18th Annual Fall Practice Period
October 11 - December 6 2026
The 2026 Fall Dharma Heart Zen Practice Period opened October 11!
SCHEDULE
THEME
The Way of Heart is All-Embracing
Core Text: Trusting the Mind by Seng Ts’an
‘Trusting the Mind,’ the Hsin Hsin Ming, is an essential Zen text authored by sixth-century Chan/Zen Patriarch Seng Ts’an. The poem of epigrams reveals ‘Heart-Mind’ (Hsin) as already vast and clear, with each thing existing only in interrelationship with other things. It will be our guide throughout Practice Period, in our daily lives and as Bodhisattva activity.
It begins:
The Way isn’t hard to find
just avoid choosing
Trusting The Mind: Zen Epigrams, by Seng Ts’an translated by Red Pine.
Faith In Mind, by Master Shen-Yen, Terebes Asia Online.
Trust In The Mind: The Rebellion of Chinese Zen, by Mu Soeng.
Song of the Trusting Mind, translated by Richard B. Clarke, revised by Kokyo Henkel
Affirming Faith In Mind, Rochester Zen Center Audio chant shared by Sangha Member, Jo Harper.
The Great Way, Read by Ram Dass, shared by Sangha Member Myra Mayesh
THE SHUSO
A senior practitioner from the sangha serves as Shuso (Head Student). The Shuso offers inspiration and guidance and is a central point of connection for the Practice Period, and the mutuality of deeply sharing our practice lives together encourages us all.
The Shuso for this year’s Practice Period will be:
Cherie Goodwin Lippard
Yushin Sho Kaku
Gentle Heart Shining Awakening
Cherie Lippard has been a long time Dharma Heart Zen practitioner and has explored a spiritual path since her early years. Teaching medical qigong for the last 16 years, she finds great joy in the interrelationship between qigong and the dharma.
Cherie's interests include the creative process and its healing capacity, with a special focus the last 30 years on Lazure Painting in the Waldorf Schools. She was a part of the original team for the Ceres Community Project and is now overseeing the Jizo Peace Project. Above all, her most meaningful role in life is that of a mother....it has been the greatest joy and love beyond measure.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Please use the Practice Period as a special time to devote yourself to your spiritual practice and the bodhisattva way and to attending as many of the scheduled sangha events as possible.
We ask each member of the Practice Period make a personal commitment to deepen your practice in whatever way you choose, not as a demand or ‘should’ but as a response to an inner ‘yes.’
This might include more sitting at home, more study or reading, work on a particular practice theme in daily life, or some appropriate personal shift in lifestyle. Though Sangha practice events are essential, they do not constitute the Practice Period; they only structure it. What happens in your body, heart, and mind as you live the days, weeks, and months of the Practice Period is what is important.
Please subscribe to receive the Dharma Heart Zen newsletter to keep updated with the Practice Period events and sign up for teas. There is a Sign Up button in the page footer.
CORE EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Schedule
Please note: It is not necessary to come to all of the events to participate in the Practice Period. If you live locally, please attend in- person as often as you are able. Especially important are Opening and Closing Ceremonies, weekly sangha meetings on the dates that the Shuso will be leading, all-day sittings, participation with Practice Period Partners, teas with the Shuso, and Buddha’s Enlightenment Retreat.
Weekly Tuesday and Thursday Sangha with zazen, kinhin, dharma talk, and small group discussions.
Please make a special effort to attend sangha when the Shuso is teaching:
Nov 3, Nov 10 , Nov 19, Nov 24, Dec 3 (closing teaching with Chris and Shuso)Practice Partner Meetings: Structured conversations with Practice Partners provide support and are an opportunity to deepen sangha relationships over the course of the Practice Period.
Ancestor Ceremony: Tuesday, November 3 during sangha 5:00-6:30pm
All-Sangha Tea: Saturday, November 7 10:00am - 1:00pm, Yulupa Cohousing
Small Group Teas (sign up link in newsletter):
Monday, October 26, 1–3pm PT — In person at Cherie's home
Friday, October 30, 10–12pm PT — In person at Cherie's home
Saturday, October 31, 10–12 pm PT — Online option
Wednesday, November 11, 2–4pm PT — In person at Cherie's home
Bodhisattva Precept Study with Chris and Shuso: Tuesday, November 10 after sangha
All-Day Sitting: Sunday, November 15 9:00am-4:00pm, Open Sky
Shuso Hossenshiki (Dharma Inquiry) and Closing Ceremony: Sunday, December 6 - held at the close of the Buddha’s Awakening Rohatsu Retreat
SHARING FROM PRACTICE PERIOD PARTICIPANTS
Writing, Art, Poetry, Etc.
Please submit to Cheri and Shalaby
The Secret of Everything and Nothing
The willows know
to take the stream to live inside them.
And see how every part of them
responds to wind as well as to water
Shadows on the rock wall hold peace
that could save the world.
Beauty born and dying each moment
with no need to hold.
Ripples on the water gather the colors
of all the world around
without ever losing their clarity.
Singing the secret of everything and nothing
If I could learn what stones have to teach
I would have no need of schooling
I would graduate unknown
and with honor
- Garth Gilchrist
offered by Malcolm
MOUNTAINS AND WATERS ARE THE EXPRESSION OF OLD BUDDHAS:
These mountains and waters of the present are the expression of the old buddhas. Each, abiding in its own Dharma state, fulfills exhaustive virtues. Because they are the circumstances “prior to the kalpa of emptiness,” they are this life of the present; because they are the self “before the germination of any subtle sign,” they are liberated in their actual occurrence. Since the virtues of the mountain are high and broad, the spiritual power to ride the clouds is always mastered from the mountains, and the marvelous ability to follow the wind is inevitably liberated from the mountains.
MOUNTAINS ARE MOUNTAINS, WATERS ARE WATERS:
An old buddha has said, “Mountains are mountains and waters are waters.” These words do not say that mountains are mountains; they say that mountains are mountains. Therefore, we should thoroughly study these mountains. When we thoroughly study the mountains, this is the mountain training. Such mountains and waters
themselves become wise persons and sages.
Quote from Dogen Offered by Chris at October ADS and requested by Kathy Barr
offered by Kristine Maltrud
Fuyu Persimmon; Diospyros kaki
offered by Shalaby
PRACTICE PERIOD DANA
Suggested dana for the Practice Period this year is $100-200. Together we are supporting our guiding teacher Chris and our sangha, Dharma Heart Zen. Contributions are voluntary and no one is ever turned away... we are all practicing together for the benefit of all beings. Deep bows and many thanks for your support - ways to give.
WHAT IS A PRACTICE PERIOD?
Practice Period is a special time set aside each year, when the sangha makes personal and collective commitments to intensify and deepen their practice of the Bodhisattva way in everyday life.
It is an opportunity focused on our intention and interactions in the world… in zazen, relationships, at home, work, study, in the care of self and other, and for all beings.
The Practice Period depends on the integrity of each individual’s personal commitment, as well as the strength of our shared intention and mutual support as we deepen and cultivate the sangha body together. Those who have participated in the Practice Period over the years know it can be a source of support and renewal throughout the year.