Dharma Heart Zen
November Sangha News
Announcements
Buddha’s Enlightenment/Rohatsu Sesshin
December 6 and 7
Shuso Dharma Inquiry Ceremony and
Closing of the Fall 2025 Practice Period
Sunday, December 7, 2:30 pm
Learn More
Dharma Heart Zen Study and Practice Focus
Embodying the Bodhisattva’s Path
The Avatamsaka Sutra, Chapter 26
The Ten Bodhisattva Grounds
Resources:
The Roots of Goodness: Zen Master Dogen’s Teachings on the Eight Qualities of a Great Person, by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi and Eihei Dogen Zenji, translated by Daitsu Tom Wright
The World Could be Otherwise: Imagination and the Bodhisattva Path, by Norman Fischer
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
The Avatamsaka Realm, by Thich Nhat Hanh
Understanding Our Mind, by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Ten Bodhisattva Grounds: The Ten Highest Levels of Practice On the Bodhisattva’s Path to Buddhahood, annotated translation by Bhikshu Dharmamitra
The Flower Ornament Scripture, A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra, by Thomas Cleary
November Dharma Talks
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
October 12 - December 9: Annual Fall Practice Period
December 8-9: Buddha’s Enlightenment Retreat with Hossenshiki Shuso Ceremony and Closing of Practice Period
December 28 - January 2: Tassajara Wildland Firefighter Retreat
These events are also listed on the Dharma Heart Zen Upcoming Events page and Calendar
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.
Please visit the Engaged Buddhism page and join in as you can.
It is updated regularly.
New Sangha Resource:
Solidarity With Our Migrant Neighbors webpage
Jizos for Peace
At this time of great loss and uncertainty, a project arose as a response to the immense tragedy in Gaza and Israel.
In the Buddhist tradition, Jizo bodhisattva is the guardian of fearlessness and unwavering optimism, most known as the guardian for children who have passed. At this time, there are approximately 19,000 children who have been killed in this war.
The intention of Jizos for Peace is to honor each child by creating a Jizo from clay. We gather together with caring hearts and clay in our hands, and the grounding, deep presence of this loving bodhisattva, The warmth and connection we cultivate in these gatherings is healing.
A Jizo Peace Project first arose twenty years ago, to honor all those who had perished the first year after the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki: 270,000 Jizos were created and eventually found their places in special sites in Japan. This current project feels like a continuation of that caring act.
May our hearts guide us in creating more peace and fostering hope within ourselves and in the world. This project has unfolded naturally, informed by the greater benevolent field and our love and care.
from Cherie
Our Jizo community is growing with love and presence....
And I had the felt experience that all the Jizos we have created are glowing more radiantly since the opening of our Practice Period. A phrase has been flowing in me more and more....Everything matters....and even though some of what we do is an act of faith from a place of trust....there is an instinct or intuition that keeps us on the path with these acts of care for ourselves and our world.
Upcoming dates:
Sunday, November 23, 10:00am - 12:30pm
Sunday, November 30, 10:00am - 12:30pm
You can email Cherie at thecolourofqi@gmail.com if you want to sign up for any of these times.
Chanting the Avatamsaka Sutra
Join us to chant from the Avatamsaka sutra on November 19, Wednesday 10-11 am at Kristen's house in Petaluma and on Zoom using the DHZ Zoom Zendo link. RSVP to Kristen
Possibly more dates to come.
Buddhist Voices for Immigration Justice: Compassion in Action
Virtual Town Hall
Thursday, November 20, 3:00-4:30 pm PST
Tara Brach, Lama Rod Own, and others
Faith Vigil for Solidarity
November 26, 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
Food Resources