Introduction to Winter Theme by Doralee Grindler Katonah
2017-01-02 19:00 - 20:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95826, United States
“The highest value of Buddhist practice is to shine the light of awareness on habits of mind that perpetuate prejudice and discrimination so all may wake up together. This includes learning how we are conditioned to separate ourselves by race, gender, age, ability, sexual orientation and other forms of cultural identity.” (VSZ Diversity Statement)
This season we will take up the concept of “other” and the object-seeking mind. Using our Diversity Statement, we will “study the self”, the object-seeking mind, and our human tendency to “other” that which is different, helping us to see how our practice supports the development of skillful means in turning toward, rather than away from, difficult interactions. Through talks by sangha members and guests, readings and discussion, we will explore together the “harmony of difference and equality.”

Morning Zazen - CANCELED
2017-01-05 06:00 - 07:30
Canceled due to installation of our new furnace. We’ll be sitting NEXT THURSDAY, January 12th!

One-day Sitting
2017-01-07 09:00 - 17:00
This is our first one-day sitting of the new year. This gentle one-day sitting will include a work period and formal tea in the afternoon if enough people attend. The day will include a Dharma talk by Practice Leader Jim Hare. Everyone is welcome.
Register for the sitting.
*Please note our one-day sittings are now held on Saturday instead of Sunday.

Introduction to Zen Meditation
2017-01-09 18:00 - 18:40, 2017-02-13 18:00 - 18:40, 2017-03-13 18:00 - 18:40
For those who are new to Zen meditation, we offer this 40-minute introduction on the second Monday every month.

Full Moon Ceremony
2017-01-09 19:00 - 20:45
This 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. All are welcome.

Morning Zazen
2017-01-12 06:00 - 07:30
Everyone is welcome to join us at 6:00 or 6:40 for morning meditation and stay for tea:
6:00 Zazen6:30 Kinin (walking meditation)6:40 Zazen7:10 Service7:20 Informal Tea

March for the Dream in Sacramento
2017-01-16 08:45 - 14:00
Walk with us!
Sacramento Dharma Center will walk as a group in the annual March for the Dream.
9a.m. – 9:30a.m. The march begins at Sacramento City College (3835 Freeport Blvd.)
11:15a.m. – 11:45a.m. The march arrives at Sacramento Convention Center (1400 J Street)
12:00 – 2p.m. The main stage program and opening ceremonies will start at noon.
Map of the route.

Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, by Miriam Davis
2017-01-16 19:00 - 20:45
To observe the birthdays of Rev. Martin Luther King and Eihei Dogen, we will have a presentation by Miriam Davis on the bodhisattva of compassion, Kuan Yin, “The One Who Hears the Cries of the World”.

Morning Zazen
2017-01-19 06:00 - 07:30, 2017-01-26 06:00 - 07:30, 2017-02-02 06:00 - 07:30, 2017-02-09 06:00 - 07:30, 2017-02-16 06:00 - 07:30, 2017-02-23 06:00 - 07:30, 2017-03-02 06:00 - 07:30, 2017-03-09 06:00 - 07:30
Everyone is welcome to come at 6:00 or 6:40 for morning meditation.
6:00 Zazen6:30 Kinin (walking meditation)6:40 Zazen7:10 Service7:20 Informal Tea

Inauguration Day Meditation and Prayer
2017-01-20 09:00 - 12:00
• Join us for a non-partisan, Buddhist-inspired meditation and prayer gathering to encourage wisdom, compassion, and loving kindness for ourselves, our neighbors, our government leaders and the world.
• During the inauguration we will sit to support community, to support those outside community, to be in touch with the here and now and to water the seeds of interconnection.
• Sit for a few minutes, an hour, or the entire time, but come be part of a collective effort for peace.
Flyer for printing.

Dharma Talk by So On Jim Hare
2017-01-23 19:00 - 20:45

Sacramento Dharma Center Grand Opening
2017-01-29 13:00 - 15:30
SDC’s community-wide Grand Opening – bring friends, bring family, bring neighbors!

Dharma Talk by Rev. Myo Lahey
2017-01-30 19:00 - 20:45, 2017-02-27 19:00 - 20:45
We welcome our guiding teacher from Hartford Street Zen Center in San Francisco.

Half-day Sitting
2017-02-04 09:00 - 13:00
This gentle half-day sitting will include informal tea, discussion and a short work period. Everyone is welcome.
*NOTE – our one-day and half-day sittings are held on the first Saturday every month.

Practice Talks by Doralee and Oscar
2017-02-06 19:00 - 20:45
Tonight we get a 2 for 1: Doralee Grindler Katonah and Oscar Balaguer will share experiences they had during the recent 3-week winter intensive practice period at Green Gulch Farm, led by Senior Dharma teacher Reb Anderson.

Presentation by Hozan Alan Senauke
2017-02-13 19:00 - 20:45
Hozan Alan Senauke, Vice Abbot of Berkeley Zen Center, will guide us through a presentation and discussion as we work with our Diversity Statement. Hozan was ordained at Berkeley Zen Center in 1989 and received Dharma Transmission from Sojun Roshi in 1998. He brings a global perspective on socially-engaged Buddhism and Zen as a force for positive change. Since 1991 Hozan has been a leader at Buddhist Peace Fellowship. He founded the Clear View Project, bringing Buddhist-based resources for relief and social change where they are needed around the world.

Presidents' Day Program led by Doralee Grindler Katonah
2017-02-20 19:00 - 20:45
Doralee will introduce Dogen Zenji’s text “Raihai Tokuzui: Bowing and Acquiring the Essence” from the Shobogenzo. (translated by Ven. Anzan Hoshin roshi and Yasuda Joshu Dainen roshi.)

One-day Sitting
2017-03-04 09:00 - 17:00
We sometimes call zazen “choiceless awareness.” This means that in zazen we don’t attempt to regulate what comes into awareness; we just let what arises arise. We let our feelings be our feelings and our thoughts be our thoughts. Not making any choices about what comes into awareness, we also don’t manipulate our breath, we don’t exercise our will. We let nature take over, and we let the body breathe.
This will be a day devoted to choiceless awareness, while sitting, walking, chanting and eating lunch. There will be an afternoon Dharma talk by Valley Streams practice leader So On Jim Hare; otherwise our day will be in silence. You are most welcome and invited to join in. Please bring a bag lunch. Register here.

(Recorded) Dharma Talk by Rev. Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
2017-03-06 19:00 - 20:45
Since Rev. Zenju Earthlyn Manuel is not able to be with us, we will listen to a recorded dharma talk by her. As an author and ordained Soto Zen Buddhist priest, she combines Zen meditation, intuitive knowing, and indigenous wisdom in a path of liberation. Download the first chapters of her book: The Way of Tenderness. (6 MB)

Practice Talk by Linda Dekker
2017-03-13 19:00 - 20:45
KyoJi Linda Dekker serves as Ino, or head of the meditation hall. She served on the first Valley Streams Board of Directors. Linda was lay ordained by Tenshin Reb Anderson in 2001 and lived at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center 2003 – 2004. She is currently on the board of the Sacramento Dharma Center and is its Office Manager.
