A monk asked Dongshan: What is Buddha? Donshan replied, 'Three pounds of flax.' Whether sitting, walk, sitting, standing, or lying down we open wholeheartedly to the Way and Buddha activity happens on its own. Come, sit, and walk together to support each other in continuous practice. The retreat includes periods of zazen (sitting meditation), kinhin […]
Sitting in stillness and silence is an excellent method for entering the door of liberation; this door is open to everyone. The first chapter of the Flower Garland Sutra recounts the myriad insights, understandings, realizations and visions that have allowed enlightening beings to enter the Dharma door of liberation. In this retreat we will engage […]
Reverend Mary Mocine is Abbess of Clear Water Zendo. She trained at San Francisco and Berkeley Zen Centers, and at Tassajara Zen Monastery. She was priest ordained by Sojun Mel Weitsman in 1994 and received dharma transmission from him in 2005. She also studied with Jikai Myo-ōn Yvonne Rand, former Abbess Zenkei Blanche Hartman and […]
Each and every thing is equally illumined in the light of Buddha's wisdom. So, there is no wisdom to get ahold of. Just sitting is enough. In the second chapter of the Flower Adornment Sutra, the Buddha responds to a set of questions from his followers by emitting rays of light in every direction. This […]
Susan began practicing in the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism in 2008 and took refuge with Lama Yeshe Jinpa in 2009. She competed the Buddhist Chaplaincy course of study through the Sati Center in 2019 and considers chaplaincy her "calling" after having spent 5 years as a hospice respite volunteer, 4 years as a volunteer hospital […]
Join the Valley Streams for a Sunday potluck brunch and Annual Meeting. Spouses, partners, friends, and family---all are invited. Gather at 10 am to share a meal and each other's company. After a fun social mixer, President Dave Jarrell will introduce the 2023-2024 Board and give a report on the state of the sangha. We […]
Come rest in the mystery, practice with great awareness, and experience the mystery unfolding amongst us. The retreat includes periods of zazen (sitting meditation), kinhin (walking meditation), and a dharma talk. Please bring a bag lunch and join us for an informal lunch at 12:30 pm. Hot water and tea will be available. Everyone is […]
Full-Day Sitting - In Person - 8:30 am - 8:45 pm This sitting will be in person at the Dharma Center and will not be offered on Zoom. Traditional oryoki meals will be served at noon and for the "medicine meal" in the evening. Register for week-long program on Eventbrite Full 7-Day Rohatsu Schedule This […]
Half-day Sitting - in person - 8:30 am - 12 noon. Today concludes the seven days of intensive practice with a half-day sitting and the Buddha's Enlightenment Ceremony. We will gather after the ceremony to share a buffet lunch. Register for week-long program on Eventbrite Full 7-Day Rohatsu Schedule This traditional week of intensified practice […]
On Sunday evening December 31st, we will welcome the New Year at the Dharma Center with a silent sitting, walking meditation, and the traditional ringing of 108 bells. We hope to debut a new Densho bell of unknown provenance, acquired from Japan. The sitting will be from 7 to 9 p.m., followed by a quiet […]
Hongzhi lived in 12th century China and is famous for his Zen poems, which are recorded the Book of Serenity and elsewhere. Eihei Dogen admired his poem called Zazenshin and commented on it in his own text of the same name. During this retreat we'll look at Hongzhi's Zazenshin, particularly the line, "Knowing without touching […]
The stream of sorrow is cut through by patience: so teaches an ancient Buddhist text. Practicing patience with the many ideas and feelings that arise in our sitting meditation trains our body/mind to more wisely respond the many situations in life that don't align with our wishes or meet our expectations. Our retreat day will […]