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 […]
Cultivating Courage to Engage Calls for Justice. Inspired by the courage of the Civil Rights Movement Doralee and Malia will continue unfolding their pilgrimage experiences (first presentation was October 9) through reflecting upon the many faces of courage and how our practice life informs us. Come participate in this inquiry in both the larger community and practice […]
Home Is Here: Healing Harm with Compassionate Connection What does it mean to attend to our suffering in body, heart, and mind when racism has caused such intense hurt and pain, individually and collectively? Grounded in the Eightfold Path, this workshop offers us a journey on the Path of restoration from the results of white […]
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 […]
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. If you would like the name of a loved one who has died during the past year, recited in the ceremony, please send the full name of […]
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 […]
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 […]
Rev. Myō Lahey is Abbot at Hartford Street Zen Center in San Francisco and Valley Streams' guiding teacher. He previously served as the monastic Prior (Tantō) at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. Rev. Lahey is a Dharma heir of Tenshin Reb Anderson. Raised in an observant Roman Catholic home, Myō was drawn to religion and spirituality at […]
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 […]