Dharma Heart Zen
June Sangha News
Announcements
Interfaith Public Fast: Solidarity with Migrants Silent Sit-in
Wednesday, July 2
5:00pm-7:00pm PT
More Information
All-Day Sitting & Jukai Bodhisattva Precepts Ceremony
Sunday, June 29
9:00am-4:00pm PT
More Information
Dharma Heart Zen Study and Practice Focus
Classic Zen Koans
Resources:
Zen Echoes: Classic Koans with Verse Commentaries by Three Female Zen Masters,
by Sue Moon
In her introduction to this collection, Sue Moon encourages us to read the koans 'like dreams, like poetry’ and to enjoy the sometimes open expression of emotion in these unique commentaries by three twelfth- and seventeenth-century Women Ancestors.
June 12, 2025 Zen Echos, Koans
Access video at this link:
For general information about weekly sittings and other offerings,
see Dharma Heart Zen Offerings
Practice News
Dharma Heart Zen Practice Retreats and Dharma Events
June 29: All-day Sitting and Jukai Bodhisattva Precept Ceremony: Judith Reimuller, Kathy Barr, Beth Fulton, Sue Husari
July 2: Interfaith Public Fast: Solidarity with Migrants Silent Sit-in
August 3: Practicing in Nature Retreat Day
August 8-9: Lay Entrustment Ceremony: Chelsea True, with Lay Entrusted teacher Erika Wild assisting
September 7: All-day Sitting and Full Moon Bodhisattva Ceremony
September 25-28: Chris officiates Raizelah Bayen's Shukke Tokudo Priest Ordination Ceremony, Red Cedar Zen, Bellingham WA. Everyone is invited to sit the retreat.
October 12: All-day Sitting with Opening of 2025 Practice Period and Shuso Entering Ceremony
November 9: All-day Sitting
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
Annual Summer Sangha
Way-Seeking Mind Talks
If you have been practicing regularly with Dharma Heart Zen for two or more years and would like to share your practice path with the sangha—or, if you've given a Way-Seeking Mind talk in the past and would like to share your current path of practice, please talk with Chris.
It's a wonderful way for us all to get to know each other more deeply. Talks are usually about 20 minutes and are not recorded for intimacy and confidentiality.
What is Doan Ryo?
During Dharma Heart Zen zazen, services, and ceremonies, you may have noticed that there are sangha members who ring bells, lead the chants, strike wooden drums, and use wooden clackers. These are collectively called the Doan Ryo.
Several sangha members have learned and done these activities over the years. Dharma Heart Zen has periodically had training sessions for people to learn these skills in order to help the sangha.
This is a wonderful opportunity to participate in the life of the sangha and learn helpful skills to support our ongoing activities.
Here are the upcoming Doan Ryo Practices that will be happening in June, 2025:
Monday, June 23, 5 pm
Location: Yulupa Cohousing, 1346 Yulupa Avenue, Common House Library
Please let Constance know if you plan to attend.
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. You can also look for the dharma wheel symbol on the Dharma Heart Zen homepage to access the Engaged Buddhism page.
Interfaith Public Fast: Solidarity with Migrants
July 2, Santa Rosa
Dharma Heart Zen is one of the sponsoring organizations along with other interfaith congregations.
Bodhisattvas at the Border
~ offered by Beth Fulton
A Moment of Zen
~ offered by Ellen Sherron“Awe can be found anywhere and everywhere,” says lead author Maria Monroy of Yale University. “Take a few seconds, a few times a day, to slow down, pay attention, and expand on those awesome moments.”
Living in an Age of Fear
by Phillip Moffitt, Spirit Rock Meditation CenterOur fears are justified, but one of the things that is revealed in meditation is that when we react to fear rather than respond to it, we throw wisdom and our own empowerment out the window. As practitioners, how can we use our skills in mindfulness and the teachings of the Buddha on anicca and dukkha to steady us and provide a ground of perspective?
How to respond to our world/how to make a difference at this time?
We are organizing a small group to discuss finding an appropriate response and manifesting making a difference in the world at this time. We will use the three contemplations David Loy, author of Ecodharma, brings forward in his dharma talk, below, as our guide.
If you’d like to join us, please email Kristine Maltrud or Ellen Sherron.
What is the Meaning of Life?
How to respond to our world/how to make a difference at this time?
A dharma talk by David Loy
—offered by Kristine Maltrud