Mary Reilly, long-time member and leader of SBMG and the Sacramento Dharma Center community, will be honored and remembered by her many friends and family. Mary taught meditation to children and teachers in public schools; she loved nature, especially the Sandhill Cranes; she was friendly and generous to all and a talented organizerl. Mary passed […]
Please join us for our 4th annual Dharma Art Day for an opportunity to create your own calligraphy scroll! The retreat will be led by Rev. Val Szymanski, founding teacher of Bamboo in the Wind Zen sangha, and esteemed calligrapher. No previous experience is necessary, and all supplies will be provided. Class size is limited to […]
Clean out your closets and garage - then donate your lightly used items to the Dharma Center Yard Sale. Email Linda Dekker to volunteer and to arrange for dropping off donations at the Dharma Center. zendekker@gmail.com
Join us at Yolo Basin Wildlife Headquarters for this special event of seeing and learning about the Mexican Free-tailed Bats. Following a 45-minute indoor presentation on bat natural history, the group will carpool to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area to watch one of the largest colonies of bats in California as it emerges in large […]
Tenshin Reb Anderson will lead this 2-day retreat. His theme is: "An old time buddha said, 'earth, grass, trees, all living beings are engaged in buddha activity.' Buddha activity is the unceasing process of freeing all beings so they may live in peace and harmony. The buddha ancestors called this buddha activity zazen. In this […]
Gus Koehler will offer a half-day course on the study of Buddhist Thangkas, and how to use them to support practice. Gus will decode the symbols and meanings of the Buddha Shakyamuni, Manjusri, and White Tara paintings which hang in our meditation hall. The Wheel of Time image will also be examined. Gus has studied […]
Our Sejiki, or 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 to them. Treats, tea and conversation after the ceremony. Please bring noise makers and a treat to share. If you would like the name of a loved […]
This is a once-a-year opportunity to meet your sangha friends, new board members and get the news about Valley Streams Zen Sangha. All members, along with their family & friends are warmly invited to attend. Please let us know by email or in person, what food offering, and how many people you will bring. Drinks and […]
After zazen, we will celebrate Doralee Grindler Katonah's recent priest ordination with her root teacher, Sojun Diane Martin, with whom she has studied for the past 18 years. Doralee's ordination into the Soto Zen lineages of Shunryu Suzuki and Dainin Katagiri, took place on October 19th at Indian Creek Zen Farm near Ottawa, Illinois. During her […]
You are invited to celebrate what your generous time, effort and financial support has manifested as we mark another year together in our beautiful Dharma Center building. Bring your family and friends! More details at SDC website. If you would like to be on the volunteer committee for the party contact Linda Dekker at zendekker@gmail.com.
“…when we practice zazen, it is not that big mind is actually controlling small mind, but simply that when small mind becomes calm, big mind starts its true activity.” ~Suzuki Roshi For the third year, Valley Streams Zen is offering a two-and-a half day non-residential sesshin. This is an opportunity to set aside daily concerns, […]