Dharma Heart Zen
May Sangha News

Announcements

Doan Ryo Practice
with DHZ inos Constance and Rachel
You are invited to learn about and practice with the bells and chants that are part of DHZ services.
Please Join Us! 
Saturday May 18 at 10:00 am
1346 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa

For more information and to RSVP contact Constance
(707) 526-7016 (text okay)

Sangha Week at Tassajara

There is an opening for Sangha Week in a shared room.
Contact Gretchen if interested: gretchen@sonic.net

Sangha Exploration

Breathe, you are alive!

Throughout the month of May our focus is on Breathe, you are alive! 
a commentary by Thich Nhat Hanh on the Anapanasati Sutra,
the Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing

SCHEDULE

Tuesday May 14… Realizing the Unity of Body and Mind
Thursday, May 16… Debi, Nourishing Ourselves with Joy and Happiness, Full Moon Ceremony
Tuesday, May 21…Chelsea, Observing Our Feelings
Thursday May 23… Caring for and Liberating the Mind
Tuesday May 28… Looking deeply in order to shed light on the true nature of all Dharmas
Thursday May 30… Conclusion, Breathing Practices

Chris will be at Tassajara May 9

Click on the book to read a PDF version

Breathe and you know that you are alive.
Breathe and you know that all is helping you.
Breathe and you know that you are the world.
Breathe and you know that the flower is breathing too.
Breathe for yourself and you breathe for the world.
Breathe in compassion and breathe out joy.

Breathe and be one with the air that you breathe.
Breathe and be one with the river that flows.
Breathe and be one with the earth that you tread.
Breathe and be one with the fire that glows.
Breathe and you break the thought of birth and death.
Breathe and you see that impermanence is life.

Breathe for your joy be steady and calm.
Breathe for your sorrow to flow away.
Breathe to renew every cell in your blood.
Breathe to renew the depths of consciousness.
Breathe and you dwell in the here and now.
Breathe and all you touch is new and real.

~ by Annabel Laity, from TNH’s 'Breathe, you are alive!

The Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing
translated by Gil Fronsdal

Thich Nhat Hanh “Breathe, you are alive!” Introduction

Continued. (Poor Video/Sound quality so you will need to turn it up loud to hear)

Mary Ann Sacksteder, Breathe, You're Alive, by Thich Nhat Hanh, Continued

This page will be updated weekly with sangha meeting info, announcements, resources, and links to recorded talks

Continued

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

Sangha News & Resources

Ookow, Dichelostemma congestum
offered by Gretchen Paradis

Carpooling to Green Gulch Farm from Sonoma County 

A few of us are interested in carpooling once a month to Green Gulch for their Sunday Program. We could meet the third Sunday of each month at 7:30 am.

You could park your car at members’ homes and carpool from Sebastopol and Petaluma.

Here’s some information about the Sunday Program: Dharma talks by Zen teachers are a traditional method of transmitting the heart and understanding of Buddha's Way. Public Dharma talks are offered every Sunday morning (with some exceptions) at 10:00 am, preceded by a period of silent sitting meditation, 9:30 – 10 am. Everyone is welcome to attend in-person at Green Gulch Farm, and these talks are also available via Zoom.

The Sunday morning program is open to all; prior registration is not required.

Schedule
9:15 am Arrival time for zazen
9:30 am Meditation (zazen)
10:00 am Dharma Talk with Q&A
11:20 am Tea

Learn more

The first program we’ll attend will be Sunday, May 19. Sokaku Kathy Fischer will give the dharma talk.

Note: there will be no Sunday Program in June; instead, we could attend Field Day Zen-a-thon at 1:30 Link https://www.sfzc.org/calendar/events/green-gulch-farm/field-day-green-gulch-farm-zen-thon-2024-ggf-69 (the dharma talk is online only that Sunday).

If you’re interested in joining us, please contact Beth Fulton bethfulton780@gmail.com or Ellen Sherron ellensherron@comcast.net

Can a conversation reduce prejudice?

Click the link or watch the video below (11 minute TEDx short talk by David Fleisher)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4G1XOmqfi8

Chris and altar at April 28 All-day Sitting & Celebration of Buddha’s birthday

Sit for Democracy

On Sunday May 19, 2024, 1-5pm PT, Chris will be participating in, and offering a dharma talk, for “Sit for Democracy,” an event sponsored by the Berkeley Engaged Buddhist Election Retreats in collaboration with the Movement Voter Project (MVP).  It takes place in-person in Oakland and virtually on Zoom.

The event is to raise money for grassroots organizers in swing states to Get out the Vote for Democrats in the 2024 election. The money raised will go to the Movement Voter Project which invests in local community-based groups led by BIPOC, LGBTQI+, youth, low-income and other voting rights activists dedicated to engaging the least likely voters to participate in local races and issues in their own communities. 

Sponsor ballot bodhisattva Chris by donating to Sit for Democracy!

DONATE

Here is a beautiful chant by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel to encourage us on the Way: For All Beings

Chris will also be writing postcards, participating in election retreats and canvasing door to door throughout this election year with Election Retreat.Org  Please consider joining.

This is a volunteer fundraiser to support Movement Voter PAC [movement.vote]. Not authorized by any federal, state or local candidate or candidate’s committee).

All-day Sitting
Sunday, May 26
9:00 am - 4:00 pm PT

Everyone is welcome!
Open Sky Retreat Space
Hybrid in-person

More Information

Sky island zen Han has a new home with DHZ
at Open Sky all day sitting 

Tassajara Sangha Week 
July 23-28, 2024

An opportunity to practice together with Chris and the Dharma Heart Zen sangha at San Francisco Zen Center's Tassajara Zen Monastery in the Ventana Wilderness. Our time includes sitting in the zendo with the Zen Center community and other sanghas participating in Sangha Week, work practice, study and practice time with Chris and time to relax in the hot springs and walk in the ancient valley. 

Contact Gretchen if you are interested 


Bodhisattva Tech Person

We'd like to train more people in tech for our weekly sangha meetings. Please consider becoming a bodhisattva tech person - the responsibility will be shared. 

Please let Chris know if you’re interested.


Sault Tribe Joins the Fight for Mother Nature’s Legal Rights with New Resolution

Tribal nations in the United States are leading a “Rights of Nature” movement to enshrine the inherent rights of the natural world - including plants, animals, and lands and waters - into law. Last week, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in northern Michigan passed a resolution in defense of the tribe’s first family: its natural resources.
Read the Article

Giizhik (white cedar) trees

Annual Dharma Heart Zen Jukai, 
Lay Ordination
Bodhisattva Ceremony

Sunday, September 8
during All-day Sitting

Mark your calendars 

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