equality.”

Morning Zazen - CANCELED
2017-01-05 06:00 - 07:30 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Canceled due to installation of our new furnace. We’ll be sitting NEXT THURSDAY, January 12th!

One-day Sitting
2017-01-07 09:00 - 17:00 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
This is our first one-day sitting of the new year. This gentle one-day sitting will include a work period and formal tea in the afternoon if enough people attend. The day will include a Dharma talk by Practice Leader Jim Hare. Everyone is welcome.
Register for the sitting.
*Please note our one-day sittings are now held on Saturday instead of Sunday.
