This class is designed to support participants in their journey of awakening, offering guidance and the energy to engage in this challenging work. After a welcoming introduction, the bell rings to signal the start of a 30-minute silent meditation, sourced from the Zen and Vipassana traditions. Following the meditation, there’s a short break to stretch, enjoy tea, and chat with others. We then return to our seats for a Dharma Talk drawn from various major streams of the Buddhist tradition, followed by a discussion and a Q&A session. Dharma Talks offer all participants inspiration and guidance, rooted in experiential learning.
We conclude with a Dedication of Merit and Metta Chant for those who wish to join:
We dedicate the merits of our practice to everyone gathered here,
to our families, our community, and to all beings throughout the Dharma worlds.
May the light of wisdom dispel darkness and awaken compassion.
Let all karma be released, and the natural mind bloom in eternal spring.
May we see clearly into the nature of reality and live each moment with awareness.
Let us awaken together and walk the Way with love and humility.
May all beings be happy and safe from harm.
May all beings be healthy in body and in mind.
May all beings be peaceful and free from suffering.
This class is suitable for all levels of experience and is held both in person and online. All are welcome and no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Upcoming Teachers
- December 7th – Jokai Blackwell Roshi (followed by our Sangha Celebration) – The Transmission of the Light
Shakyamuni Buddha saw the morning star and was enlightened, and he said, “I, and the great earth and beings, simultaneously achieve the Way.” The lion’s roar of the Buddha echoes on today. How can we realize the deep truth of this statement amidst the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives? - December 14th – GUEST TEACHER Ann Pepper – Why meditation?
When Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol just eight days before Christmas in 1843, drawing attention to how practicing kindness transforms a human being, charitable efforts soared. So, for those of us who long for a world with greater kindness and simple happiness for as many beings as possible, and who want to be part of making that happen – why would we decide to just sit down and practice doing nothing? - December 21st – Jampa Kalsang – Emotion as the Path
We often use the phrase, “My emotions got the best of me” after being carried away by anger, desire, or any other strong feeling that we later regret. Yet working with our emotions can be as simple as letting them go, transforming them, or seeing them clearly for what they are. These three approaches can help us make the best of our emotions, rather than letting them get the best of us. - December 28th – Jokai Blackwell Roshi – Every Day is a Good Day
Let’s explore Zen Teacher Unmon’s famous koan, “Every Day is a Good Day”, Case 6 of The Blue Cliff Record. As we near the end of 2025 and prepare to enter a new year, awareness of the continuous present helps us to navigate each day with equanimity, no matter the date on the calendar.
