Valley Streams Zen Sangha

Dharma Talk by Rev. Valorie Beer
2016-03-07 19:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Rev. Valorie Beer is an itinerant teacher for SF Zen Center’s Branching Streams sanghas. She received dharma transmission from Edward Brown in 2013.

Dharma Talk by John Briggs
2016-02-29 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
“Reflections on Being Shuso (head student) at Clear Water Zendo.”

Dharma Talk by Rev. Myo Lahey
2016-02-22 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Our guiding teacher from Hartford Street Zen Center in San Francisco.

Retreat Night
2016-02-15 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.

Dharma Talk by Doralee Grindler Katonah
2016-02-08 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
“Reflections on the January Intensive retreat at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center.”

Introduction to Zen Meditation
2016-02-08 18:00 - 18:40, 2016-01-11 18:00 - 18:40 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
If you are new to Zen practice, we encourage you to attend this 40-minute introduction to Zen meditation which happens on the second Monday each month.

Dharma Talk by Rev. Meiren Val Szymanski
2016-02-01 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Rev. Val Szymanski leads the Bamboo in the Wind Zen Center in Sunnyvale. She will introduce working with koans from The Book of Serenity. Rev. Szymanski will also speak and give meditation instruction on Sunday, January 31 at Sacramento Buddhist Meditation Group. Her topic for that evening will be Mazu’s “White and Black”, also from The Book of Serenity.

Dharma Talk by Rev. Myo Lahey
2016-01-25 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Our guiding teacher from Hartford Street Zendo in San Francisco.

Half-day Sitting
2016-01-24 13:00 - 17:00 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Zen meditation retreat.

Practice Circle on Racism and Diversity
2016-01-18 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. & Eihei Dogen.

Dharma Talk by John Briggs (postponed)
2016-01-11 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
We will instead sit two periods of zazen and have a memorial service for two friends of the sangha.

Dharma Talk by Jim Hare
2016-01-04 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States

Discussion of Incense Offering
2016-01-03 14:00 - 16:00 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
All sangha members are encouraged to attend this special meeting to review and perhaps revise our use of incense in the zendo.

Full Moon Ceremony
2015-12-28 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. In the Zen tradition we associate the full moon with the ideal of awakening.

Winter Solstice Celebration
2015-12-21 19:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Come share music, poetry, stories and refreshments with the sangha.

Introduction to Zen meditation and zendo forms.
2015-12-14 18:00 - 18:40 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
Forty-minute introduction for newcomers.

Dharma Talk by Rev. Myo Lahey
2015-12-14 07:00 - 20:45 | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States

Rohatsu Retreat Night
2015-12-07 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. With Rohatsu we celebrate Buddha’s enlightenment.

Koan Study Group
2015-11-19 19:00 - 20:30 | CA
Facilitated by Doralee Grindler Katonah.
For tonight’s discussion, please review the 4 koans we have studied so far: The Woman In Samadhi, Patacara’s Presence of Mind, The Old Woman’s Miraculous Powers and Uppalavana and the Precepts. Please come prepared to share your reflections and insights. All are welcome.
Please RSVP by emailing Doralee.
Koan texts.

Sacramento Interfaith Climate March
2015-11-01 11:00 - 16:00 | CA
Join members of Sacramento’s diverse faith communities in a march to support the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Paris and California’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Marchers will gather at 11 am on the West Steps of the Capitol in Sacramento (near the corner of L St. and 10th St.), walk to the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers, and back to the West Steps of the Capitol. Speakers will address the marchers at 1 pm in Discovery Park and at 3 pm on the West Steps of the Capitol. Route Map

VSZ Sangha Annual Meeting & Brunch
2015-10-25 10:30 - 13:30 | CA
Bring a potluck dish to share. Location will be the home of Jim Hare & Karen Hamilton. Sign up at the zendo, or call for directions.

Koan Study Group
2015-10-15 19:00 - 20:30 | CA
Facilitated by Doralee Grindler Katonah. Tonight’s discussion will be on Uppalavana and the Precepts, p. 318 in The Hidden Lamp. Please read this story at least twice and come prepared to share your reflections and insights. The next meeting will be on Thursday, Nov. 19.

Film: "States of Grace"
2015-10-14 19:30 - 21:20 | CA
This screening of States of Grace: a Journey of Loss, Resilience and Renewal is sponsored by Sacramento Dharma Center. It is a film about the recovery of Dr. Grace Dammann, a resident of Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, following a devastating head-on collision on the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a deeply personal film that depicts the inner and outer struggles that are the result of a life suddenly and radically changed. That this is the life of a woman living and practicing in a Buddhist residential community gives the film an added dimension: how does someone in a wheelchair enact her Bodhisattva vow to save all beings?
Grace Dammann and Mark Lippman, one of the filmmakers, will be present for Q & A after the show.
Online ticket sales only. TICKETS WILL NOT BE SOLD AT THE DOOR.
States of Grace website.
