July 3 Sat.    STUDENT TALK Julie Kwong. 11 am. Zendo.

July 5 Mon.    CLOSED

July 10 Sat.    "JUMPING OFF THE 100 FOOT POLE" 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 12 Mon.    CLOSED

July 17 Sat.    STUDENT TALK Demian Nyoze Kwong. 11 am. Zendo.

July 21 Wed    BOARD MEETING 7-9 pm

July 24 Sat.    STUDENT TALK David Price. 11 am. Zendo.

JOURNEY TO JAPAN: Returning To A Living Lineage
Julie and Demian Kwong will present a slide show of their month-long stay at Rinso-in, Shunryu Suzuki-roshi’s home temple. “Suddenly my eyes were wet with tears. “This trip to Japan is big!? Returning to something deeper and bigger than myself!”?It was not just to visit and take in the sights, places and people of Japan, but to return to a very deep place within that I had cherished for many, many years.?It was to revisit what I had witnessed and experienced as a child 30 years ago during Kwong-roshi’s Dharma Transmission Ceremony--returning to a living lineage.” Both Julie and Demian will share slides and stories of their journey; daily life at Rinso-in, tea ceremony at Daitoku-ji, temples and teachers deeply connected to our lineage and Zen life at Eihei-ji and more...Small donation is requested. Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. 7- 9:00pm.

July 31 Sat.    STUDENT TALK John Cambre. 11 am. Zendo.

Aug. 2 - Aug. 28    SUMMER PRACTICE PERIOD  
This Ango will have 4 senior students to lead each week.  1st week:Chuck Ramey "Tensan"  2nd week:Chris "Katsuzen" King  3rd week:John "Suikyo" Jennings  4th week: Demian"Nyoze" Kwong.  Summer Ango begins Mon., Aug 2 at 7:30 pm, and ends Saturday, Aug. 28 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.  Be sure to come Monday, Aug 2 at 7:30 pm for the opening ceremony, as the Shuso (Head Student)-Chuck Ramey"Tensan" will present the theme for Ango.
Non-Members: $60 per day/overnight  General M: $50   Practicing M: $40

Aug 7 Sat.    SHUSO TALK Chuck "Tensan" Ramey  11 am. Zendo.

Aug 14 Sat.    SHUSO TALK Chris "Katsuzen"King. 11 am. Zendo.

Aug. 15 - 22    ACTUALIZING THE WAY 7-DAY 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 in order to resume our original nature.  Begins Sunday at 7:30 pm and ends the following Sunday at 5 pm.  10 periods of zazen daily, 2 hours work practice, 3 oryoki meals, dharma talks, interviews with Kwong-roshi.   John "Suikyo"Jennings will lead sesshin
Non-Members: $60 per day/overnight  General M: $50   Practicing M: $40

Aug. 28 Sat.    ANGO CLOSING CEREMONY:  Revealing The Self
Demian "Nyoze"Kwong 10:30 am zazen; 11 am Ceremony.  All members should come for the closing of our Practice Period.  Participants will ask the Demian "Nyoze"  dharma questions to reveal the truth of practice.  Please join us for the Shuso celebration dinner following the ceremony at 1:30 pm or 6:30 pm.  CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

Aug. 30-Sept 1    CLOSED

Sept. 4 Sat. SONOMA MANDALA BAZAAR:Benefit for the Mandala Project. Come up and join us for a day on the Mountain!  Local vendors and artists will be offering comtemporary pottery, paintings, photographs and textile art.  Enjoy homemade cookies, pies, baked goods, sumptuous foods and refreshing drinks under the oaks.  Special performances will be taiko drumming, traditional Japanese tea ceremony, shakuhachi flute, koto stringed instrument and Kyudo “the way of the bow” demonstration.  During the event we will be holding a raffle for an original framed calligraphy by Jakusho Kwong-roshi.  Don’t miss it!  Everyone bring your family, friends and kids to this wonderful event!  Spread the word and mark your calendars!FREE EVENT Saturday 10am – 2pm at SMZC

Sept. 10-19    HOSTING VIPASSANA HAWAII GROUP RETREAT with MICHELE MCDONALD. 
No Saturday Program October 11, 18.

Sept. 22 Wed    BOARD MEETING 7-9 pm

Sept. 25 Sat.    SANGHA DAY POTLUCK 10:30 am - 1:30 pm
Members as well as the public are invited to come to the Zen Center for a day of sharing Dharma and food together as a Sangha.  Please bring your favorite dish to share.  There will be a short period of zazen followed by an opportunity for new members, and anyone wishing to renew their vows, to offer incense in the Zendo.  Come and hear the latest news of the Zen Center and the Sonoma Mandala Project!

Oct. 1-3    HOSTING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ORDER OF INTERBEING
ANNUAL GROUP RETREAT:  In the lineage of Thich Nhat Hanh.  Retreat is lead by Dharma teachers Lyn Fine and Chau Yoder.
No Saturday Program October 2.

Oct. 7 - 10    BODHIDHARMA 3-DAY 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 in order to resume our original nature.  Begins Thursday, 7:30 pm, and ends Sunday, 5 pm.  10 periods of zazen daily, 2 hours work practice, 3 oryoki meals, dharma talks, and interviews with Kwong-roshi.
Non-Members: $60 per day/overnight  General M: $50   Practicing M: $40

Oct. 16    DHARMA TALK Jakusho Kwong-roshi 11 am. Zendo.

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: Demian Kwong.

Oct. 5 - Nov. 23    FALL STUDY GROUP Every Tuesday, 7:30 - 9 pm
Investigating and "turning our radiance inward" through Zen practice, we begin to discover what our mind really is.  Jakusho Kwong-roshi and Shinko Kwong will be lecturing and leading discussions.  Book TBA. This will be a six-week course.
Non-Members: $60/$12 per class    General M: $55   Practicing M: $50

Oct. 23    DHARMA TALK Special Guest Speaker from SotoShu Japan. 11 am. Zendo.

Oct. 30 Sat.    FALL WORKFEST 8:30 am-4 pm
All Sangha members, families, and friends are invited to come for a day of fun and work in the spirit of traditional "barn-raising" effort and together action.  Snacks, delicious lunch provided.