Mar 5 Tue BUDDHA'S ROBE The Practice of Sewing WITH JULIE KASHIN, March only schedule: Tuesdays, Fridays 1:30 - 4pm Wednesdays- Fridays 7 - 9pmin SMZC’s Library .Instructions in sewing is offered to everyone who is interested in helping to sew an okesa for Marian O’Neill, Gyda Tryggvadottir and others who are preparing for Shukke Tokudo (monks/nuns ordination) in the near future. Students that have already sewn a rakusu or okesa are also more than wel- come to attend and help.Tomoe Katagiri, Katagiri-roshi’s wife, lead a two week sewing retreat and transmitted the sewing practice to Shinko Kwong at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center in 1990, in the lineage of Eshun Yoshida-roshi. Shinko has been teaching rakusu and okesa sew- ing for the past 20 years. Julie has been assisting Shinko with SMZC’s annual rakusu class for the past 12 years. This class is free of charge and open to everyone. Donations are greatly appreciated to help SMZC with materials and instructions.
Please sign up by contacting the SMZC office and tell us what time-slot you can attend and help.

April 12-15    HOSTING THICH NHAT HANH RETREAT  Closed to the public.

April 20 Sat.   DHARMA TALK Nyoze Kwong 11 am Zendo

April 27 Sat.  ONE BODY MOVING FORWARD - Community Council Process 9am - 3pm
How do you envision Sonoma Mountain Zen Center in 50 years? How can we sustain the Dharma with vibrancy so it can flourish far into the future? We invite you to participate in this exciting time of rejuvenation, expansion and activating SMZCs' community and beyond. Coming together in council process as ONE BODY MOVING FORWARD - your thoughts and ideas are important to us and will be reflected in how we proceed in taking active steps in the direction of a new era. Please bring sumptuous food to share! Potluck lunch will be served at 1 pm. Click here for more info.

April 27, July 20, October 26, TBA 2014. More details to follow...start the diaglogue.

May 4 Sat.    "WALKING THE PATH" ONE DAY SITTING 4:45 am to 5 pm An opportunity for beginners as well as experienced sitters to plunge into the heart of Zen practice.  8 periods of meditation, bowing, formal meals, chanting and work practice.  Includes Friday 6 pm dinner and overnight stay.  Non-Members: $60  General M: $50   Practicing M: $40

May 6 Mon.     CLOSED

May 9 Thursday    ROSHI LEAVES FOR ICELAND AND POLAND

May 11 Sat.    STUDENT TALK David Koten 11am Zendo

May 13-24    DEMIAN NYOZE KWONG TRAVELS TO ICELAND Nyoze assists Kwong-roshi and attends Natthagi Zen Center’s meditation intensive in Rekjavik.

May 17-19    CLOSED HOSTING HELLA JUST COMPASSIONATE SANGHA

May 25-28    CLOSED TO HOST SHAMBHALA DRALA

May 30-June 2    "NO BEGINNING, NO END" SESSHIN Sesshin, literally “to touch the Mind,” is a period of time set aside for an intensive meditation retreat to let go of the conditioned self and resume our original nature. This Sesshin is a 3 day practice period that will allow us to dive into the core of Zen training. A silent meditation intensive for experienced sitters to still the mind from moment to moment manifesting the realization of the Way. It includes a rigorous schedule that begins at 4:45 a.m. with prostrations and includes 10 periods of meditation, chanting, mindful work, Dharma talks, private interviews. and end at 9 pm. Retreat begins Thursday at 7:30 p.m., and ends Sunday, June 2, at 5 p.m. Special arrangements can be made for those unable to come for the entire retreat due to work commitments.
Non-members $60/day General $50/day Practicing $40/day

June 3-4    CLOSED

June 6-9   KYUDO: The Way of the Bow Kyudo is the traditional art of Japanese archery referred to as “moving meditation”. This unique retreat is a traditional discipline to experience precise forms in which the mind and body become naturally synchronized; manifesting the flight of the arrow. The daily practice will include zazen as essential to the spirit of Kyudo. The contemplative practice of Kyudo, when taken up with patience and attention to detail, is a dynamic way to balance the body, focus the mind, and open the heart. When a student lets go of goals and expectations, Beginner’s Mind is revealed. The physical aspect of Kyudo is inseparable from its spiritual aspect. The form provides a subtle mirror of the mind throughout the movements and continues with the arrow’s release. In this retreat, beginners will receive training in the basic Kyudo form, called “The Seven Coordinations”. Intermediate students will train in group forms including: hitote, standing and kneeling variations, tsukubai, and gempei/AB. Platform etiquette will also be reviewed. For registration please contact Lucy Halverson at kyudoka@juno.com or 415-863-3780.

June 8 Sat.    STUDENT TALK John Kaian Jennings 11 am. Zendo

June 15 Sat.    STUDENT TALK Ray Estabrook 11 am. Zendo

June 15 Sat.    INTRODUCTION TO ZEN WORKSHOP 9- 3 PM.  An introduction to Zen teachings, Zendo form, rituals, instruction on zazen, and also main concepts as basic foundation for Zen practice.  For beginners and intermediate people who would like to gain more insight into the philosophy of Zen and how to actualize those principles in everyday life.  Includes vegetarian lunch.  $50.  Instructor: TBA

June 22 Sat.     STUDENT TALK Fern LaRocca 11 am. Zendo

June 27 Thur    ROSHI RETURNS FROM EUROPE

June 29 Sat.    STUDENT TALK Joseph Mumon 11 am. Zendo

July 4 Thur    CLOSED – HAPPY 4th OF JULY!

July 6 Sat.    "MOMENT TO MOMENT" ONE DAY SITTING 4:45 am to 5 pm An opportunity for beginners as well as experienced sitters to plunge into the heart of Zen practice.  8 periods of meditation, bowing, formal meals, chanting and work practice.  Includes Friday 6 pm dinner and overnight stay. 
Non-Members: $60 General M: $50   Practicing M: $40

July 13 Sat.    DHARMA TALK Shinko Kwong 11 am. Zendo

July 20 Sat.    SUMMER COUNCIL PROCESS

July 27 Sat.    STUDENT TALK Chuck Ramey 11am.  Zendo

July 29 - Aug. 24    SUMMER PRACTICE PERIOD   Summer Ango begins Mon., July 29 at 7:30 pm, and ends Saturday, Aug. 24 at 12 pm, followed by a Celebration Dinner at 6:30 pm.  This 27-day practice period includes six daily sittings, prostrations, oryoki meals, study, chanting, and work practice to enhance mindfulness.  Members and visitors are welcome to join us for zazen meditation anytime Monday through Sunday.  Please pick up the Ango schedule for the meditation period times.  This is a wonderful time for the entire Sangha to participate in this practice - whether in the Zendo, at work, or as a householder.  Direct your focus to extend your meditation into all your activities and be wholeheartedly present moment after moment.  Please come Monday, July 29 at 7:30 pm for the opening ceremony, as the Shuso (Head Student) – June “Myoko” Davis presents the theme for Ango.
Non-Members: $60 per day/overnight  General M: $50   Practicing M: $40