Dharma Heart Zen
January Sangha News



Tuesday, January 6 - meetings resume

Doan Ryo Practice
Saturday, January 10

Bodhisattva Precepts Study
Tuesday, January 13

All-Day Sitting
Sunday, January 18

Announcements

Dharma Heart Zen Study and Practice Focus

What is Zen and how do we live it?

An exploration with traditional teachings, contemporary commentaries,
and practice life experiences

Resources:

What is Zen? Plain Talk for a Beginner’s Mind, by Norman Fischer and Susan Moon

January Dharma Talks (coming)

For general information about weekly sittings and other offerings,
see Dharma Heart Zen Offerings

Practice News

More Dharma Heart Zen Practice Retreats and Dharma Events

Check the Dharma Heart Zen Calendar for sangha meeting dates with service, full moon ceremonies, all-day sittings and other dharma events!

2026 All-Day Sittings: 

  • January 18

  • February 22

  • March 22

  • April 19

  • May 24

  • October 11

  • November 15

 Special Events & Retreats:

  • February 8, All-Sangha Meeting

  • May 10, possible Pepperwood Retreat 

  • June 6-14, Sangha Week at Tassajara

  • Oct 11, Opening of Fall Practice Period

  • December 5-6, Rohatsu Session/Buddha’s Enlightenment, Closing of Fall Practice Period

Doan Ryo Practice

January 10, 2026, Saturday
10:00 am to ~noon
Yulupa Cohousing library

What is Doan Ryo?

Doan Ryo is a group of Sangha members who play the bells or wooden drum, and lead the chants during services, All-Day Sits, and special ceremonies during the year. We have gathered periodically to practice and learn new things.

Experienced, inexperienced, and curious sangha members are cordially invited to join us to review, improve, sample, and explore the roles of doan, kokyo, and mokugyo player. We are all beginners at heart and everyone helps each other. 

If you are interested in finding out more about the Doan Ryo, please join us.

If you are a regular Doan Ryo member, please join us to share your skill and learn more about this important practice. 

For more information, email Constance Fisher, nazdrovya@sonic.net, or call her at 707 526-7016.

Tech Outreach

Dharma Heart Zen is welcoming anyone interested to join the tech team. We help connect the sangha by ensuring weekly meditation, all-day sittings, precepts study, and other offerings are available via Zoom and by recording.

If you’re interested, please email Jared, or call him at (707) 293-4918, and we can add you to the tech calendar and review the tech process. It is an easy and fun way to support the sangha. We will go over how to set up and monitor Zoom, connect the microphone, screen share, record, and troubleshoot common issues.

—Warmly, Jared Robinson

Chanting the Avatamsaka Sutra

Join us to continue to chant from the Avatamsaka sutra on February 1, Sunday 10-11 am at Kristen's house in Petaluma and on Zoom using the DHZ Zoom Zendo link. Please RSVP to Kristen.

—Kristen Sorensen

All-Sangha Meeting

The annual All-Sangha Meeting is scheduled for Sunday February 8, 2026, at Chris’ house. 

10 am 2 pm meeting and pot-luck lunch
Refer to the newsletter for more details

Everyone is welcome 

We’ll come together to share thoughts and visions of Dharma Heart Zen sangha and to hear from those who help care for finances, website, zendo life, and more. There will be time to check in, see how we’re doing, and share pot-luck food and our lives.

 —Bowing, Susan Thollaug

Jizos for Peace

Hello Everyone,

As we enter this new year, may the deep abiding Jizo spirit encourage us on and on—bringing these guardians into the world to honor all the children who have lost their lives in Israel and Gaza these last few years due to the war. And may this Peace Project continue to reveal its healing power for our hearts and ripple out in ways unknown in this moment.

Also in this new year, the project will be extended to new friends wanting to participate, through the Sebastopol Center for the Arts.

Upcoming dates scheduled at my home:

Tuesday, January 13,  1:30 - 4:00 pm
Sunday, January 18, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Tuesday, January 27,  1:30 - 4:00 pm

Please do let me know if you would like to join in on any of these dates!

—In gratitude, Cherie

Engaged Buddhism:
Practicing in the World
Resources and ways to engage and help

Responding with Clarity and Compassion  

Dharma Heart Zen is curating a list of resources and engaged actions to help us respond with bodhisattva hearts and minds to the suffering and chaos that is unfolding in our government and in the world.   

Visit the Engaged Buddhism page and join in as you can. It is updated regularly.
Visit the Solidarity With Our Migrant Neighbors page for resources related to the Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition.

January 28, 5:00-6:00 pm
Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa
Bring Your Candle
Oranized by the Faith Leaders Work Group of the Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition
for more information, contact office@srchristchurch.org

Faith Vigil for Solidarity (Ongoing)

For the Well being and Safe Passage list, contact Barbara Spain