Dharma Heart Zen
September Sangha News
Pepperwood Preserve Sesshin, Half Day Sit and Bodhisattva Jukai Precept Ceremony in September
More information
Bodhisattva Precepts Study resumes
Tuesday September 8 6:45-7:45pm
More information
Announcements
Dharma Heart Zen Study and Practice Focus
Bodhisattva Wisdom
Resources:
The Sayings of Layman P’ang: A Zen Classic of China, translated by James Green, 2009.
The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty-Five Awakened Women, Zenshin Florence Caplow and Reigetsu Susan Moon, 2013.
Zen in Ten: Lingzhao's Shining Grasses, by Shōren Heather, 2022.
Practice News
Registration for the Pepperwood Preserve Residential Sesshin and Half-Day Sit is now full with a waitlist
September 4-6, Friday-Sunday
All are welcome for the Bodhisattva Jukai Precept Ceremony on September 6 at 2:30!
October 11 - December 6
In Person and Online Via ZoomThe Dharma Heart Zen annual fall practice period is an important event in the life of the sangha, as we come together to affirm and deepen our practice. Everyone, those new to practice and seasoned practitioners, is warmly welcomed and encouraged to participate.
Dharma Heart Zen
18th Annual Fall Practice Period
Jizo Peace Project
Hello Everyone,
With the loving Jizo field expanding and a deep witnessing of what has and is tragically occuring in our world with the war in Gaza and Israel and beyond........the Jizo Peace Project has the honor of being exhibited at San Francisco Zen Center, October through November. We will also offer a Jizo making gathering at City Center that may be part of our practice period activities, which will include SFZC residents and the general public.
Moving from that time and great blessing, the Jizos will then be exhibited at the Center for Spirtual Living from December through January. We will also host a Jizo making gathering at the Center for Spiritual Living for anyone interested during that time period.
I hope you enjoy this photo of the latest group of loving Jizo Bodhisattvas created with such beautiful, heartfelt presence. What a wonder it is! I hope you are inspired to join in again or for the first time!
The next dates for Jizo making at my home are listed below, please contact me if you are interested in attending.
Wednesday, September 16
1:30 - 3:30Sunday, September 27
10 - 12:30With love,
Cherie
thecolourofqi@gmail.com
Visit the new Jizo website for updates on the Jizo Peace Project, Jizo Ceremonies
and more resources:
Family Sangha Daylong Retreat at GGF
hosted by Meiyko Chelsea True and the SFZC Family Sangha Team, including many DHZ sangha members
September 20 10-2 at Green Gulch Farm
In these gentle offerings for families of all forms, we honor family practice as a full expression of bodhisattva vows. Through creative projects, play, and stories, we learn about our Zen lay-ancestors, receive the wisdom of children, and dedicate ourselves to healing our family lineages.
Please contact Meikyo if you would like to learn more about volunteering for Family Sangha. We welcome aunties and uncles, grandparents, people of all backgrounds, and people seeking the support of chosen family.
Hello!
The next Doan Ryo practice is scheduled for October 20 from 10:00 -12:00pm at the Yulupa Cohousing community room. The Doan Ryo is the group of sangha members who play the bells and drum and lead the chanting during services and ceremonies.
We welcome and encourage beginners as well as veteran participants to join us. During the session we review tips about using the bells and drums and chanting.
Warmly,
Constance nazdrovya@sonic.net.
More information
Doan Ryo Training and Practice
Tassajara and the Timber Fire, 2026
For updates on Tassajara see SFZC Sangha News Journal
Bedhead Zazen Summer Break
Bedhead Zazen—Monday-Friday 6:15am online zazen—will be taking a summer break.
We look forward to sitting with you in the early morning again starting October 1.
Family Sangha Offering—Ancestors’ Ritual
save the date
hosted by Myoko Chelsea True, with DHZ sangha members and others assisting
October 4, Green Gulch Farm
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.
DHZ Sangha Supporting the Sanctuary Coalition and Our Immigrant Neighbors
BURRITO MAKING
Our burrito-making workshops are starting up again! If you haven’t participated in one yet, we make about 80 burritos—enough to provide 25 nutritious and delicious breakfasts for day laborers at the Graton Labor Center each Friday morning (and enough for volunteer lunch). I wish you all could see how much the workers enjoy our culinary efforts!
If you are alarmed by what’s happening to our immigrant neighbors, this is a great way to show your support. You can also donate money to pay for ingredients through my Venmo account: @Ellen-Sherron, or at the workshop.
Upcoming workshop
Saturday, September 12, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm at my house in Sebastopol, contact me for directions
If you’d like to attend, please let me know. We need 6-7 helpers to do the work efficiently.
If you’re not able to attend this workshop, we’ll be having three more in September and October to provide 100 burritos for walkers at each of two days at the Camanita, from Petaluma to Cloverdale, October 10-12. More information to come.
Many thanks,
Si se pueda
offered by Ellen Sherron
MONTHLY FAITH VIGIL AND MEMORIAL TABLE
Sangha members from DHZ, Stone Creek Zen Center and Unitarian Universalist Church and other faith communities continue to honor immigrants that have perished in ICE detention in the custody of ICE. A memorial table is set up at each month’s Interfaith Sanctuary Vigil with placards of the deceased. In addition, we have been asked to set up the memorial for other events as well. People seem very moved by the memorial. Sadly, the numbers continue to grow but it is a moving and profound way to honor their memories.
Hosen Debi Papazian, Beth Fulton, and Ellen Sherron
JOIN THE CAMINATA!
Sonoma 3-Day Walk For Immigrant Rights, hosted by Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition. The walk will be Oct 10-12, from Petaluma to Cloverdale.
Some DHZ sangha members will be participating (walking approximately 6 miles a day with rest stops/lunch break). There are also opportunities to help make breakfast burritos with Ellen, provide security (ride your bike or drive your car along the route) or donate to support this event.
The DHZ October ADS and Opening of Practice Period is Oct 11. Chris will walk the Caminata Oct 10 and 12 and attend the DHZ ADS October 11, along with many of you.
Faith Vigil for Solidarity (Ongoing)
10/28, 5:00-6:00 pm
Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa
Oranized by the Faith Leaders Work Group of the Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition
for more information, contact office@srchristchurch.org
Names for Well being and Safe Passage Chant list can be sent to Anne Richards