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Sangha

In Buddhism, practitioners are invited to take refuge in the three jewels — Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Sangha refers to any community of practitioners committed to practicing the the Buddha's teachings. Because Sangha is listed last, it may appear to be lesser, but in truth, it is an expression of Buddha and Dharma. Sangha is the field in which the awakened mind serves life. Taking refuge means being informed by the community held together by a common commitment to the investigation of wisdom and compassion.

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The purpose of the Sangha is to support and encourage one another to practice right where we are and to bear witness to each others joys and losses. It is also to see one another clearly, challenging when challenging is the right response, and comforting when comforting is the right response. If this is of value to you, please consider the greatest gift you can give to the Sangha, and that is your sincere practice.

Embracing the Whole of Life

Everyone with a sincere interest in practicing Zen is welcome to join us. We encourage respect and honesty, being who you are, recognizing that we are all making a good faith effort to be guided by Buddhist principles and to learn together. To be human means accepting our flaws. In practice, we each acknowledge the ways we fail to live up to our own expectations and those of others and commit to do better. The Zen hall is not a place for perfected beings, but for human beings. There is a common phrase in Zen — Like a lotus in muddy water, the mind is pure and goes beyond. The muddy water is our life. This being human is difficult. And yet, when we turn our minds to what is essential, a flower blossoms right in the amidst of the murky depths.​

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