Shi Shin Brendan O'Brien has been a member of the Valley Streams community for the past three years. He is also a member of the Hartford Street Zen Sangha in San Francisco. Recently, in October, he received the Bodhisattva precepts from Rev. Myō Lahey and Rev. So'On Jim Hare. Brendan is a student of history […]
Rohatsu means the 8th day of the 12th month, which is the traditional day for celebrating Buddha's enlightenment. Sesshin means 'to gather the mind.' As the darkest days of the year approach, we sit together with the principle of awakening, fully opening to the 'wisdom beyond wisdom' that is revealed in sitting meditation. The initial […]
Morning Rohatsu schedule, Monday - Wednesday - ONLINE 6:00 Zazen 6:30 Kinhin 6:40 Zazen 7:10 Service Register for week-long program on Eventbrite. Full Rohatsu schedule This traditional week of intensified practice celebrates the enlightenment of our original teacher in India, Shakyamuni Buddha. Rohatsu sesshin is a time for bringing light into the dark time of […]
Rev. So'on Jim Hare serves as Tanto, or head of practice. He lived in the San Francisco Zen Center community from 1980 to 1984, and was lay ordained by Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1985. He served as Head Student at Green Gulch Farm during the spring 2002 practice period, and was priest ordained by Rev. Myo Lahey […]
Online Evening schedule for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 5:00 pm Zazen 5:30 pm Service Break/Dinner 7:30 pm Zazen 8:00 pm Kinhin 8:10 pm Zazen 8:40 pm Refuges This traditional week of intensified practice celebrates the enlightenment of our original teacher in India, Shakyamuni Buddha. Rohatsu sesshin is a time for bringing light into the dark time […]
Morning Rohatsu schedule, Thursday hybrid event. 6:00 Zazen 6:30 Kinhin 6:40 Zazen 7:10 Service Register for week-long program on Eventbrite. See full Rohatsu schedule here. This traditional week of intensified practice celebrates the enlightenment of our original teacher in India, Shakyamuni Buddha. Rohatsu sesshin is a time for bringing light into the dark time of […]
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. This traditional week of intensified practice celebrates the enlightenment of our […]
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 the week-long program on Eventbrite.
The Full Moon Ceremony acknowledges the karma created by our intentional actions, and reminds us to renew our commitment to the ethical conduct expressed as the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts. These are guiding principles for our daily conduct in the world. This ceremony is rooted in a ritual from pre-Buddhist India. Texts for the chants are […]
On the second Monday of each month, we offer a 40-minute introduction to Zen practice. We focus on the art of sitting meditation, with emphasis on posture, breath and mental focus. This is for new meditators and those wishing to refresh their practice of meditative immersion. Following the instruction the Valley Streams Zen Sangha meets […]
Susan Moon is a writer, editor, and lay teacher in the Soto Zen tradition. She is the author of a number of books about Buddhism, including the humor book The Life and Letters of Tofu Roshi and This Is Getting Old: Zen Thoughts on Aging with Humor and Dignity. For many years she was the […]